SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
SENATE, No. 2607
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: FEBRUARY 15, 2024
The Senate Transportation Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 2607.
As amended and reported, this bill establishes several requirements for a private entity that operates a motorbus regular route service. Specifically, these private entities would be required to: (1) provide at least four months written notice to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) and New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation) prior to the substantial curtailment of such service; (2) provide at least three months written notice to the service’s customers prior to the substantial curtailment of such service; and (3) hold at least one public meeting in the affected area, as close as possible to the highest trafficked stop on the route, within 15 days after providing notice to the service’s customers. Prior to holding the public meeting, the private entity is required to provide written notice of the public meeting to the commission, corporation, as well as the State legislators representing any legislative district, the mayor and governing body of any municipality, and the board of county commissioners of any county that will be affected by the substantial curtailment of such service.
A private entity found to be in violation of the bill is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each violation, which penalty is to be in addition to any other penalties that may be available pursuant to law.
The bill requires the commission to adopt rules and regulations to implement the bill and to take any action necessary to ensure that private entities are in compliance with the bill’s provisions.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:
The committee amendments change the definition of “motor bus regular route service” to exclude charter bus operation, special bus operation, casino bus operation, and motorbus routes predominately operated for tourism or recreational purposes.