Section 73-B. Legislative findings and purposes

The  legislature hereby
  finds, determines, and declares that:
    1. the inability of persons in rural areas to access public or private
  transportation services often  is  detrimental  to  the  public  health,
  safety  and  general  welfare because such persons are thereby unable to
  receive  regular  medical  care  and  public  services,   do   shopping,
  participate in specialized recreation and education programs, and obtain
  employment;
    2.  the  number  and proportion of persons without access to essential
  transportation services in rural environs is alarmingly high  and  could
  increase  in  the  future,  thereby  further  increasing  the demand for
  specialized transportation services in said areas;
    3.  added  social  burdens  frequently  fall  upon  state  and   local
  governments because of involuntary isolation of individuals and families
  in  rural  areas  who  are unable to obtain employment, public services,
  health care, educational or other essential human services;
    4. lack of a comprehensive state policy to promote the development  of
  coordinated  public transportation services in the state's rural regions
  has inhibited the formation of such services, thereby contributing to  a
  great  disparity  in  the  nature  and levels of transportation services
  available in said rural areas and the inefficient use of  many  existing
  transportation resources;
    5. such unique rural conditions as low population density, limitations
  of size and resources and the general absence of private common carriers
  call   for  more  innovation  and  flexibility  in  the  development  of
  coordinated public transportation  services  in  rural  environs,  which
  would  include  more  intensive  use of existing transportation services
  that  may  now  service  a   single   clientele   and   are   frequently
  underutilized;
    6.  existing federal, state and local public transportation assistance
  programs are of vital importance in providing  mobility  to  persons  in
  rural  areas  of  New  York  state,  and increased coordination and more
  intensive  use  of  such  programs   would   or   could   increase   the
  cost-effectiveness  of  these  programs  and enhance the availability of
  transportation services to those individuals and families in need; and
    7. the establishment of a  rural  public  transportation  coordination
  assistance  program  would or could increase the mobility of individuals
  and families in the state's rural regions and make available to those in
  need more of the limited transportation resources that now exist.
    8. the establishment of a rural transportation coordination assistance
  program is intended to be in addition to existing programs and  services
  required  of  the  department of transportation and this act shall in no
  manner or means detract from the other services, resources and  programs
  now provided by such department.