ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION AND INDEPENDENT AUTHORITIES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1476

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 6, 2024

      The Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1476.

      As reported, this bill establishes the “New Jersey Target Zero Commission” (commission). The commission is to consist of 13 members as outlined in the bill.

      The purpose and duties of the commission are to study, examine, and review all aspects of traffic safety with a particular focus on access, equity, and mobility for all road users using the safe system approach and to advise the Governor, the Legislature, and the Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding policies, programs, research, and priorities to help achieve the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2040. To fulfill its purpose and duties, the commission is required to:

      (1) develop a comprehensive and coordinated action plan to help achieve the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roadways in the State by 2040 through engineering, education, and enforcement systems that analyze physical transportation designs with a focus on the equitable treatment of all transportation users;

      (2) identify short-term and long-term data-driven strategies with measurable goals and target dates to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries with the goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2040;

      (3) adopt the action plan no later than the first day of the 12th month following the effective date of the bill and, prior to adoption of the action plan, host a public hearing to receive public feedback concerning the proposed action plan, which must be published on the commission’s Internet website no less than 72 hours before the public hearing;

      (4) promote effective and transparent collection of traffic safety data and dissemination of such data via a publicly accessible data portal that includes, but is not limited to, the most dangerous intersections in the State, traffic crash data with information on non-fatal injuries and demographic data, and a high injury network that indicates the roadways, in the State, with the highest injury rates;

      (5) encourage the elimination of road hazards by advancing active transportation and mass transit as safe and viable forms of transportation throughout the State for persons of all ages and abilities;

      (6) provide recommendations for changes to State, county, and municipal law to achieve the goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2040;

      (7) develop the action plan to implement and promote the safe system approach, target zero strategies, and evidenced-based safety countermeasures to help achieve the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries among all road users by 2040;

      (8) create and maintain an interactive Internet website to provide information about the commission, including, but not limited to, information on the membership of the commission, plans and agendas, educational materials about target zero, and a link to the safety portal;

      (9) serve as an advisor to the Department of Transportation and other State agencies and transportation authorities with regard to roadway planning and transportation infrastructure planning;

      (10) provide advice and assistance to county and municipal governments to develop their own target zero plans; and

      (11) report annually to the Governor and to the Legislature.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.