Bill Text: NJ S782 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires DOT to assume responsibility for improvements and operations and maintenance of Palisades Interstate Parkway.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Transportation Committee [S782 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S782-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator GORDON M. JOHNSON
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Requires DOT to assume responsibility for improvements and operations and maintenance of Palisades Interstate Parkway.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning the Palisades Interstate Parkway and amending R.S.32:16-1.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. R.S.32:16-1 is amended to read as follows:
32:16-1. a. In addition to the powers conferred by this subtitle, but except as otherwise provided in this section, the Palisades Interstate Park Commission is authorized to construct, maintain and operate a parkway on top of the Palisades, extending from the southerly line of the park already established to the New York State line and within one thousand feet westerly from the top or steep edge of the Palisades or the crest of the slope in places where the steep Palisades rocks are absent, and, for such purpose and the acquisition of the necessary lands therefor, may apply for and accept grants or other aid from the Federal emergency administration of public works, or other boards, officers or departments of the United States.
b. For the purpose of laying out and establishing the parkway mentioned in this section, the commission may acquire by gift, purchase or condemnation any lands or rights in lands necessary for such objects and lying within the area described in this section; but, after a copy of the map required to be made by [section 32:16-2 of this Title] R.S.32:16-2 has been filed in the office of the county clerk of Bergen county pursuant to [section 32:16-3 of this Title] R.S.32:16-3, the right to condemn lands shall not extend west of the westerly boundary line of the parkway as shown on the map.
c. (1) Beginning on the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the Department of Transportation shall assume responsibility for the operations and maintenance of the Palisades Interstate Parkway and shall assume responsibility for any improvements to the Palisades Interstate Parkway, except that these responsibilities shall be limited to those portions of the parkway that are located within this State.
(2) The Palisades Interstate Park Commission may enter into a written contract with the Department of Transportation to effectuate the requirements of this subsection. If so determined by the commission and the department, the contract may allow the commission to conduct all or some activities related to the improvement or operations and maintenance of the parkway, provided that, under the contact, the department shall provide payments to the commission to support the full costs of such activities.
(cf: P.L.1939, c.191, s.34)
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month following the date of enactment, except that the Department of Transportation and the Palisades Interstate Park Commission shall take any anticipatory actions needed to effectuate this bill.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Department of Transportation to assume responsibility for the operations and maintenance of the Palisades Interstate Parkway, as well as any improvements thereto. However, these responsibilities would be limited to those portions of the Palisades Interstate Parkway that are located within New Jersey.
Under current law, the Palisades Interstate Park Commission has sole jurisdiction over the Palisades Interstate Parkway, and the commission is responsible for the operations and maintenance of the parkway. Accordingly, this bill transfers these responsibilities, as well as the responsibility to undertake roadway improvements, to the Department of Transportation.
Under the bill, the Palisades Interstate Park Commission and the Department of Transportation may enter into a written contract to effectuate the requirements of the bill. However, this contract may allow the commission to conduct all or some activities related to the improvement or operations and maintenance of the Palisades Interstate Parkway, provided that the department makes payments to the commission to support the full costs of such activities.
