FISCAL NOTE TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 282

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JANUARY 13, 1997

      Assembly Bill No. 282 of 1996 would limit the length of a high-level rail platform at Lyons Station in the Township of Bernards, Somerset County to 100 feet. New Jersey Transit (NJT) has proposed a rail platform of 285 feet at this station.

      NJT provided a fiscal note last session for a similar bill, Assembly Bill No. 2957 of 1995, which indicated that NJT would save approximately $222,000 by constructing a 100 foot platform rather than a 285 foot rail station platform. However, NJT also believed that it might be sued because a shorter platform may not be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Should this occur, NJT anticipated that it could incur legal and then additional construction costs to redress the situation, if found to be in non-compliance.

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) would accept the savings estimated by NJT to construct a 100 foot platform rather than a 285 foot platform. Since the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) and federal funds would be the funding sources for construction of the rail station platform, any savings would benefit the TTF or federal funds. However, OLS cannot estimate the potential cost for a legal challenge to a reduced length platform; the costs to redress a shortened platform may be at least $222,000.

This fiscal note has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67.