ASSEMBLY, No. 2283

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 16, 1996

By Assemblyman BARNES and Assemblywoman BUONO

AN ACT concerning noise barriers along State highways and supplementing chapter 7 of Title 27 of the Revised Statutes.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. a. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the Department of Transportation shall erect noise barriers along State highways that have been identified by acoustical studies as warranting noise mitigation measures.

    b. The Commissioner of Transportation shall include in the annual report of general project categories and proposed projects submitted pursuant to section 22 of P.L.1984, c.73 (C.27:1B-22) a sum for the construction of noise barriers.

    c. To the extent practicable, noise barriers shall be constructed of recycled materials.

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    The expansion of the State's highway system and the greater volume of vehicle traffic using the system have produced intolerable noise problems for residential areas adjacent to State highways. This bill would direct the Department of Transportation to erect noise barriers along those sections of State highways which have been identified by acoustical studies as warranting noise mitigation measures.

    Further, the bill directs the Commissioner of Transportation to include funding for noise barriers in the annual request for appropriations from the Transportation Trust Fund.

    Also, to help reduce the cost of such barriers and to further promote recycling efforts, the bill requires that noise barriers be constructed of recycled materials to the extent practicable.

Directs DOT to erect noise barriers.