SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

ASSEMBLY, No. 2429

 

with committee amendments

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  NOVEMBER 8, 2021

 

      The Senate Transportation Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 2429.

      As amended and reported, this bill establishes the “Transportation Services Coordination Task Force” (task force), which is to be comprised of the Executive Director of the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJT), the Commissioner of Transportation, the President of the Bus Association of New Jersey, and one person from each of the 21 counties in this State who has expertise and experience in public transportation in the person’s respective county and who is to be appointed by the person’s respective board of county commissioners.  Appointments to the task force are to be made within 30 days of the effective date of the bill.  Vacancies in the membership of the task force are to be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made.  The task force is to organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of a majority of its members, but no later than 60 days after the effective date of this bill.

     The task force is to study and make findings and recommendations concerning all potential opportunities for NJT, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and each county in New Jersey to coordinate transportation services offered throughout the State to better serve members of the community, particularly transit-dependent individuals.  The task force is to submit a report on its findings to the Governor and to the Legislature within one year following its organizational meeting.  The task force expires upon submission of the report.

     The committee amended the bill to change a reference to the “board of chosen freeholders” to “board of county commissioners” and to include the President of the Bus Association of New Jersey as an ex officio member of the task force.

      As amended and reported, Assembly Bill No. 2429 is identical to Senate Bill No. 1555, which was also amended and reported by the committee on this date.