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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 005-05
January 03, 2005

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION EXTENDING BUS SHELTER FRANCHISE

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws

"The next bill before me today is Introductory Number 494-A, sponsored at the request of the Administration by Council Members Katz, Avella, Gentile, Nelson, Palma, Seabrook, Stewart, Jackson, and Gennaro.  This legislation authorizes the Department of Transportation to extend the expiration date of the franchise to operate and maintain bus shelters to a date no later than December 31, 2005.

"There are approximately 3,200 existing bus stop shelters Citywide that provide an important service to users of public transportation.  The franchise also generates revenue for the City while at the same time requiring the franchisee to properly maintain the shelters.

"As part of a comprehensive streetscape initiative to improve the design and maintenance of street furniture, the City Council, at the Administration's request, authorized the Department of Transportation to grant a non-exclusive franchise for installing, operating and maintaining bus stop shelters, self-cleaning automatic public toilets, newsstand structures and additional public service structures and displaying advertising on them.  A request for proposals for the coordinated street furniture franchise was issued on March 26, 2004.  Proposals were due September 14, 2004 and are currently under review.  The process of evaluating these proposals and negotiating a contract with the winning proposer, subject to the approval of the Franchise and Concession Review Committee, is expected to be completed by next fall.

"In order to ensure a smooth transition from the existing bus stop shelter franchise to a new street furniture franchise, with no interruption in service or revenue to the City, it is necessary to extend the existing franchise until the contract for the new franchise can be awarded and registered.  Intro 494-A will accomplish this by allowing an extension of the existing franchise for an additional year, until December 31, 2005.

"I would like to thank Commissioner Weinshall of the Department of Transportation and her staff for their work on this bill.  I would also like to thank the Council for guiding this bill through the legislative process."







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