Bill Text: NJ S1009 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Eliminates DOT approval of municipal traffic calming measures in business districts.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-17 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Transportation Committee [S1009 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-S1009-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Eliminates DOT approval of municipal traffic calming measures in business districts.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning traffic calming measures taken by municipalities on State roadways and amending P.L.2004, c.107.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 2 of P.L.2004, c.107 (C.39:4-8.10) is amended to read as follows:
2. a. Pursuant to the provisions of section 3 of P.L.2004, c.107 (C.39:4-8.11), a municipality or county may, without the approval of the commissioner, construct a speed hump on two-lane residential streets and on one-way residential streets under municipal or county jurisdiction with a posted speed of 30 mph or less and which have fewer than 3,000 vehicles per day. The board of directors of any corporation, or the board of trustees of any corporation or other institution of a public or semipublic nature not for pecuniary profit, having control over private roads, may construct or provide for the construction of a speed hump on any private road subject to the provisions of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes, pursuant to P.L.1945, c.284 (C.39:5A-1 et seq.).
b. Pursuant to the provisions of section 3 of P.L.2004, c.107 (C.39:4-8.11), a municipality or county may, without the approval of the commissioner, construct traffic calming measures where appropriate, which may include, but are not limited to, speed humps on streets under municipal or county jurisdiction with a posted speed of 30 mph or less and which have fewer than 3,000 vehicles per day when any road construction project or repair of a street set forth in this subsection is undertaken and located within 500 feet of that street is a school or any property used for school purposes.
c. Prior to a municipality or county constructing a speed hump which places any impact on roadways in an adjoining municipality or county, the governing board or body of the municipality or county shall provide appropriate notice to the adjoining municipality or county.
d. [Prior] Except as provided for in subsection e. of this section , prior to a municipality or county constructing a speed hump which places any impact on a State roadway, the county or municipality shall obtain the approval of the commissioner.
e. A municipality may authorize the imposition or construction of traffic calming measures on any State or county roadway, other than a roadway designated as a coastal evacuation route by the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, if the traffic calming measure is in a business district, without obtaining the approval of the commissioner. However, the municipality shall provide notice to the commissioner of the imposition or construction of any traffic calming measure imposed or constructed1 on a State or county roadway. In the event the traffic calming measure taken by the municipality involves the installment of speed humps or other similar structure, the traffic calming measure shall be inspected by the municipal engineer to ensure the traffic calming measures comply with the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, adopted by the commissioner, and any other department rules and regulations governing such traffic calming measures. For the purposes of this paragraph, "business district" means, two or more consecutive blocks which consist of primarily commercial property.
(cf: P.L.2008, c.110, s.5)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill authorizes a municipality to construct traffic calming measures, such as speed humps, in a business district on a State or county roadway without first obtaining the approval of the Commissioner of Transportation. The municipality would only need to provide notice to the commissioner. The bill defines a business district as an area having two or more consecutive blocks of primarily commercial property.
Under the bill, if a municipality constructs speed humps, or similar structures, in a business district on a State or county roadway, the municipal engineer is responsible for ensuring that they comply with the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways and any other pertinent departmental rules and regulations.
This bill would not apply to roadways designated as coastal evacuation routes by the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management.
