SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

SENATE, No. 866

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: MARCH 14, 1996

 

      The Senate Transportation Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 866.

      This bill authorizes the Commissioner of Transportation to allocate and transfer monies from a part or all of any item or items 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 FY 1995 and the FY 1996 transportation capital construction programs for extraordinary road maintenance and repairs. The bill authorizes the commissioner to transfer $15 million for extraordinary road maintenance and repairs on the State highway system, $4 million for grants to counties for county road repairs and $6 million for grants to municipalities for municipal road repairs.

      Grants to counties and municipalities would be allocated based on a formula to be developed by the commissioner which gives equal consideration to population, local jurisdiction road mileage, and winter weather conditions.

      Due to the severity and frequency of winter storms beginning in December of 1995, along with the dramatic temperature changes, many roads throughout the State have developed potholes and other damage requiring repair. This extraordinary damage was not anticipated, and therefore not budgeted for. This bill would provide funds to make these necessary repairs.