SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 57
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
INTRODUCED DECEMBER 4, 1997
By Senator SINAGRA
A Joint Resolution creating a commission to conduct a comprehensive study on truck movement throughout New Jersey.
Whereas, Federal law prohibits States from imposing a vehicle width limitation which would prohibit 102 inch wide trucks, the standard width of trucks, from operating on the Federal-aid Primary System; and
Whereas, Several highways which are a part of the Federal-aid Primary System in this State are essentially local roadways and are not suitable for high volume of truck traffic; and
Whereas, The high volume of truck traffic on these highways, many of which are two-lane undivided highways, has led to traffic congestion, difficult driving conditions and dangerous situations as several of these highways are also school bus routes; and
Whereas, The increased truck traffic on local highways, which are not designed for such traffic, puts the public using local highways at a greater risk of being involved in a traffic accident and increases wear and tear on those local highways; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper and in the public interest to create a commission to conduct a comprehensive study on truck movement throughout New Jersey in response to concerns of citizens with regard to high volume truck traffic on highways unsuited to that traffic; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. There is created a commission to be known as the "Study Commission on Truck Traffic and Highway Safety" to study and make recommendations concerning truck movement throughout the State.
The commission shall consist of 11 members as follows: the Commissioner of Transportation, ex officio, or a designated representative; the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles in the Department of Transportation, ex officio, or a designated representative; the Superintendent of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety, ex officio, or a designated representative; the Director of the Office of Highway Traffic Safety, in the Department of Law and Public Safety, ex officio, or a designated representative; the Director of the Office of State Planning in the Department of the Treasury, ex officio, or a designated representative; and 6 public members, to be appointed by the Governor, who shall include a representative of the New Jersey Highway Traffic Safety Policy Advisory Council, a representative of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, a representative of the New Jersey Association of Counties, a representative of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, a representative of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, and a representative of the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization.
The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
2. The commission shall organize as soon as may be practicable after the appointment of a majority of its members and shall select a chairperson from among the members. The members shall select a secretary, who need not be a member of the commission.
The commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson.
The commission shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State department, board, bureau, commission or agency, as it may require and as may be available for its purposes, and to employ stenographic and clerical assistance and incur traveling and other miscellaneous expenses as may be necessary in order to perform its duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for its purposes.
3. The commission shall conduct a comprehensive study on truck movement throughout New Jersey in response to concerns of citizens with regard to high volume truck traffic on highways unsuited to that traffic. The commission shall identify appropriate truck routes through the State that will reduce or eliminate high volume truck traffic on highways in residential areas unsuited to that traffic. The commission shall focus on those highways which are a part of the Federal-aid Primary System in this State and which are two-lane undivided highways or essentially local roadways and are not suitable for high volume of truck traffic. The commission shall develop recommendations for legislative or regulatory action that it deems appropriate in order to reduce or eliminate high volume truck traffic on highways in residential areas.
4. The commission shall prepare and submit a final report containing its findings and recommendations, including any recommendations for legislative or regulatory action that it deems appropriate, as prescribed in section 3 of this joint resolution, no later than one year after the commission organizes, to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the members of the Senate Transportation Committee and the Assembly Transportation and Communications Committee, or the successor committees.
5. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately and shall expire 30 days after the commission submits its final report, as prescribed in section 4 of this joint resolution.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution would establish an 11 member "Study Commission on Truck Traffic and Highway Safety" to study and make recommendations concerning truck movement throughout the State.
The commission is charged with conducting a comprehensive study on truck movement throughout New Jersey in response to concerns of citizens with regard to high volume truck traffic on highways unsuited to that traffic. The commission will identify appropriate truck routes through the State that will reduce or eliminate high volume truck traffic on highways in residential areas unsuited to that traffic.
Within one year of its organization, the commission would submit a final report containing its findings and recommendations, including any recommendations for legislative or regulatory action if deemed appropriate, to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the members of the transportation committees in each House.
Creates "Study Commission on Truck Traffic and Highway Safety."