Bill > S214

Introduced Session

This bill requires public entities including the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) to transition to electric motorbuses. Beginning in FY 2031, 25 percent of the new motorbuses purchased by each public entity for regular route service that is provided by a public entity must be electric motorbuses. Beginning in FY 2036, all new motorbuses purchased by each public entity for regular route service provided by a public entity must be electric motorbuses. The bill also requires public entities to begin preparing for this transition starting in the first State fiscal year following the effective date of the bill. The bill requires NJ Transit and county transportation services to each provide a report to the Governor and Legislature by March 1, 2025, which documents their progress in preparing for the gradual transition to electric motorbuses beginning in FY 2031. The report is to include updates on the preparations these entities began making to transition to electric motorbuses, the status of each entity in training staff and equipping facilities for the use of electric motorbuses, a schedule for their planned transition to electric motorbuses, an analysis of whether electric motorbuses will be sufficient to replace the existing motorbus fleet, and the potential fiscal impact of the transition to an electric motorbus fleet relative to maintenance and upkeep of the fleet with non-electric motorbuses. The bill also amends the requirements of the Statewide Capital Investment Strategy as they apply to NJ Transit. Currently, NJ Transit is required to transition its diesel bus fleet to lower emission alternatives. This bill sunsets that requirement in FY 2030, so that beginning in FY 2031, the requirements under this bill for the electrification of the motorbus fleet are put in place, which will eventually result in a zero emission fleet. The bill appropriates $82 million each year starting on the first State fiscal year after the bill is enacted and ending before FY 2036. The bill appropriates money to NJ Transit from the societal benefits charge and any revenues generated from the sale of carbon emission allowances resulting from the State's participation in the Transportation and Climate Initiative Program. The bill requires the money to be equitably divided between public entities operating motorbus regular route service to prepare for the transition to electric motorbuses and to purchase electric motorbuses.

Committee Categories

Bob Smith (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Transportation Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document