2017 New Jersey Revised Statutes
TITLE 27 - HIGHWAYS
Section 27:25-8 - Corporation not public utility, authority relative to fares, services; notice, public hearing.
27:25-8 Corporation not public utility, authority relative to fares, services; notice, public hearing.
8. a. The corporation or any subsidiary thereof shall not be considered a public utility as defined in R.S.48:2-13, and except with regard to subsection c. of this section, subsection b. of R.S.48:3-38, section 2 of P.L.1989, c.291 (C.27:25-15.1), and R.S.48:12-152, the provisions of Title 48 of the Revised Statutes shall not apply to the corporation or any subsidiary thereof.
b. The authority hereby given to the corporation pursuant to section 6 of P.L.1979, c.150 (C.27:25-6) with respect to fares and service, shall be exercised without regard or reference to the jurisdiction formerly vested in the Department of Transportation regarding rates and rate schedules under R.S.48:2-21; discontinuance, curtailment, or abandonment of service under R.S.48:2-24; and the issuance of a certificate of public convenience and necessity under R.S.48:4-3, and transferred to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission by P.L.2003, c.13 (C.39:2A-1 et al.). The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall resume jurisdiction over service and fares upon the termination and discontinuance of a contractual relationship between the corporation and a private or public entity relating to the provision of public transportation services operated under the authority of certificates of public convenience and necessity previously issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission or its predecessors; provided, however, that a private entity shall not be required to restore any service discontinued or any fare changed during the existence of a contractual relationship with the corporation, unless the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall determine, after notice and hearing, that the service or fare is required by public convenience and necessity.
c. Notwithstanding any other provisions of P.L.1979, c.150 (C.27:25-1 et seq.), all vehicles used by any public or private entity pursuant to contract authorized by P.L.1979, c.150 (C.27:25-1 et seq.), and all vehicles operated by the corporation directly, shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the department with respect to maintenance, specifications, and safety to the same extent that jurisdiction is conferred upon the department by Title 48 of the Revised Statutes.
d. Before implementing any fare increase for any motorbus regular route or rail passenger services, or any curtailment or abandonment of those services, the corporation shall hold a public hearing in the area affected during evening hours, except that the corporation shall not be required to hold a public hearing for a change in service that does not: (1) increase fares; (2) eliminate a current motorbus regular route or any rail passenger service; or (3) change the time of a motorbus regular route or rail passenger service by more than two hours from the corporation's currently adopted schedule or timetable, so long as these services are provided at least three times daily, excluding holidays. Notice of the hearing shall be given by the corporation at least 15 days prior to the hearing to the governing body of each county whose residents will be affected and to the clerk of each municipality in the county or counties whose residents will be affected; the notice shall also be posted at least 15 days prior to the hearing in prominent places on the railroad cars and buses serving the routes to be affected.
e. Notice of its intent to discontinue, curtail, or abandon any motorbus regular route service or rail passenger service shall be given by the corporation to the governing body of each county whose residents will be affected and to the clerk of each municipality in the county or counties whose residents will be affected at least 45 days prior to implementation of the change in service.
L.1979, c.150, s.8; amended 1989, c.291, s.3; 1997, c.309, s.2; 2009, c.259, s.1; 2016, c.52.
