This bill amends existing law to allow the New Jersey Transportation Research Bureau within the Department of Transportation to award research contracts not only to public research institutions of higher education but also to private research institutions and other entities. The current law restricts contract awards to public institutions unless the bureau manager determines that additional competition from other entities would benefit the Department of Transportation. The bill removes this provision, thereby broadening the scope of potential contractors and placing the responsibility on the bureau to assess whether awarding contracts to various institutions serves the public interest.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that any research conducted under these contracts must consider the transportation and mobility needs of New Jersey residents with disabilities. It also revises the definition of "entities" to include a wider range of organizations, excluding municipal planning organizations. The manager of the bureau is tasked with fostering relationships with both public and private research institutions and ensuring that the bureau's research activities align with the state's transportation needs.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 27:1B-21.36