“The next bill before me today is Introductory Number 466, sponsored at my request by Council Members Katz, Felder, Seabrook and Weprin.  This legislation will amend the City’s Administrative Code to authorize the Department of Transportation to extend the expiration date of the City’s current franchise to operate and maintain bus stop shelters to a date not later than December 31, 2004.

“As part of my administration’s comprehensive streetscape initiative to improve the design and maintenance of the City’s street furniture, the Council recently authorized the Department of Transportation to grant non-exclusive franchises for coordinated street furniture. Our Administration and the Council are still in the process of negotiating a related piece of legislation essential to the coordinated street furniture program. 

“In the meantime, the City’s existing bus stop shelter franchise is set to expire on December 31, 2003, and the Department of Transportation does not now have the authority to extend it beyond that date.  To ensure a seamless transition from the current bus stop shelter franchise to a new coordinated street furniture franchise, it will likely be necessary to extend the current bus stop shelter franchise until the contract for the new coordinated street furniture franchise can be awarded and fully executed.

“This bill and the expected newsstand legislation is part of the budget agreement reached earlier this year by our administration and the Council.  I would especially like to commend the tireless efforts Council member Katz, Council Land Use Director Gail Benjamin and Felix Ciampa, of our staff.”