Sponsored by:
Senator MICHAEL L. TESTA, JR.
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Senator VINCENT J. POLISTINA
District 2 (Atlantic)
SYNOPSIS
Requires NJT to establish pilot program to support the commuting needs of residents in Cumberland and Cape May counties to Atlantic City.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act requiring the New Jersey Transit Corporation to establish a pilot program in Cumberland and Cape May counties.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The New Jersey Transit Corporation shall establish a two-year pilot program to provide additional motorbus regular route service operated by the corporation, or by an entity under contract with the corporation, to residents in Cumberland and Cape May counties commuting to places of employment in Atlantic City.
b. The corporation shall establish policies and procedures for the pilot program, including but not limited to policies that provide for a user-friendly approach that aims to reduce any barriers and provide ease of access to persons using the motorbus regular route service provided by the pilot program and increase the number and frequency of additional motorbus regular route services.
c. The corporation shall keep records on the number of riders that purchase tickets for motorbus regular route service provided through the pilot program.
2. a. Based on the results of the pilot program, the New Jersey Transit Corporation shall prepare a report concerning the public transportation needs of residents in Cumberland and Cape May counties commuting to places of employment in Atlantic City and provide recommendations on how the corporations transportation services can better address the commuting needs of these residents. The report shall examine:
(1) the success of the pilot program, which shall be determined by the volume of tickets sold over the duration of the pilot program;
(2) alternative transportation options that are available to these residents to commute to employment, including, but not limited to, non-public transportation options;
(3) the cost of the pilot program;
(4) the feasibility of the corporation providing additional transportation service between these areas and Atlantic City to accommodate the commuting needs of the residents of the counties;
(5) whether the corporation or an entity under contract with the corporation should continue to provide routes established under the pilot program; and
(6) any other relevant information concerning the public transportation needs of residents in these areas to commute to employment in Atlantic City.
b. Within six months from the end of the pilot program established pursuant to section 1 of this act, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Transit Corporation shall submit the report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature.
3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire upon submission of the report required pursuant to section 2 of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) to establish a two-year pilot program to provide additional motorbus regular route service operated by the corporation, or by an entity under contract with the corporation, to residents in Cumberland and Cape May counties commuting to places of employment in Atlantic City. NJ Transit is also required to establish policies and procedures for the pilot program, including but not limited to policies that provide for a user-friendly approach that aims to reduce any barriers and provide ease of access to persons using the motorbus regular route service provided by the pilot program and increase the number and frequency of additional motorbus regular route services.
The bill also requires NJ Transit to prepare a report concerning the public transportation needs of residents in Cumberland and Cape May counties commuting to places of employment in Atlantic City. NJ Transit is also required to provide recommendations on how its transportation services can better address the commuting needs of these residents.
The report is to examine: (1) the success of the pilot program, which is to be determined by the volume of tickets sold over the duration of the program; (2) alternative transportation options that are available to these residents to commute to employment; (3) the cost of the pilot program; (4) the feasibility of NJ Transit providing additional transportation service between Cumberland and Cape May counties and Atlantic City; (5) whether NJ Transit or an entity under contract with NJ Transit should continue to provide routes established under the pilot program; and (6) any other relevant information concerning the public transportation needs of residents in Cumberland and Cape May counties to commute to employment in Atlantic City.
The Executive Director of NJ Transit is to submit a report of NJ Transits findings and recommendations, based on the results of the pilot program, to the Governor and Legislature within six months from the end of the pilot program. The bill expires upon submission of the report.