This bill proposes the consolidation of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the South Jersey Transportation Authority, and the New Jersey Transit Corporation under the Department of Transportation (DOT) to improve oversight, planning, and operational efficiency. It establishes a specified "Transfer Date" when all powers, duties, assets, and responsibilities of these entities will be transferred to the DOT. Key provisions include the termination of current board members' terms on the Transfer Date, the transfer of employees while preserving their rights and benefits, and the DOT's assumption of all debts and obligations. The bill also prohibits the DOT from issuing new bonds or obligations after the transfer and mandates that existing rules and regulations remain in effect until amended.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new governance structure for the South Jersey Transportation Authority, with a board of 13 members, including 11 voting members and two non-voting members appointed by labor organizations. It emphasizes transparency by requiring board meetings to comply with the "Senator Byron M. Baer Open Public Meetings Act." The bill amends various sections of existing law to streamline transportation project processes, enhances the commissioner's powers regarding state highway maintenance, and modifies the New Jersey Target Zero Commission's membership. Notably, it includes legal amendments that transfer properties to the DOT on the Transfer Date and deletes a requirement for DOT approval for stock transfers to the New Jersey Transit Corporation, aiming to enhance accountability and efficiency within New Jersey's transportation system.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 27:23-3, 27:25-4, 27:25A-4, 27:1A-5.6, 27:1A-65, 27:1A-66, 27:1A-67, 27:1A-74, 27:1B-21.34, 27:5F-44, 27:25-20, 27:25-21, 27:1A-5.17