Bill Text: NJ S3425 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Requires railroad operators to remove obstructive vegetation near railroad crossings.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-3)
Status: (Passed) 2020-01-09 - Approved P.L.2019, c.294. [S3425 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S3425-Amended.html
Sponsored by:
Senator PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.
District 18 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires railroad operators to remove obstructive vegetation near railroad crossings.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Transportation Committee on March 18, 2019, with amendments.
An Act concerning vegetation management and supplementing Title 48 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Each railroad operator shall destroy or remove plants, trees, brush, or other obstructive vegetation upon its right-of-way at each intersection with a public road or highway, for a distance of 300 feet or such other distance from the public road or highway that the Commissioner of Transportation determines to be reasonably safe.
b. When any railroad operator fails to destroy or remove such vegetation within 10 days following written notice, from the Department of Transportation or the governing body of a county or municipality, served on the local agent of the railroad operator, the department 1[or the governing body of the county or municipality having jurisdiction over the intersection]1 may destroy or remove the plants, trees, brush, or other obstructive vegetation and the railroad operator shall be responsible to reimburse the department 1[or governing body]1 for the costs of such removal. If the railroad operator fails to reimburse the department 1[or governing body]1 within 30 days of notice by certified mail, the department 1[or governing body]1 may use all available remedies by law to recover the costs.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
