NJDOT creates new division to streamline transportation permits, reduce project delays
NEW JERSEY — The New Jersey Department of Transportation has announced the creation of a new Division of Transportation Permitting aimed at simplifying the state’s permitting process, reducing delays and helping transportation projects move forward more efficiently.
NJDOT Commissioner Priya Jain said the division will consolidate the department’s permitting functions into a single unit, making it easier for businesses, municipalities, contractors, developers and government agencies to navigate the approval process while maintaining safety standards.
The initiative is part of Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s Save Your Time & Money agenda and follows Executive Order 5, which directs state agencies to modernize regulatory procedures, eliminate unnecessary requirements and improve transparency and accountability.
“On my first day in office, I signed Executive Order 5 to ensure New Jersey’s permitting process is transparent and accountable,” Governor Mikie Sherill said. “NJDOT’s new Division of Transportation Permitting will create a more efficient and predictable permitting process – saving both the Department and applicants’ time and money while helping move projects forward more quickly.”
Earlier this year, NJDOT conducted a comprehensive review of its permits and approvals to identify outdated or duplicative requirements. The findings helped guide changes intended to make the permitting process more efficient.
The new division builds on several improvements already implemented by the department, including the transition to fully electronic Major Access Permits and Outdoor Advertising Permitting processes on Aug. 1.
NJDOT also announced that it has eliminated a backlog of 500 Minor Access and Highway Occupancy permits under Sherrill and Jain’s leadership.
In June, the Sherrill administration launched a permitting dashboard for 10 pilot projects and began testing artificial intelligence to assist with permit intake and processing.
“At NJDOT we understand the importance of permitting and the frustration that can occur when the process is difficult to navigate. The creation of a unified Division of Transportation Permitting will help our stakeholders navigate the Department more easily, which in turn can reduce delays and help projects advance more efficiently,” NJDOT Commissioner Priya Jain said. “We have already made significant progress, but we want to go further.”
According to NJDOT, bringing all permitting functions under one centralized division is expected to improve communication with applicants, simplify approvals and provide greater predictability for organizations planning and financing projects.
State transportation officials said the changes are intended to help projects begin construction sooner, reduce administrative burdens and support economic development throughout New Jersey.
The Division of Transportation Permitting will operate under NJDOT’s Community Programs and Resources division.
