Bill Text: NJ S1481 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Designates certain interchanges of Garden State Parkway in honor of Melvin M. Loftus and Christopher Meyer.*
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-12-17 - Substituted by A2301 (1R) [S1481 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-S1481-Amended.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JEFF VAN DREW
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Designates certain interchanges of Garden State Parkway in honor of Melvin M. Loftus and Christopher Meyer.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Transportation Committee on December 10, 2015, with amendments.
An Act designating 1[the Stone Harbor Boulevard Interchange of] certain interchanges on1 the Garden State Parkway 1[as the "] in memory of Melvin M. Loftus and1 Christopher Meyer 1[Memorial Interchange]1.1["]1
1Whereas, Previously, the signalized intersections at Shell Bay Avenue, located at Exit 9, Stone Harbor Boulevard, located at Exit 10, and Crest Haven Road, located at Exit 11, on the Garden State Parkway were the scene of a disproportionate number of motor vehicle accidents; and
Whereas, On August 7, 2003, Melvin M. Loftus was tragically killed while he was stopped at the Crest Haven Road intersection when a driver of a box truck failed to heed the traffic signal, hitting his car, and pushing him into oncoming traffic; and
Whereas, Melvin M. Loftus, a 66 year old husband, father, grandfather, and former member of the National Guard, moved to New Jersey in 2002 to be closer to his children and grandchildren after retiring from his dry cleaning business that he operated for 24 years; and1
Whereas, In November 2004, Christopher Meyer was tragically killed in a car accident at the Stone Harbor Boulevard intersection 1at exit 101 on the Garden State Parkway; and
Whereas, Christopher Meyer, who was 17 years old at the time of the accident, had aspirations of joining the United States Navy; and
1[Whereas, The Stone Harbor Boulevard intersection, where Christopher Meyer was killed, the Shell Bay Avenue intersection, and the Crest Haven Road intersection on the Garden State Parkway are notoriously dangerous intersections; and]1
Whereas, Since his son's death, Erik Meyer, Christopher Meyer's father, been a tireless advocate for removing the traffic signals at the intersections on the Garden State Parkway; and1
Whereas, Since 1[2004] 20031, 1[three] several1 people, including 1Melvin M. Loftus and1 Christopher Meyer, have died as a result of accidents at these signalized intersections and, every year, there are countless accidents that occur at these dangerous intersections; and
1[Whereas, Since his son's death, Erik Meyer, Christopher Meyer's father, has been a tireless advocate for removing the traffic lights at the intersections on the Garden State Parkway; and]1
Whereas, Recently, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the State of New Jersey 1[have approved a plan to replace the traffic lights] has moved into the last phase of replacing the traffic signals1 at the intersections with ramps to provide full access interchanges and improve vehicle safety; and
Whereas, As the traffic 1[lights] signals1 are removed from the Shell Bay Avenue, Stone Harbor Boulevard, and 1[the]1 Crest Haven Road intersections of the Garden State Parkway, it is altogether fitting and proper that the State of New Jersey honor the 1[life] lives1 of 1Melvin M. Loftus and1 Christopher Meyer and the tireless work of 1[his] Christopher Meyer's1 father, Erik Meyer, who sought the safety improvements at these intersections, by naming the Stone Harbor Boulevard Interchange as the "Christopher Meyer Memorial Interchange" 1and the Crest Haven Road Interchange as the "Melvin M. Loftus Memorial Interchange"1; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Executive Director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority shall designate the Stone Harbor Boulevard Interchange of the Garden State Parkway as the "Christopher Meyer Memorial Interchange" and erect appropriate signs bearing this designation and dedication.
12. The Executive Director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority shall designate the Crest Haven Road Interchange of the Garden State Parkway as the "Melvin M. Loftus Memorial Interchange" and erect appropriate signs bearing this designation and dedication.1
1[2.] 3.1 No State, New Jersey Turnpike Authority, or other public funds shall be used for producing, purchasing, or erecting signs bearing the designation established pursuant to section 1 of this act. The Executive Director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority is authorized to receive gifts, grants, or other financial assistance from private sources for the purpose of funding or reimbursing the New Jersey Turnpike Authority for the costs associated with producing, purchasing, and erecting signs bearing the designation established pursuant to section 1 of this act and entering into agreements related thereto, with such private sources, including but not limited to non-governmental non-profit, educational, or charitable entities or institutions. No work shall proceed and no funding shall be accepted until an agreement has been reached with a responsible party for paying the costs associated with producing, purchasing, erecting, and maintaining the signs.
14. No State, New Jersey Turnpike Authority, or other public funds shall be used for producing, purchasing, or erecting signs bearing the designation established pursuant to section 2 of this act. The Executive Director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority is authorized to receive gifts, grants, or other financial assistance from private sources for the purpose of funding or reimbursing the New Jersey Turnpike Authority for the costs associated with producing, purchasing, and erecting signs bearing the designation established pursuant to section 2 of this act and entering into agreements related thereto, with such private sources, including but not limited to non-governmental non-profit, educational, or charitable entities or institutions. No work shall proceed and no funding shall be accepted until an agreement has been reached with a responsible party for paying the costs associated with producing, purchasing, erecting, and maintaining the signs.1
1[3.] 5.1 This act shall take effect immediately.
