NEW JERSEY – The New Jersey Senate approved legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco that would require the NJ Department of Transportation (NJDOT) to begin providing information about potholes in their annual report to the Legislature.
“Every day, New Jerseyans navigate a complex network of roadways to commute throughout our State. The Senate’s approval of my legislation takes an important step towards improving road safety and transportation transparency for New Jersey,” said Sen. Bucco (R-25). “This legislation would require the DOT to start providing information about pothole repairs and pothole damage claims in their annual report to the Legislature.”
Under current law, the NJ Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is required to provide an annual report to the Governor and Legislature on New Jersey’s Roadway Pavement System.
The NJDOT uses this report to identify, repair and maintain projects that were completed throughout the fiscal year. This report currently does not include information about potholes.
New Jersey is ranked among the worst states in the country for potholes, Bucco said.
Senator Bucco’s bill, S-2491, would:
- Require the DOT to begin including information about pothole repair projects and their cost in their annual report.
- Instruct the DOT to conduct a lifecycle analysis, in consultation with the Division of Risk Management, to report on the number of pothole damage claims submitted by commuters on State Roadways.
- Make all pothole repair and damage information available to the public.
“By obtaining pothole repair and damage claim data from the DOT, we can implement targeted solutions that enhance roadways throughout the Garden State,” Bucco said.
