ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION AND INDEPENDENT AUTHORITIES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 3618

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 10, 2025

      The Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3618 (1R).

      As amended and reported, this bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Department of Transportation (DOT), no later than 36 months after the effective date of the bill, to jointly develop a “Wildlife Corridor Action Plan” (plan) that: (1) identifies wildlife corridors, wildlife-vehicle collision hotspots, and existing or planned barriers to wildlife movement along these corridors; (2) maximizes the effectiveness and safety of wildlife corridors; and (3) incorporates the other elements and actions enumerated in the bill.  The bill requires the DEP and the DOT to update the plan every 10 years.  In addition, the bill requires the DOT, no later than 36 months after the plan has been submitted to the Governor and the Legislature, to review the plan and identify and recommend crossing projects for inclusion, to the extent feasible, in certain transportation projects.  The bill authorizes the DEP and the DOT, while developing the plan and reviewing the plan for crossing projects to be included in certain transportation projects, to call upon the advice and services of other State agencies and independent authorities, federal agencies, and national and State conservation, environment, or wildlife groups and organizations. 

      The bill permits the DEP and the DOT to adopt regulations necessary to implement the bill’s provisions.  Finally, the bill appropriates $90,000 from the General Fund to the DEP and the DOT, to be allocated to each department as necessary, to implement the provisions of the bill. 

      As amended and reported by the committee, Senate Bill No. 3618 (1R) is identical to Assembly Bill No. 4926, which was also amended and reported by the committee on this date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to: 

      (1) clarify that the DEP and the DOT are to develop and not implement the plan;

      (2) define “crossing project”;

      (3) define “transportation project”;

      (4) revise the definition of “wildlife corridor”;

      (5) require the DEP and the DOT to jointly develop the plan no later than 36 months, rather than 24 months, after the bill’s effective date;

      (6) clarify that the plan is to identify, rather than prioritize, crossing projects that promote motor vehicle driver safety and wildlife connectivity with natural and wildlife areas conducive to quality of life and safety for wildlife;

      (7) clarify that the plan is to recommend criteria for crossing projects and not recommend crossing projects themselves, which projects are to promote motor vehicle driver safety and wildlife connectivity with natural and wildlife areas conducive to quality of life and safety for wildlife;

      (8) remove the requirement for the DOT to incorporate the recommended crossing projects into road construction, maintenance, or repair projects whenever feasible;

      (9) clarify that the plan is to consider the impact of transportation projects, instead of road projects, on wildlife corridors, and recommend, rather than incorporate, strategies to mitigate threats to wildlife and wildlife corridors by modifying and incorporating safety measures into transportation projects, instead of road and highway construction projects;

      (10) require the DOT to review the plan and identify and recommend crossing projects for inclusion, to the extent feasible, in certain transportation projects, no later than 36 months after the plan has been submitted to the Governor and the Legislature;

      (11) permit the DOT to contact other governmental and industry entities for assistance while reviewing the plan to recommend crossing projects for inclusion in certain transportation projects;

      (12) clarify that the DEP and the DOT are permitted and not required to adopt rules and regulations pursuant to current law as necessary to implement the bill’s provisions;

      (13) appropriate $90,000 from the General Fund to the DEP and the DOT to implement the bill’s provisions;

      (14) update the bill’s title and synopsis; and

      (15) make technical corrections to the bill.