Transportation

This bill allows large, fast-growing New Jersey municipalities to collect and use additional taxes to fund local transportation services. Specifically, it permits cities with over 200,000 residents that grew by more than 15 percent between 2010 and 2020 to use mass transit parking tax revenue for transit operations and administrative costs. The legislation also changes how parking fines are handled in these areas, directing a larger share of penalty fees to municipal courts and giving cities full control over how to spend the remaining funds. Furthermore, it lets these same cities impose a rental car tax regardless of whether they have a major airport and removes restrictions limiting where within the city the tax can be collected.

This bill creates a system for New Jersey Transit (NJT) to use camera-equipped buses to enforce parking violations that block bus lanes, bus stops, or bicycle lanes. It authorizes NJT to issue citations based on recorded images of vehicles parked illegally in these zones (e.g., stopping in a dedicated bus lane or bicycle lane), after staff review. Key provisions require cameras to be visibly marked on buses, images to be stored securely for up to six months only if evidence of a violation exists, and strict rules against using facial recognition. The policy directly affects drivers who park illegally in these areas and gives them a limited process to contest citations (e.g., if the vehicle was a school bus or emergency vehicle).

This bill establishes rules for on-demand micro transit programs in New Jersey, which are app- or phone-based shared rides using vehicles. It directly affects New Jersey Transit, county transit agencies, and other operators by requiring drivers to be public employees or contractors who hire existing drivers at equivalent wages/benefits (no independent contractors), and mandating that services expand into transit deserts without replacing existing routes. Key provisions include ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities, providing non-smartphone access options, and requiring monthly data reporting on costs, ridership, and wait times. The New Jersey Transit Corporation must publish this data quarterly, and violations will trigger wage law penalties.