S2035

An Act prohibiting certain trucks and truck-trailer combinations from using certain portions of State Highway Route 29 for through travel and amending P.L.2001, c.45.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. Section 1 of P.L.2001, c.45 (C.39:4-197.16) is amended to read as follows:

1. The Legislature finds that sections of State Highway Route 29, from its intersection with Interstate Route 95 to its northern terminus at State Highway Route 12, have sharp curves, minimal shoulders and limited sight distances. The Legislature further finds that the use of State Highway Route 29 between the stated points by heavy vehicles constitutes a hazard to the traveling public, as evidenced by serious accidents on that roadway, some including fatalities, and confirmed by extensive formal public comments, in recognition of which the Department of Transportation issued a traffic regulation order on November 15, 2000 temporarily prohibiting heavy trucks and truck-trailer combinations from using State Highway Route 29 between the stated points for through travel. The Legislature further finds that there are nearby alternative through routings which have significantly better overall roadway conditions and geometric designs.

The Legislature further finds that, in 2002, the Department of Transportation determined that it is in the interest of the public health, safety, and welfare to issue a permanent traffic regulation order prohibiting heavy trucks and truck-trailer combinations from using State Highway Route 29 from its intersection with Interstate Route 95 to its intersection with State Highway Route 129.

The Legislature finds and declares that State Highway Route 29, from its intersection with Interstate Route 95 to its northern terminus at State Highway Route 12 and from its intersection with Interstate Route 95 to its intersection with State Highway Route 129, is inappropriate for through travel by truck and truck-trailer combinations which exceed 26,000 pounds in weight, and that these vehicles should be permanently prohibited from using that roadway.

(cf: P.L.2001, c.45, s.1)

2. Section 2 of P.L.2001, c.45 (C.39:4-197.17) is amended to read as follows:

2. Except as otherwise provided in section 3 of this act, truck and truck-trailer combinations which exceed 26,000 pounds in gross registered vehicle weight, gross vehicle weight rating, or gross combination weight rating regardless of their dimensions, are prohibited from using State Highway Route 29, in either the northbound or southbound travel lanes[,]:

a. from its intersection with Interstate Route 95 to its northern terminus at State Highway Route 12;

b. from its intersection with Interstate Route 95 to its intersection with U.S. Highway Route 1;

c. from its intersection with U.S. Highway Route 1 to its northern intersection with the State Highway Route 29 tunnel in the City of Trenton; and

d. from its northern intersection with the State Highway Route 29 tunnel in the City of Trenton to its intersection with State Highway Route 129.

(cf: P.L.2001, c.45, s.2)

3. Section 3 of P.L.2001, c.45 (C.39:4-197.18) is amended to read as follows:

3. The prohibitions contained in subsections a., b., and c. of section 2 of this act shall not apply to emergency vehicles, government owned or leased vehicles, vehicles which have an origin or final destination on or within three miles of the prohibited sections of State Highway Route 29, or vehicles making an actual pickup, delivery or providing services at a location on or within three miles of the prohibited sections.

The prohibition contained in subsection d. of section 2 of this act shall not apply to emergency vehicles or government owned or leased vehicles.

(cf: P.L.2001, c.45, s.3)

4. Section 4 of P.L.2001, c.45 (C.39:4-197.19) is amended to read as follows:

4. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 2 of this act, the Commissioner of Transportation in accordance with the provisions of section 2 of P.L.1998, c.28 (C.39:4-8.3) may after the holding of a public meeting by written order provide for the use of the prohibited portions of State Highway Route 29 by vehicles engaged in the commercial transportation of certain rapidly setting concrete mixtures under circumstances in which adherence to the prohibitions set forth in this act makes delivery impossible or economically impracticable, except that these vehicles shall not use State Highway Route 29 at any time, in either the northbound or southbound travel lanes, from its intersection with U.S. Highway Route 1 to its intersection with State Highway Route 129.

(cf: P.L.2001, c.45, s.4)

5. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill amends existing law to codify the provisions of the Department of Transportation’s permanent traffic regulation orders prohibiting heavy trucks from operating on certain portions of State Highway Route 29 (Route 29) from its intersection with Interstate Route 95 to its intersection with State Highway Route 129.

Under the bill, trucks and truck-trailer combinations over 26,000 pounds gross registered vehicle weight, gross vehicle weight rating, or gross combination weight rating are prohibited from using Route 29, in both directions of traffic, from its intersection with Interstate Route 95 to its intersection with State Highway Route 129.

The bill provides an exemption to this prohibition for emergency vehicles or government owned or leased vehicles. The bill allows vehicles otherwise prohibited from operating on Route 29 under the provisions of the bill to operate on Route 29 between its intersection with Interstate Route 95 and its northern intersection with the Route 29 tunnel in the City of Trenton (Trenton tunnel) if the vehicles have an origin or final destination on or within three miles of Route 29 or are making an actual pickup, delivery, or providing services at a location on or within three miles of Route 29. The bill provides that the Commissioner of Transportation may allow vehicles engaged in the commercial transportation of certain rapidly setting concrete mixtures to use Route 29 from its intersection with Interstate Route 95 to its intersection with U.S. Highway Route 1 under circumstances in which adherence to the bill’s prohibitions makes delivery impossible or economically impracticable.