Bill Text: NJ A2772 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires DOT and NJTA to conduct study on options to reduce traffic congestion on Interstate 295 and rectify underutilization of NJ Turnpike by motorists traveling in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-27 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee [A2772 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A2772-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CELESTE M. RILEY
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
Assemblyman GILBERT "WHIP" L. WILSON
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Requires DOT and NJTA to conduct study on options to reduce traffic congestion on Interstate 295 and rectify underutilization of NJ Turnpike by motorists traveling in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act requiring a study on the options for reducing traffic congestion and rectifying underutilization of certain highways by motorists traveling in certain counties of the State.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. Interstate Highway No. 295, which extends from the Delaware Memorial Bridge in Salem County to Interstate Highway No. 95 in Mercer County, serves as a primary roadway between Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem counties and regularly experiences severe congestion resulting in prolonged commutes for motorists.
b. The New Jersey Turnpike, which begins at the Delaware Memorial Bridge in Salem County, then diverges from and runs parallel to Interstate Highway No. 295 in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties, is a major roadway that is often underutilized by motorists traveling in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties as only six interchanges connect the counties to the New Jersey Turnpike.
c. It is in the interest of the citizens of New Jersey for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, as the State department responsible for maintaining Interstate Highway No. 295, to consult and coordinate with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, as the entity responsible for maintaining the New Jersey Turnpike, on possible solutions to reduce traffic congestion on Interstate Highway No. 295 and rectify the underutilization of the New Jersey Turnpike by motorists traveling in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties.
2. The Department of Transportation, in consultation and coordination with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, shall conduct a study and prepare and submit, within one year from the effective date of this act, to the Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and the Chair of the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee, or their successor committees, a written report which shall make findings and recommendations concerning options to reduce traffic congestion on Interstate Highway No. 295, options to rectify the underutilization of the New Jersey Turnpike by motorists traveling in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties, and the feasibility of constructing additional interchanges on the New Jersey Turnpike in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
a. A description of each possible option to reduce traffic congestion on Interstate Highway No. 295, including the technology to be utilized in any new construction of additional interchanges or widening of roadways;
b. An assessment concerning the extent to which each option is expected to reduce traffic congestion on Interstate Highway No. 295 in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties;
c. An assessment of the feasibility of constructing additional interchanges on the New Jersey Turnpike in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties, including the location of the placement of additional interchanges on the New Jersey Turnpike in those counties;
d. The estimated cost of each option to reduce traffic congestion on Interstate Highway No. 295 and construct additional interchanges on the New Jersey Turnpike in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties, including the estimated cost of the acquisition of property and rights-of-way and the availability of any federal funds to offset the costs of each option on Interstate Highway No. 295 and the New Jersey Turnpike;
e. The estimated time of implementation of each option to reduce traffic congestion on Interstate Highway No. 295 and construct additional interchanges on the New Jersey Turnpike in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties, including the time necessary for permitting;
f. A projection of the number of residences and businesses that will be negatively impacted by each option to reduce traffic congestion on Interstate Highway No. 295 and construct additional interchanges on the New Jersey Turnpike;
g. An assessment of the environmental impact of each option to reduce traffic congestion on Interstate Highway No. 295 and construct additional interchanges on the New Jersey Turnpike in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties; and
h. Any other relevant information concerning the feasibility of construction, traffic management, and the impact on Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties.
The report shall include a summary of other possible options which were not discussed in the report and set forth the reasons why those options were not identified as feasible options to reduce traffic congestion or rectify roadway underutilization by motorists traveling in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties.
3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire on the 30th day following the submission of the report required to be prepared under section 2 of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Department of Transportation, in consultation and coordination with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, to conduct a study on the options for reducing traffic on Interstate Highway No. 295 and rectifying the underutilization of the New Jersey Turnpike in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties. The report is required to be submitted to the Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee within one year of enactment of this bill.
The report is required to include a description of each possible option to reduce traffic congestion on Interstate Highway No. 295, including the technology to be utilized in any new construction of additional interchanges or widening of roadways; an assessment concerning the extent to which each option is expected to reduce traffic congestion on Interstate Highway No. 295; an assessment of the feasibility of constructing additional interchanges on the New Jersey Turnpike in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties, including the location of the placement of additional interchanges on the New Jersey Turnpike in those counties; the estimated cost of each option to reduce traffic congestion on Interstate Highway No. 295 and construct additional interchanges on the New Jersey Turnpike, including the estimated cost of the acquisition of property and rights-of-way and the availability of any federal funds to offset the costs of each option on Interstate Highway No. 295 and the New Jersey Turnpike; the estimated time of implementation of each option to reduce traffic congestion on Interstate Highway No. 295 and construct additional interchanges on the New Jersey Turnpike in the counties; a projection of the number of residences and businesses that will be negatively impacted by each option to reduce traffic congestion on Interstate Highway No. 295 and construct additional interchanges on the New Jersey Turnpike; an assessment of the environmental impact of each option to reduce traffic congestion on Interstate Highway No. 295 and construct additional interchanges on the New Jersey Turnpike in the counties; and any other relevant information concerning the feasibility of construction, traffic management, and the impact on Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties.
