Bill Text: NJ A2926 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Creates "Congestion Pricing Cost Relief Commission."
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-02-28 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee [A2926 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-A2926-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman KEVIN J. ROONEY
District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Creates "Congestion Pricing Cost Relief Commission."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act creating a "Congestion Pricing Relief Commission."
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is created a "Congestion Pricing Cost Relief Commission" to consist of eight members as follows:
(1) the Executive Director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, ex officio, or the executive director's designee;
(2) the Executive Director of the New Jersey Transit Corporation, ex officio, or the executive director's designee;
(3) two members of the public appointed by the President of the Senate, of whom no more than one shall be of the same political party;
(4) two members of the public appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, of whom no more than one shall be of the same political party; and
(5) two members of the public appointed by the Governor, of whom no more than one shall be of the same political party.
b. The members of the public appointed to the commission shall have a professional background in the field of transportation. The commission shall organize and hold its initial organizational meeting as soon after the appointment of all of its public members as is practicable. Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation except that public members may be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and within the limits of funds available to the commission. The commission may meet and hold hearings open to the public at a place or places it designates within the State.
c. The Executive Director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority shall serve as chair of the commission. A recommendation of the commission shall be approved upon receiving a majority vote of the full membership of the commission. All designees of ex officio members of the commission may lawfully vote and otherwise act on behalf of the members for whom they constitute the designee.
d. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority shall provide staff support to the commission, including the appointment of a secretary by the chair of the commission. Additionally, the commission shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as the commission may require and as may be available to the commission for its purposes.
2. It shall be the duty of the commission to study and make recommendations concerning the legal, financial, and administrative feasibility of providing a reimbursement or other type of credit to New Jersey residents and businesses subject to a toll as part of a congestion pricing plan for entering the central business district within a city of a bordering state during certain times and days of the week. The commission shall include, but not be limited to, in its study, the feasibility of:
a. the lead agency of the New Jersey E-ZPass Group operating an electronic toll collection system to provide a credit to those New Jersey motor vehicle owners or operators subject to a toll for entering the central business district within a city of a bordering state; and
b. the New Jersey Transit Corporation to provide reduced rail and bus fares to customers entering the central business district within a city of a bordering state at the time a toll is collected.
3. The commission shall issue an initial report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature within 90 days after the implementation of a congestion pricing plan that requires a toll to enter the central business district within a city of a state bordering New Jersey, and shall issue a subsequent report annually for a period of 10 years thereafter. The initial and subsequent reports shall include the commission's recommendations for legislation to be considered for adoption by the Legislature.
4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire on the first day of the 10th year following the submission by the commission of its initial report to the Governor and the Legislature pursuant to section 3 of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes a "Congestion Pricing Cost Relief Commission" (commission) to consist of eight members as follows:
(1) the Executive Director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (authority), ex officio, or the executive director's designee;
(2) the Executive Director of the New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation), ex officio, or the executive director's designee;
(3) two members of the public appointed by the President of the Senate, of whom no more than one is to be of the same political party;
(4) two members of the public appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, of whom no more than one is to be of the same political party; and
(5) two members of the public appointed by the Governor, of whom no more than one is to be of the same political party.
The public members of the commission are to have a professional background in the field of transportation. The Executive Director of the authority is to serve as chair of the commission.
The commission is to study and make recommendations concerning the legal, financial, and administrative feasibility of providing a reimbursement or other type of credit to New Jersey residents and businesses subject to a toll as part of a congestion pricing plan for entering the central business district within a city of a bordering state during certain times and days of the week. The commission is to include, but not be limited to, in its study, the feasibility of:
(1) the lead agency of the New Jersey E-ZPass Group operating an electronic toll collection system to provide a credit to those New Jersey motor vehicle owners or operators subject to a toll for entering the central business district within a city of a bordering state; and
(2) the New Jersey Transit Corporation to provide reduced rail and bus fares to customers entering the central business district within a city of a bordering state at the time a toll is collected.
The commission is to issue an initial report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature within 90 days after the implementation of a congestion pricing plan that requires a toll to enter the central business district within a city of a state bordering New Jersey, and issue a subsequent report annually for a period of 10 years thereafter. The reports are to include the commission's recommendations for legislation to be considered for adoption by the Legislature.
