SENATE RESOLUTION No. 63
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
INTRODUCED OCTOBER 3, 1996
By Senator HAINES
A Senate Resolution establishing a Senate Special Committee on Light Rail Transit.
Whereas, Light rail transit has become an increasingly popular method of meeting the public transportation needs of various regions of the United States, including the State of New Jersey wherein a number of light rail projects are in the process of being considered or realized; and
Whereas, The State of New Jersey acting through the New Jersey Transit Corporation has authorized the awarding of a $1.2 billion contract for the construction and operation of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit project, which project is supported by funding from the Federal Transit Administration; and
Whereas, Senate Bill No. 798 of 1996 was enacted into law as P.L.1996, c.18, which requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation to study the feasibility and cost of instituting light rail passenger service from the City of Camden to the City of Trenton; and
Whereas, As a result of the required study, the possibility of a Burlington County - Gloucester County light rail transit system linking Glassboro, Camden and Trenton is being considered, which would permit intermodal transfers with the PATCO High Speed Line, as well as the Northeast Corridor lines; and
Whereas, The New Jersey General Assembly has reconstituted the Assembly Light Rail Transit Legislative Panel by Assembly Resolution No. 14 of 1996, passed by the General Assembly on May 6, 1996, to oversee the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit project, as well as all other light rail projects in the State; and
Whereas, It is appropriate to establish a Senate Special Committee on Light Rail Transit to oversee the proposed Burlington-Gloucester Transit System as it progresses and to help develop and oversee all light rail transit projects throughout the State; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. There is hereby established the Senate Special Committee on Light Rail Transit. The committee shall consist of three members of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate. The committee may appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the committee. The Senate President shall designate one of the members to serve as chairman. No more than two members of the committee shall be of the same political party.
2. It shall be the duty of the committee to serve as a public forum for the discussion of matters related to light rail transit projects in the State, to work with State departments and agencies, as well as county and municipal officials, in the development of these projects, and to monitor and evaluate progress made toward the realization of light rail systems. The committee shall give special consideration to the development and realization of the proposed Burlington-Gloucester Transit System.
3. a. The committee may meet and hold hearings at the places it designates during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature, including joint hearings with the Assembly Light Rail Transit Legislative Panel if that panel should so desire, and shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of officials, and employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission or agency as it may require.
b. The committee shall further be entitled to employ stenographic and clerical assistance and incur traveling and other miscellaneous expenses as it may deem necessary in order to perform its duties, within the limits of funds appropriated to or otherwise made available to it for its purposes.
4. The committee shall report its activities, findings, conclusions and recommendations for legislation or administrative action as often as appropriate to the President of the Senate.
STATEMENT
This Senate resolution establishes the Senate Special Committee on Light Rail Transit. The committee is to consist of three members of the Senate to be appointed by the President thereof. No more than two members of the committee are to be of the same political party.
It is the duty of the committee to serve as a public forum for the discussion of matters related to light rail transit projects in the State, to work with State departments and agencies, as well as county and municipal officials in the development of the projects. Considerable progress has been made to date on the development of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit project, with the New Jersey Transit Corporation's Board of Directors having authorized the award, on August 8, 1996, of a $1.2 billion contract for the first phase of this project. Another light rail project which is currently being discussed is the Burlington-Gloucester Transit System which would involve a light rail transit system linking Glassboro, Camden and Trenton and permitting intermodal transfers with the PATCO High Speed Line, as well as the Northeast Corridor Line. The committee is directed to give special consideration to the development and realization of the project since it is in its formative stages. The committee is also authorized to hold joint hearings with the Assembly Light Rail Legislative Panel if that body so desires. The Assembly panel, which has been focusing primarily on the Hudson-Bergen project, has been reconstituted by Assembly Resolution No. 14 of 1996.
The committee is to report its activities, findings, conclusions and recommendations for legislation and administrative action as often as appropriate to the President of the Senate.
Establishes Senate Special Committee on Light Rail Transit.