Bill Text: NJ A4016 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes on-demand shuttle service pilot program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2022-09-15 - Withdrawn from Consideration [A4016 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-A4016-Introduced.html
ASSEMBLY, No. 4016
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
220th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED MAY 16, 2022
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHAMA A. HAIDER
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes on-demand shuttle service pilot program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing an on-demand shuttle service pilot program.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section, "on-demand shuttle service" means publicly available transportation provided by means of a motor vehicle to individuals selecting a pick-up and drop-off location by telephone, through a mobile application, or via other electronic means and is provided as soon as possible after an individual selects pick-up and drop-off locations for such transportation.
b. The Commissioner of Transportation, in consultation with the New Jersey Transit Corporation, shall establish and fund a three-year, on-demand shuttle service pilot program that provides public transit service. The purpose of the pilot program shall be to provide on-demand shuttle service to destinations that are not easily accessed by current public transit options, including for individuals who rely on public transit. The commissioner shall consult with the Office of Information Technology to develop and operate the technology necessary to implement the pilot program. The commissioner may charge a reasonable fee to each individual who uses on-demand shuttle service.
c. The commissioner shall designate at least three counties in the State where the pilot program shall operate, with a minimum of one in the southern, one in the northern, and one in the central parts of the State. When designating counties to participate in the pilot program, the commissioner shall consider:
(1) the demand for transit service in the county and the number of people who would benefit from on-demand shuttle service to reach their destinations;
(2) whether and to what extent the county is served by multiple public transit options. To the extent practicable, counties that are underserved by current public transit options shall be designated to participate in the pilot program; and
(3) any other factor deemed by the commissioner and the corporation to be relevant.
d. The following records shall be kept and made available to the Department of Transportation at the conclusion of each year of the pilot program's operation or at more frequent intervals as determined by the commissioner to be appropriate:
(1) a daily and monthly log showing the types of vehicles dispatched, the number of passengers served, and the pick-up and drop-off locations for each on-demand shuttle service provided;
(2) a log showing the average wait time for on-demand shuttle service and the number of cases in which the wait time for on-demand shuttle service was in excess of 45 minutes; and
(3) a copy of any complaints received in relation to the on-demand shuttle service provided under the pilot program, including an indication as to whether and how each complaint was resolved.
e. Within 90 days after the conclusion of the three-year pilot program, the Commissioner of Transportation and the New Jersey Transit Corporation shall jointly prepare and submit a written report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature, evaluating the success of the pilot program. At a minimum, the report shall include the following information:
(1) the counties that were designated to participate in the on-demand shuttle service pilot program and the public transit options, other than on-demand shuttle service, available in those counties during the pilot program;
(2) the total number and average size of vehicles used for on-demand shuttle service under the pilot program;
(3) the total number of persons served by the pilot program, the total number of on-demand shuttle service provided under the pilot program, the drop-off and pick-up locations served by the pilot program, and the frequency by which these pick-up and drop-off locations were served;
(4) the number and nature of complaints filed by persons utilizing the pilot program and the status and nature of the resolution of those complaints;
(5) an analysis of whether on-demand shuttle service effectively assisted individuals who rely on public transit service to reach their desired destinations; and
(6) a recommendation as to whether the pilot program should be continued on a permanent basis, including an indication of where the program should operate, any concerns associated with permanent implementation of the program, and any recommendations for executive or legislative action that will be necessary to ensure the program's success on a permanent basis.
2. Notwithstanding the
provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1
et seq.), within three months of effective date of this act, the Commissioner
of Transportation, in consultation with the New Jersey Transit Corporation,
shall adopt, immediately upon filing proper notice with the Office of
Administrative Law, such temporary rules and regulations necessary to
effectuate the purposes of this act. The rules and regulations adopted shall
be effective for a period not to exceed one year from the date of the filing.
The rules and regulations shall thereafter be amended, adopted, or readopted by
the commissioner in accordance with the requirements of the "Administrative
Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month after enactment, except the Commissioner of Transportation and the New Jersey Transit Corporation may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this act. This act shall expire 30 days after the submission of the report required pursuant to subsection e. of section 1 of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Commissioner of Transportation (commissioner), in consultation with the New Jersey Transit Corporation (corporation), to establish and fund a three-year, on-demand shuttle service pilot program to provide on-demand shuttle service to destinations that are not easily accessed by current public transit options, including for individuals who rely on public transit. "On-demand shuttle service" is defined as publicly available transportation provided by means of a motor vehicle to individuals selecting a pick-up and drop-off location by telephone, through a mobile application, or via other electronic means and is provided as soon as possible after an individual selects pick-up and drop-off locations for such transportation.
The commissioner is required to designate at least three counties in New Jersey, one in the southern, one in the northern, and one in the central parts of the State, that will participate in the pilot program. The commissioner is required to consider certain factors when designating counties to participate in the pilot program. The commissioner is authorized to charge a reasonable fee to each individual who uses on-demand shuttle service.
Certain records are required to be kept and made available to the Department of Transportation as described in the bill. The commissioner and the corporation are required to prepare and submit a written report to the Governor and Legislature within 90 days after the completion of the pilot program. The report is required to include certain information described in the bill. The bill takes effect on the first day of the fourth month after enactment and expires 30 days after the submission of the report.
