This week, the New York State Senate gave final legislative

approval to a bill sponsored by State Senator Michael Balboni that will

allow people with disabilities to more easily cross over the Queens County

and Nassau County border on public transportation. Under the legislation,

Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Long Island Bus service must coordinate

with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to coordinate a system to

improve service between the two counties.

Senator Balboni said, "This legislation is long

overdue and will provide people with disabilities the quality, reliable

transportation that they deserve."

Currently, Queens and Nassau Counties provide services for disabled

persons, including those disabled due to illness, injury, age or other

semi-permanent incapacity, who are generally unable to utilize mass

transportation. Individuals are picked up at their residences and

transported to a doctor's appointment or other location. If, however, the

individual starts his or her trip in Queens and his/her destination is in

Nassau County, that person would be dropped off at the border of Queens

County and then required to cross over on their own or be picked up at the

border by a bus service from Nassau County.

Under Senator Balboni's legislation (S.3575A), the LIRR and Long

Island Bus must set up a reciprocal agreement with the MTA to traverse the

Queens County and Nassau County borders within a five mile radius of the

borderline to deliver disabled passengers to their destination.

The legislation has also passed the State Assembly and now goes to

Governor Pataki for consideration.