Res 0601-2026

Res. No. 601 ..Title Resolution calling on the New York State Department of Transportation to authorize veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability rating from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to use the Staten Island Expressway's high occupancy vehicles lane regardless of vehicle occupancy ..Body By Council Member Morano Whereas, Members of the United States ("U.S.") Armed Forces make significant sacrifices for this nation, and some veterans return from military service with a service-connected disability, which is an injury, illness, or disability that was caused by or made worse due to active military service; and Whereas, Service-connected disabilities may affect a veteran's mobility, endurance, ability to utilize public transportation, and capacity to travel efficiently to employment, medical appointments, veterans' services, and other essential destinations; and Whereas, Service-connected disabilities are assigned a disability rating by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs based on the severity of the service-connected disability, in ten point increments up to a maximum of 100 percent, with larger percentages representing the most severe of disabilities; and Whereas, According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, there are a total of 122,761 veterans in New York City ("NYC"), 10,589 of which live in Staten Island; and Whereas, According to the same data, there are a total of 35,842 veterans in NYC with some level of disability, 3,061 of which live in Staten Island; and Whereas, Many people on Staten Island, including veterans, rely heavily on private automobiles to travel on the Staten Island Expressway to and from important appointments and destinations within NYC; and Whereas, In NYC, the Staten Island Expressway, and its high occupancy vehicles ("HOV") lane, is under the jurisdiction of the New York State ("NYS") Department of Transportation; and Whereas, The Staten Island Expressway's HOV lane is open in both directions 24 hours per day, seven days per week, and is restricted to passenger vehicles with three or more people, buses, motorcycles, and emergency vehicles; and Whereas, For many, HOV lanes offer the ability to get to and from essential services, like medical appointments, faster and more reliably, however, occupancy requirements may prevent a veteran with a service-connected disability from traveling using the HOV lane on the Staten Island Expressway; and Whereas, Veterans with service-connected disabilities, particularly those with a 100 percent service-connected disability rating, may experience transportation challenges due to physical limitations, chronic pain, post-traumatic stress, or other conditions, all of which may be exacerbated by long travel times; and Whereas, The NYS Department of Transportation should establish rules and regulations that allow for veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to utilize the HOV lane on the Staten Island Expressway, as this would recognize the sacrifices made by these veterans and help ensure that their ability to travel throughout the region is made quicker and more efficient, without undue burdens on their health; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Department of Transportation to authorize veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability rating from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to use the Staten Island Expressway's high occupancy vehicles lane regardless of vehicle occupancy. KK LS 25063 7/20/26