Bill Text: NJ A1256 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires biannual assessment of the condition of trees within 25 feet of any public highway maintained by DOT and on the State's three toll roads and repair or removal of trees presenting a traffic hazard.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee [A1256 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A1256-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman LINDA STENDER
District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Requires biannual assessment of the condition of trees within 25 feet of any public highway maintained by DOT and on the State's three toll roads and repair or removal of trees presenting a traffic hazard.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning highway safety and supplementing Title 27 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the Department of Transportation shall biannually conduct an assessment of trees within 25 feet of any highway under the jurisdiction of the department to determine whether any such trees are in a condition that may present a traffic hazard, including, but not limited to, trees that are structurally unsound, trees with large broken or loose branches, or trees with large branches hanging over any portion of the public highway. The department shall repair or remove all trees in any such condition to provide that such trees do not present a traffic hazard.
2. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority shall biannually conduct an assessment of trees within 25 feet of any highway under the jurisdiction of the authority to determine whether any such trees are in a condition that may present a traffic hazard, including, but not limited to, trees that are structurally unsound, trees with large broken or loose branches, or trees with large branches hanging over any portion of the public highway. The authority shall repair or remove all trees in any such condition to provide that such trees do not present a traffic hazard.
3. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the South Jersey Transportation Authority shall biannually conduct an assessment of trees within 25 feet of any highway under the jurisdiction of the authority to determine whether any such trees are in a condition that may present a traffic hazard, including, but not limited to, trees that are structurally unsound, trees with large broken or loose branches, or trees with large branches hanging over any portion of the highway. The authority shall repair or remove all trees in any such condition to provide that such trees do not present a traffic hazard.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would require the Department of Transportation, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, and the South Jersey Transportation Authority to biannually conduct an assessment of trees within 25 feet of any highway under the jurisdiction of the department and on the State's three toll roads. The purpose of the assessment is to determine whether any trees close to those highways are in a condition that may present a traffic hazard, including, but not limited to, trees that are structurally unsound, trees with large broken or loose branches or other parts, or trees with large branches hanging over any portion of the public highway or toll road. The bill also requires the repair or removal of all trees in any such condition to provide that such trees do not present a traffic hazard.
