Sponsored by:
Senator VINCENT J. POLISTINA
District 2 (Atlantic)
Senator NILSA I. CRUZ-PEREZ
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Burzichelli
SYNOPSIS
Designates State Highway Route 42 and Interstate Highway Route 295 interchange as “John R. Elliott Memorial Interchange.”
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act designating the interchange between State Highway Route 42 and Interstate Highway Route 295 as the “John R. Elliott Memorial Interchange.”
Whereas, On July 22, 2000, a drunk driver hit and killed John R. Elliott, a recent graduate of the United States Naval Academy, who had been driving from Annapolis, Maryland to his family home in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey to celebrate his mother’s birthday; and
Whereas, The accident occurred at 1:30 a.m. in the morning while Mr. Elliott was traveling on State Highway Route 40, east of Woodstown, New Jersey; and
Whereas, In November of 2023, two new exit ramps were opened, connecting State Highway Route 42 and Interstate Highway Route 295; and
Whereas, The new connection between the two roadways is expected to improve traffic conditions on local routes and will provide a more direct route for travelers; and
Whereas, To honor the life and tragic loss of Mr. Elliott, it is fitting and proper to designate the newly-built interchange that connects State Highway Route 42 with Interstate Highway Route 295 as the “John R. Elliott Memorial Interchange,” which interchange will improve traffic safety on our roadways; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Commissioner of Transportation shall designate the interchange between State Highway Route 42 and Interstate Highway Route 295 as the “John R. Elliott Memorial Interchange” and erect appropriate signs bearing this designation and dedication.
2. State or other public
funds shall not be used for producing, purchasing, or erecting signs bearing
the designation established pursuant to section 1 of this act. The
Commissioner of Transportation is authorized to receive gifts, grants, or other
financial assistance from private sources for the purpose of funding or
reimbursing the Department of Transportation for the costs associated with
producing, purchasing, erecting, and maintaining signs bearing the designation
established pursuant to section 1 of this act and entering into agreements
related thereto, with private sources, including, but not limited to,
non-governmental non-profit, educational, or charitable entities or
institutions. Work shall not proceed and funding shall not be accepted by the
Department of Transportation until an agreement has been reached with a
responsible party for paying the costs associated with producing, purchasing,
erecting, and maintaining the signs.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill designates the interchange between State Highway Route 42 and Interstate Highway Route 295 as the “John R. Elliott Memorial Interchange” to honor the memory of John R. Elliott, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy who was tragically killed by a drunk driver.
Consistent with Department of Transportation policy and other road designations, the bill provides that State or other public funds are not to be used for producing, purchasing, or erecting signs bearing the designation for the “John R. Elliott Memorial Interchange.” The Commissioner of Transportation is authorized to receive financial assistance from private sources for the costs associated with producing, purchasing, erecting, and maintaining signs bearing the designation.