The office of legislative and community input

§ 1279-c. The office of legislative and community input. 1. The chairperson of the authority shall establish the office of legislative and community input for the purpose of communicating information to, and receiving comments, concerns and recommendations from, members of the legislature, and members of the permanent citizens advisory committee to the authority, as defined in section twelve hundred sixty-six-i of this chapter, on the following:

(a) the operations of the rapid transit, omnibus and commuter rail line facilities of the authority including, but not limited to:

(i) the quality of service provided on any rapid transit, omnibus, and commuter rail line or route;

(ii) the frequency of operating service on the authority's mass transit facilities;

(iii) the maintenance and condition of the authority's mass transit facilities including, but not limited to, rapid transit and commuter rail stations, railcars, buses, rail lines, fare collection systems and sound systems; and

(iv) proposed service changes, including any reductions or expansion of services, as it relates to the authority's mass transit facilities; and

(b) any proposed, submitted and/or approved capital program plan, its components, elements and projects, and associated expenditures. Any such comments, concerns and recommendations relating to the capital program plan, its components, elements and projects, and associated expenditures shall be taken into consideration in the development of the current and each successive capital program plan and/or any amendment to such plan.

2. The office shall establish a process to ensure timely notification of the receipt of, and response to, comments, concerns, and recommendations by members of the legislature or members of the permanent citizens advisory committee to the authority.

3. The chair and office shall prepare a report containing the following information:

(a) a compilation of the comments, concerns, and recommendations received by the office;

(b) how these comments, concerns or recommendations were or will be addressed, such as the authority's response by the incorporation or initiation of system and operational adjustments, improvements or expansions if applicable; and

(c) how these comments, concerns or recommendations were or will be addressed, such as the authority's response by changing or amending the capital plan, as well as providing status updates on the progress of such plan.

4. Such report shall on a biannual basis, commencing September first, two thousand nine, be submitted to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly, be posted on the authority's website and also be made readily available to the public.