[First Reprint]
ASSEMBLY, No. 2886
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
INTRODUCED MAY 1, 1997
By Assemblymen DeCROCE, KAVANAUGH,
Doria and Bucco
An Act concerning expenditures from the revenues and other funds of the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. 1a.1 From funds authorized by the Legislature to be appropriated from the revenues and other funds of the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority for the Fiscal Year 1[1997] 19981 transportation capital construction program, the Commissioner of Transportation shall allocate and transfer 1[$15,000,000] $5,000,0001 from a part or all of any item or items to a new item for the rehabilitation of certain State-owned buses 1[, manufactured by Motor Coach Industries,]1 which have been allocated for private carrier 1regular route1 service use and which buses have been in operation for at least 1[12] 101 years.
1b. The commissioner shall include in the list of proposed projects for Fiscal Year 1999 and Fiscal Year 2000 required to be submitted to the Legislature pursuant to section 22 of P.L.1984, c.73 (C.27:1B-22) a request for funding in the amount of $5,000,000 in each of those fiscal years for the rehabilitation of certain State-owned buses eligible to receive rehabilitation monies pursuant to subsection a. of this section.1
2. a. The rehabilitation of buses 1[required] authorized1 by section 1 of this act shall include, but not be limited to, engine and transmission replacement; passenger and driver seat replacement 1or reupholstery1; either replacement or rehabilitation of existing air conditioning systems and components, or both, which are consistent with all rules and regulations issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; rehabilitation of heating components, radiator and cooling systems, and related items; 1replacement or rehabilitation of emission control systems;1 and either the structural repair or replacement of bus subsection units, or both, as necessary.
b. 1[The rehabilitation of buses required by this act shall be completed within 12 months of the effective date of this act.
c. The Commissioner of Transportation shall allocate funds in an equitable manner to all private carriers affected by this act to insure the effectuation of the purpose of this act.] The New Jersey Transit Corporation shall oversee the rehabilitation of buses authorized by section 1 of this act. The State-owned vehicles allocated to private carriers eligible for rehabilitation funds appropriated pursuant to this act are MCI 9A coaches, MCI 9B coaches and Flxible NY Rehab coaches. Each of the private carriers assigned these coaches shall apply to New Jersey Transit for approval of rehabilitation items listed in subsection a. of this section for each coach. New Jersey Transit and the private carrier shall conduct a joint inspection of each coach to be rehabilitated to determine what repairs are necessary and eligible for funding pursuant to this act. Factors to be considered in determining eligible repairs shall include: the length of time the vehicle will remain in service; compliance with all State and federal safety regulations; and the comfort and convenience of riders.
Upon approval of a rehabilitation plan for each bus, New Jersey Transit shall authorize the performance of the work. The work may be performed by the private carrier, by New Jersey Transit, or by a vendor. New Jersey Transit and the private carrier shall jointly determine who shall perform the work on the basis of cost and the demonstrated capabilities of the vendor or the carrier who has been proposed to make the repairs. All repairs shall be reviewed and approved by New Jersey Transit. New Jersey Transit shall promptly reimburse all carriers or vendors for work performed. Work and funding priority among private carriers shall be made on an equitable basis, taking into account each carrier's percentage of eligible equipment and age of buses as determined by the corporation.1
13. The New Jersey Transit Corporation shall perform an audit, or cause an audit to be performed, of the rehabilitation expenditures authorized by this act. A copy of the audit report shall be transmitted to the Commissioner of Transportation, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, the Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee and the Chairman of the Assembly Transportation and Communications Committee. The expenses of the audit shall be defrayed from the $5,000,000 transferred pursuant to section 1 of this act.1
1[3.] 4.1 This act shall take effect immediately.
Directs DOT commissioner to allocate $15 million in Transportation Trust Fund monies to rehabilitate certain State-owned but privately operated buses.