Bill Text: NJ S1392 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires SJTA to allow certain vehicles based in any part of State to use SJTA projects without being charged toll.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-13 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Transportation Committee [S1392 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-S1392-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator CHRISTOPHER J. CONNORS
District 9 (Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Requires SJTA to allow certain vehicles based in any part of State to use SJTA projects without being charged toll.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the South Jersey Transportation Authority and the imposition of tolls on certain vehicles and amending P.L.1991, c.252.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 19 of P.L.1991, c.252 (C.27:25A-19) is amended to read as follows:
19. a. The authority is authorized to fix, revise, charge, and collect tolls, fares, passenger facility charges, and other charges, including reduced fare or charge programs, for the use of each project and the different parts or sections thereof. No toll shall be charged for the passage of any motorbus operated on motorbus regular route service, ambulance, first-aid or emergency-aid vehicle, vehicular fire-fighting apparatus, or other similar vehicle, operated for the benefit of the public by the State, or by any county or municipality [or] , charitable or nonprofit corporation or organization, first-aid squad, emergency squad, or fire company of this State. The tolls, fares, and charges shall be so fixed and adjusted as to effectuate the purposes of this act including assisting in the funding of projects and in any event to carry out and perform the terms and provisions of any contract with or for the benefit of holders of bonds or notes. The tolls, fares, and charges shall not be subject to supervision or regulation by any other commission, board, bureau, or agency of the State or subdivision of the State. The use and disposition of tolls, fares, charges, and revenues shall be subject to the provisions of any resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds or notes. The authority shall allow an ambulance, first-aid or emergency-aid vehicle, vehicular fire-fighting apparatus, or other similar vehicle, operated for the benefit of the public by the State, or by any county or municipality, charitable or nonprofit corporation or organization, first-aid squad, emergency squad, or fire company of this State, to use any project of the authority without being charged a toll, if applicable, regardless of the county or municipality where the vehicle is based.
b. The authority is authorized to contract with any person, partnership, association, corporation, or federal, State, or local government entity or subdivision thereof desiring the use of any part of a project, including the right-of-way adjoining a paved portion, for operation or placing thereon telephone, telegraph, electric light or power lines, gas stations, garages, stores, hotels, or restaurants, or for any other purpose, and to fix the terms, conditions, rents, and rates of charges for that use. For contracts related to an expressway project, the authority shall provide that a sufficient number of gas stations be established in the service areas along any project to permit reasonable competition by private business in the public interest. No contract shall be required, and no rent, fee, or other charge of any kind shall be imposed, for the use and occupation, other than for freight railroad purposes, of the highway portion of any project for the installation, construction, use, operation, maintenance or repair, renewal, relocation, or removal of tracks, pipes, mains, conduits, cables, wires, towers, holes, or other equipment or appliances in, on, along, over, or under any such project by any public utility as defined in R.S.27:7-1 which is subject to taxation pursuant to either P.L.1940, c.4 (C.54:30A-16 et seq.) or P.L.1940, c.5 (C.54:30A-49 et seq.), or pursuant to any other law imposing a tax for the privilege of using the public streets, highways, roads, or other public places in the State.
(cf: P.L.1991, c.252, s.19)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill clarifies the provisions of the existing statutory law by expressly requiring the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to allow certain ambulances, first-aid or emergency-aid vehicles, vehicular fire-fighting apparatuses, or other similar vehicles to use any SJTA project without being charged a toll, regardless of the county or municipality where the vehicle is based. Presently, the SJTA allows ambulances, first-aid or emergency-aid vehicles, vehicular fire-fighting apparatuses, or other similar vehicles based in Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties to use SJTA projects toll-free.
