ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2707

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MAY 5, 1997

      The Assembly Transportation and Communications Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2707.

      This bill would authorize the Department of Transportation to provide 50 percent of the non-federal share of costs to install and maintain automatic train control systems on certain rail freight railroads that operate on rail lines owned and used by the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJT) for regular rail passenger service.

      A complementary bill, Assembly Bill No. 1620 of 1996, directs that NJT's highest priority capital project be the installation and maintenance of automatic train control systems on corporation trains. As a result of such equipment installation, certain rail freight lines operating on NJT rail lines would then be obligated to install and maintain similar, compatible train control equipment on its trains. This bill would authorize the use of monies from the annual Transportation Trust Fund Authority capital appropriation to provide a share of the costs that would be incurred by rail freight lines.