This bill creates the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to coordinate transportation planning and infrastructure across southern New Jersey counties, including Burlington County. The SJTA replaces the New Jersey Expressway Authority and Atlantic County Transportation Authority, managing highway systems, aviation facilities, and related economic development projects in the region. It explicitly encompasses Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties as part of its jurisdiction. The authority does not replace the Transportation Trust Fund or New Jersey Transit Corporation's public transit services.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation (DOT) to maintain specific roadways surrounding the State Capitol complex in Trenton, including sections of West State Street, West Lafayette Street, Barrack Street, and Memorial Drive. The required maintenance covers road paving and snow plowing. The DOT may consult or contract with other agencies, counties, or municipalities responsible for adjacent road sections to fulfill this duty. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill requires commercial vehicles carrying large loads (where the load extends above the vehicle's sides, tailgate, or rear) and trailers to use the right lane on highways, except when entering or exiting from the left lane. It applies to motor-drawn vehicles, towed vehicles (like trailers), and vehicles with uncovered or extended loads. Violations carry a fine of up to $500 per offense. The law aims to improve highway safety by keeping larger vehicles out of faster-moving left lanes. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Transportation Committee.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation (DOT) to study whether the state's public roads, bridges, and highways can safely handle the heavier weight of electric vehicles (including plug-in hybrids). Within six months, the DOT must examine each highway, rank them from least to most capable of accommodating EV weight, and recommend improvements. The study's findings will guide the prioritization of highway projects in the state's annual transportation plan, and project sponsors must certify that funded projects will enable highways to support EV weight. This directly affects highway planning and infrastructure funding decisions, with no immediate cost or service changes for drivers.
This New Jersey bill establishes state goals for zero-emission vehicle sales: by 2045, all new medium- and heavy-duty trucks (over 8,500 pounds) sold or leased in the state must be zero-emission, and by 2035, all off-road equipment (like construction vehicles) must be zero-emission where feasible. The Department of Environmental Protection must create regulations, report annually on progress, and develop strategies to make zero-emission vehicles accessible to all residents. The bill defines "zero-emission vehicle" as meeting California Air Resources Board standards (excluding partial zero-emission models) and specifies vehicle categories based on weight. It directly affects vehicle manufacturers, dealers, and equipment providers operating in New Jersey.
S 1970 changes New Jersey's rear seat belt law by making failure to wear a seatbelt a primary offense (allowing police to stop vehicles solely for this violation), repealing the current secondary offense rule. It directly affects all rear seat passengers in vehicles and requires law enforcement agencies to report traffic stop data related to rear seat belt violations to the Attorney General one year after the law takes effect. The Attorney General must analyze this data against prior years to assess impacts on enforcement practices and submit findings to the legislature within six months. Additionally, the bill mandates that implementation data be included in New Jersey's annual Highway Safety Plan submitted to federal agencies, focusing on crash injury and fatality trends.
This bill (S 2333) requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation (DOT) to install and maintain highway exit signs that direct motorists to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. It directly affects EV drivers traveling on designated highways, including Interstates and limited-access roads. The signs must follow federal design standards for traffic control devices, ensuring clear, consistent placement and sizing. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.
This bill allows active-duty military members, their spouses, and dependents stationed outside New Jersey to obtain a motorcycle endorsement on their existing New Jersey driver’s license without returning to New Jersey. To qualify, applicants must provide proof of completing an approved motorcycle safety course (similar to New Jersey’s standard MSF course) and documentation showing their out-of-state military assignment. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission would issue the endorsement by mail after receiving the required documentation and payment of the standard fee, eliminating the need to retake written or road tests. The policy directly affects military-affiliated individuals serving in other states while maintaining their New Jersey license validity.
This bill expands eligibility for New Jersey's Transportation Infrastructure Financing Program, allowing the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC) to apply for state infrastructure funding. Previously, PIPC - responsible for managing parks along the Hudson River border between New Jersey and New York - was excluded from qualifying as a "local government unit" under the program. The bill amends existing law to explicitly include PIPC in the definition of eligible entities for transportation infrastructure projects. This change enables PIPC to access state funds for park-related transportation improvements like road maintenance, parking facilities, or visitor infrastructure. The bill does not create new projects but removes a barrier to existing funding opportunities for the agency.
This bill amends New Jersey's distracted driving law to clarify prohibited uses of wireless devices while driving (except for emergencies or hands-free use), increases fines for violations (especially texting), and creates the "Distracted Driver Enforcement and Education Fund." The fund is financed by 50% of fines collected from distracted driving violations, with the remaining 50% going to the county/municipality where the violation occurred. Money in the fund will be used by the state's Highway Traffic Safety Division to provide grants to local governments for enforcement support and public education campaigns about the dangers of distracted driving. The bill directly affects drivers who violate the law and local governments that can apply for grants to address distracted driving in their communities.
