Transportation

This bill introduces an alternative compliance method for developers in New Jersey who must install electric vehicle charging infrastructure, allowing them to meet requirements based on total charging capacity rather than the number of equipped parking spaces. It directly affects developers, building owners, and parking facility operators subject to existing state laws requiring EV charging installations. The legislation defines key terms like "charging capacity" and "Make-Ready" parking, and authorizes the Site Improvement Advisory Board to create statewide standards that set minimum capacity requirements based on parking numbers and facility type. Developers can choose between the current number-based requirement or the new capacity-based option, with regulations to be established within 12 months of the bill's effective date.

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 streamlines the approval process for installing electric vehicle charging equipment at existing buildings like gas stations and retail stores by replacing complex land use reviews with a simpler administrative permit system. The key provision allows these installations to proceed through a non-discretionary permit process as long as they meet state construction codes and safety standards, eliminating the need for site plan board reviews or variance requests. Local governments retain the authority to review applications only for specific, demonstrable public health and safety concerns rather than general planning issues, while inspections remain required to ensure compliance with applicable regulations.

This bill creates the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to coordinate transportation planning and infrastructure across southern New Jersey counties, including Burlington County. The SJTA replaces the New Jersey Expressway Authority and Atlantic County Transportation Authority, managing highway systems, aviation facilities, and related economic development projects in the region. It explicitly encompasses Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties as part of its jurisdiction. The authority does not replace the Transportation Trust Fund or New Jersey Transit Corporation's public transit services.