Bill > A2704

Introduced Session

This bill consolidates the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the South Jersey Transportation Authority, and the New Jersey Transit Corporation (collectively, transportation entities) within the New Jersey Department of Transportation (department) and transfers the powers and duties of the transportation entities to the department. The bill also amends current law to clarify this transfer of powers and duties. Specifically, on the Transfer Date specified in the bill, the outstanding bonds of each transportation entity are to be retired, the department is to assume all assets, debts, liabilities, and statutory responsibilities of the transportation entities, and each transportation entity is to be consolidated within the department. In addition, the employees of each transportation entity are to be transferred to the department and become employees of the department; any union contracts for the transportation entities are to continue in effect until new or revised contracts are agreed to; and nothing in the bill is to deprive any employee of a transportation entity of their rights, privileges, obligations, or status regarding any pension or retirement system or to affect the civil service status, if any, of the employees. Any rules and regulations adopted by the transportation entities are to continue in effect as rules and regulations adopted by the department until the rules and regulations are amended, supplemented, or rescinded by the department. The department is permitted to adopt rules and regulations modifying or repealing the rules and regulations of a transportation entity pursuant to a procedure prescribed in the bill. After the Transfer Date, neither the department nor any transportation entity is permitted to issue new bonds. Moreover, the bill prohibits the department from using any asset transferred to the department by a transportation entity for non-transportation related purposes. As soon as practicable after the Transfer Date, the department is to notify the Governor and the presiding officers of each house of the Legislature that the transfer has occurred, of the date of the transfer, and of any other information concerning the transfer as the department deems appropriate. The New Jersey transportation system is of vital importance to its residents and the nation. Due to its size and significance, it requires a greater level of government oversight to ensure that all persons and industries served by the State's transportation system receive high quality and safe transportation service. With this legislation, the sponsor seeks to streamline operations, reduce bureaucracy, and improve accountability within the State's transportation sector and thereby mend the fragmented nature of the State's transportation system, which has resulted in inefficiencies, rising costs, and reliability issues.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Chris DePhillips (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document