Bill
A 11105
Creates a statewide winter road maintenance data system with mandatory equipment calibration to standardize reporting, improve transparency, and monitor environmental impact.
Jurisdiction: New York
Date Introduced: April 24, 2026
Sponsor: Assemblymember Magnarelli (co-sponsor)
Assigned to: Committee on Transportation
Overview
A.11105 proposes the creation of a statewide data system for winter road maintenance and salt application, along with mandatory calibration of deicing equipment. The goal is to improve data collection, transparency, environmental monitoring, and operational efficiency in state and municipal winter maintenance activities.
Key Provisions
1) New Statewide Winter Maintenance Data System (Article 3-A)
- Purpose: Establish a statewide operational data system for winter snow/ice control on state-maintained highways.
- System features:
- Prefer digital reporting where practicable.
- Integrates with automated vehicle location (AVL) systems, spreader control tech, and road weather information systems (RWIS).
- Standardized formats for recording winter maintenance activities.
- Public access on the Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) website, with monthly updates.
- Permits the Department to promulgate implementing regulations.
- Definitions introduced for consistency (e.g., winter maintenance operation, operator, maintenance vehicle).
2) Required Operational Data Collection
- For each winter maintenance operation on state highways, the system must record:
- Date, operator name, equipment/truck number, data record creation/update details, and a modification indicator.
- For each route/work activity:
- Metrics such as total trip miles, total spread miles, work order/identifier, route/beat identifiers, and task codes.
- For each material used:
- Dry materials: code and total amount.
- Liquid materials: code and total amount.
- Application performance data (where applicable):
- Application rate, number of lanes, pounds per lane mile (lbs/LM).
- Environmental conditions (where observable):
- Snow/ice event code, highway conditions code, air temperature, road surface temperature.
- Data capture:
- Encouraged to be collected via automated systems (spreaders, AVL, RWIS) where practicable.
3) Equipment and Technology Integration
- Require winter maintenance equipment capable of electronically recording/transmitting data (material output, spread distances, vehicle location, time of application).
- Prioritize integration of AVL, spreader controllers, and RWIS.
4) Municipal Data Partnership Program
- Establishes a voluntary program enabling counties, towns, villages, and cities to participate in the statewide data system.
- Department may provide technical assistance, access to data platform, and guidance on standardized reporting.
5) Environmental Data Coordination
- Coordinate with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to:
- Monitor chloride levels in surface waters and groundwater.
- Identify areas with high road salt application.
- Inform statewide road salt reduction strategies.
6) Reporting Requirements
- Starting two years after the act’s effective date, NYSDOT must deliver an annual report to the Governor and Legislature detailing:
- Total road salt usage on state highways.
- Trends in application rates.
- Operational efficiency metrics.
- Municipal participation in the data system.
- Report must be publicly available online.
7) Rulemaking
- NYSDOT may promulgate regulations to implement the article, including standardized data definitions, reporting formats, and submission requirements.
8) Calibration of Highway Deicing Equipment (New Section in Transportation Law)
- Adds Section 23 describing calibration requirements for deicing equipment.
- Key terms defined (deicing material, application equipment, calibration, responsible entity).
- Requirements:
- All deicing equipment must be calibrated to ensure accurate application rates.
- Calibration will document the relationship between speed, control settings, and output rate.
- No deployment without calibration.
- Calibration triggers:
- Annually before each winter season.
- After repairs/modifications affecting output.
- Upon installation of new spreader/controller/liquid system.
- Other intervals set by commissioner regulations.
- Regulatory standards to be established by the commissioner (in consultation with DEC), including:
- Standardized calibration procedures.
- Tolerances for application rates.
- Methods for calibrating granular and liquid systems.
- Documentation/verification requirements.
- Records:
- Maintain calibration records for all equipment (date, ID, material type, method, verified rate ranges, calibrator name) for at least five years.
- Records publicly accessible annually.
- Compliance and support:
- Commissioner may require periodic certification and conduct audits/inspections.
- Department may provide guidance, training, and technical assistance.
- Commissioner to promulgate implementing rules.
Effective Date
- The act takes effect two years after becoming law.
- Immediate authority to adopt necessary rule/regulation changes prior to the effective date.
Potential Impacts
Effective details
- Fiscal/regs implications: The bill anticipates rulemaking and potential costs associated with data system development, equipment calibration, training, and audits.
- Public access and reporting: Mandatory annual public reporting starting two years after enactment.
This bill would notably advance data-driven winter road maintenance and environmental stewardship in New York, with phased implementation and a strong emphasis on calibration, standardization, and public transparency.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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