Transportation
Bill Introduced to Authorize Municipalities to Reduce Speed Limits in Historic Districts – On October 1st, Senator Singleton (D-7) and Senator Tiver (R-8) introduced Bill S4489 which would delegate the power to set speed limits to 15 miles per hour in designated historic districts. The legislation would require municipalities to conduct a traffic engineering study using standards prescribed in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways to investigate environments surrounding roadways such as building style and land use, roadway characteristics, geographic context, 12-month crash data, and the 85th percentile rule to determine whether a 15-mph speed limit is appropriate for a historic district. In 2022, the City of Hoboken lowered default speed limits to 20 mph following studies finding that pedestrians hit by a vehicle going 30 mph have a 55 percent chance of dying, whereas a vehicle traveling at 20 mph reduces fatality risk to 5 percent. Proponents of the bill cite the need to ensure safer environments for residents and tourists walking to local businesses in historic districts.
Women, Children, and Families
Bill to Expand Family Leave to Include Bereavement for Death of Child and Miscarriages – Last week, Senator Polistina (R-2) and Senator Mukherji (D-32) introduced Bill S2046 which would amend the definition of “family leave” in P.L. 1989, c.261 to include bereavement due to death or stillbirth of a child, unsuccessful planned adoption, or unsuccessful fertility treatment. The legislation amends the “Family Leave Act” to mandate employers grant bereavement leave of up to 21 days with eligibility for family temporary disability benefit payments of 85 percent of their average weekly wage with a maximum of $1,119 per week. An employee would be eligible for family leave if the employee, a spouse or partner, a person with whom the employee anticipated having a child with, or a gestational carrier suffers a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, or termination of pregnancy.
Environment
Legislation Proposed to Permit Construction of Solar Energy on Railroad Right-Of-Ways – On October 1st, Senator Turner (D-15) introduced Bill S4651 which would direct New Jersey Transit and the Board of Public Utilities to establish a 3-year railroad right-of-way solar energy development pilot program. Advocates point to studies that have shown that there is potential to generate 100 MW of solar energy on the 544 miles of NJT owned track. Use of railroad right-of-ways, not exceeding 100 feet in width, to capture 100 MW of solar energy could potentially provide enough energy to power over 15,800 homes across the State. After the 3-year pilot program concludes, the program will be evaluated for potential extension.
NJ AG Joins Lawsuit Challenging New Trump Administration EPA and CAFE Rules – The beginning of October saw Attorney General Davenport join two lawsuits challenging recent changes to new vehicle fuel efficiency standards and repeals of greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for fossil fuel power plants. A coalition of 26 states, counties, and cities are challenging new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rules that revise Biden-era Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for new passenger vehicles and light trucks from an initial fleetwide average of 50.4 miles per gallon in 2031 to 34.9 miles per gallon in 2031. The Department of Transportation says the new rule will reduce the cost of new vehicles by $1,300 and provide manufacturers more flexibility in vehicle design. Additionally, Attorney General Davenport joined a lawsuit challenging the agency’s failure to regulate pollution and the repeal of certain rules requiring coal- and gas-fired power plants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Advocates of the rule changes argue the repeal of regulations would save $310 billion, while people opposed to the rule changes argue it will increase pollution and accelerate the effects of climate change.