13.a.
There is created in the Department of Transportation
a task force to be known as the "Congestion Buster
Task Force" to study and make recommendations concerning
the reduction of traffic congestion in the State. The
members of the task force shall be appointed by the
commissioner in such number as the commissioner shall
designate from the Department of Transportation, the
New Jersey Transit Corporation, business organizations,
Transportation Management Associations, the counties,
and members of the public.
b. The task force shall organize as soon as may be practicable
after the appointment of its members and shall select
a chairperson from among the members. The members shall
select a secretary, who need not be a member of the
task force. The task force shall meet at the call of
the chairperson. The task force shall be entitled to
call to its assistance and avail itself of the services
of the employees of any State department, board, bureau,
commission or agency, as it may require and as may be
available for its purposes, and to employ stenographic
and clerical assistance and incur traveling and other
miscellaneous expenses as may be necessary in order
to perform its duties, within the limits of funds appropriated
or otherwise made available to it for its purposes.
c. The task force shall conduct a study of highway traffic
congestion in the State and develop a commuter options
plan that would result in peak hour vehicle trips being
"capped" at 1999 levels. In developing the
plan, the task force shall review relevant information
and findings from other jurisdictions, both national
and international. The plan shall include, but not be
limited to, resources and incentives for public transportation,
ridesharing, telecommuting and other travel reduction
strategies. In making its recommendations for the plan,
the task force shall include funding proposals, an implementation
of the plan, and a method of evaluating progress toward
the realization of the goal of the plan to cap peak
hour vehicle trips at 1999 levels.
The task force shall also be charged with identifying
the top 10 projects which can be quickly implemented
to relieve congestion or improve safety.
d. The task force may meet and hold public hearings
at such place or places as it shall designate and shall
issue a final report containing its findings and recommendations,
including any recommendations for legislation that it
deems appropriate, no later than one year after the
task force organizes, to the Governor, the President
of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly,
and the members of the Senate Transportation Committee
and the Assembly Transportation Committee, or the successor
committees.
e. The task force shall dissolve one year following
organization of the task force.