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S3284
SENATE, No. 3284
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 2, 2026
Sponsored by:
Senator� VIN GOPAL
District 11 (Monmouth)
Senator� MICHAEL L. TESTA, JR.
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
���� Establishes New Jersey Transportation Consolidation
Task Force.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning the consolidation of the New Jersey Transit
Corporation, New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, New Jersey
Turnpike Authority, South Jersey Transportation Authority, and Department of
Transportation.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� There is hereby created
a task force to be known as the �New Jersey Transportation Consolidation Task
Force.�� The task force shall investigate and evaluate the consolidation of the
New Jersey Transit Corporation, New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority,
New Jersey Turnpike Authority, South Jersey Transportation Authority, and
Department of Transportation.� The task force shall consist of seven members to
be appointed as follows:� two members to be appointed by the Governor with
professional background and expertise in the areas of transportation policy,
one of whom shall be employed by the New Jersey Institute of Technology and one
of whom shall be employed by Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey; one
public member to be appointed by the Governor with professional background and
expertise in public finance; one public member to be appointed by the Senate
President; one public member to be appointed by the Speaker of the General
Assembly; one public member to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the
Senate; and one public member to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the
General Assembly.
���� 2.��� a.� Members of the task
force shall be appointed within 30 days after the effective date of P.L. ,
c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill).� The task
force shall organize as soon as practicable, but not later than 30 days
following the appointment of four members, and shall select a chairperson from
among its members.� The chairperson shall appoint a secretary, who need not be
a member of the task force.
���� b.��� Members of the task
force shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary
expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the
task force.
���� 3.��� a.� The task force shall
submit a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2
of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), no later than 12 months following the
organization of the task force concerning the consolidation of the New Jersey Transit
Corporation, New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, New Jersey
Turnpike Authority, South Jersey Transportation Authority, and Department of
Transportation.� The report shall include the task force�s findings and
recommendations concerning potential issues posed by the consolidation,
including, but not limited to: �legal matters, including review of bond
covenants and labor issues; operational matters; and financial matters,
including savings, costs, and potential changes to the State�s credit rating.�
The task force shall submit a detailed accounting of cost savings that can be
achieved by the agencies prior to consolidation as well as additional savings
that can be achieved following consolidation.� The task force shall include
with its recommendations a legislative proposal to establish a single new
independent transportation agency resulting from the consolidation of the New
Jersey Transit Corporation, New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority, New
Jersey Turnpike Authority, South Jersey Transportation Authority, and
Department of Transportation.
���� b.��� The task force shall
include in its report specific analysis of the current operations at existing
State agencies, best practices from other states, potential merger strategies,
opportunities for operational efficiencies, and cost savings in the areas of: �purchasing,
legal services, planning, engineering, other professional services, including
human resources, interagency sharing of major maintenance facilities and
equipment, contracting for goods and professional services, restructuring debt,
land acquisition, aviation, marine dredging, and employee benefits, salary
structure, and work policies.
���� c.��� The task force shall
provide a detailed plan of consolidation that creates the single new
independent transportation agency as provided in subsection a. of this
section.� The report shall address the organizational structure of the new
agency, how the agency will function within State government and interact with
local government entities, and how responsibility for transportation functions
will be allocated within the new agency and outline the governance structure
for the new agency, which shall include a board of directors and a professional
executive director.
���� 4.��� The task force shall be
entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the
employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, task
force, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes,
employ stenographic and clerical assistance, and incur traveling and other
miscellaneous expenses necessary to perform its duties, within the limits of
funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for its purposes.
���� 5.��� The task force may meet
and hold hearings at the places it designates, at which it may request the
appearance of officials of any State agency or political subdivision of the
State and may solicit testimony of interested groups and the general public.
���� 6.��� This act shall take
effect immediately and shall expire upon the submission of
the report
required pursuant to section 3 of this act.
STATEMENT
���� This bill establishes the �New
Jersey Transportation Consolidation Task Force� (task force) to investigate and
evaluate consolidating the New Jersey Transit Corporation, New Jersey Transportation
Trust Fund Authority, New Jersey Turnpike Authority, South Jersey
Transportation Authority, and Department of Transportation.� The task force is
to consist of seven members that are to be appointed as follows: �two members
appointed by the Governor with professional background and expertise in the
areas of transportation policy, one of whom is to be from the New Jersey
Institute of Technology and one of whom is to be from Rutgers, the State
University of New Jersey; one public member appointed by the Governor with
professional background and expertise in public finance; one public member
appointed by the Senate President; one public member appointed by the Speaker
of the General Assembly; one public member appointed by the Minority Leader of
the Senate; and one public member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
General Assembly.
���� The task force is to submit a
detailed accounting of cost savings that can be achieved by the agencies prior
to consolidation as well as additional savings that can be achieved following
consolidation.� The task force is to include with its recommendations a
legislative proposal to establish a single new independent transportation
agency resulting from the consolidation.
���� The task force is to provide a
specific analysis of the current operations at existing State agencies, best
practices from other states, potential merger strategies, opportunities for
operational efficiencies, and cost savings in the areas of: �purchasing, legal
services, planning, engineering, other professional services including human
resources, interagency sharing of major maintenance facilities and equipment,
contracting for goods and professional services, restructuring debt, land
acquisition, aviation, marine dredging, and employee benefits, salary structure,
and work policies.� This analysis is to be taken into account when recommending
a new, consolidated governance structure for the State�s transportation system.
���� The task force is required to
submit its recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within 12 months
following the organization of the task force.