Gov. Cuomo signs bill banning smoking on outdoor train platforms, including LIRR and Metro-North

Lillian Rizzo and Glenn Blain New York Daily News 08/16/2011 08:11

A new bill signed by Governor Cuomo aims to prevent riders from second-hand smoke.

Gov. Cuomo cleared his desk Monday before heading off on vacation, signing a long-awaited ethics reform bill and a measure to ban smoking on outdoor train platforms.

Cuomo signed the Public Integrity Reform Act of 2011, which requires greater disclosure of lawmakers' outside incomes and creates an independent panel to police ethics in the Legislature and executive branch.

"Today's signing is a major step forward in restoring the people's trust in government and changing the way Albany does business," Cuomo said.

The Legislature adopted the ethics bill in June following months of negotiations with the governor.

Cuomo, who begins a two-week vacation in the Adirondacks and Long Island Tuesday, also signed a bill prohibiting smoking on MTA-operated outdoor train platforms, including those run by the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North.

The new law extends the existing smoking ban on indoor mass transportation areas - including city subway platforms - to include outdoor ticketing, boarding and platform areas of railroad stations.

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