Beck proposals address commuter bus service

State Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-12) announced that she has introduced a package of three bills designed to improve commuter bus service in New Jersey, and said she has written a letter to Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Sen. Nicholas Sacco, requesting that the bills, along with three others she had previously introduced, be posted at the next meeting of the committee.

“At a time when we are encouraging people to take public transportation whenever possible to cut down on traffic and pollution, it is essential that we provide those people with the most efficient and user-friendly service possible,” Beck said.

“Sadly, in many instances, this has not been the case with some of the private commuter bus companies. These bills are designed to compel these private companies to meet certain performance standards, and to give commuters a place to air their grievances when these companies fall short,” she added.

According to a press release, Beck has held several commuter forums in her district over the last year with commuters and officials from private bus companies.

“The information gained in those meetings and the input of the public has been invaluable in crafting this legislation,” she said.

Beck had already introduced S-687, S- 688 and S-689, which were bills she had previously introduced in the Assembly.

The three new bills are as follows:

• S-1595 establishes the Office of the Advocate for Private Commuter Bus Services Consumers and bill of rights for customers of privately operated motorbus regular route services.

The Office of the Advocate for Private Commuter Bus Services Consumers is vested with the following powers and duties: assist consumers in resolving problems with private carriers of motorbus regular route service; identify recurrent problems and propose solutions to problems consumers have with private carriers; preserve and protect the rights of consumers; promote open and direct communications between consumers and carriers; and investigate and attempt to resolve matters and complaints, and, if necessary, refer them to theAttorney General.

Among other things, the consumer bill of rights provides that private carriers are obligated to adhere to a published schedule, to operate a sufficient number of buses to accommodate all customers, and to provide adequate notice regarding any changes in fares or service. The bill of rights prohibits operators from allowing buses to become overcrowded and requires that buses be clean, well-maintained, and in good working condition.

• S-1596 concerns regular route peak bus services and imposes a fee on private carriers that fail to meet certain performance standards.

Currently, under NJ Transit’s Bus Allocation Program, private companies are eligible to receive buses from NJ Transit and must use such buses in the provision of regular route peak bus services, according to the press release.

In order to ensure that private carriers that receive buses under the program continue to provide safe, adequate and reliable transportation services to the people of New Jersey, this legislation will impose a fee on any of those carriers that does not meet certain performance standards as established by NJ Transit.

• S-1597 amends the New Jersey Public Transportation Act of 1979, which established the New Jersey Transit Corporation. Current law states that it is desirable to encourage, to the maximum extent feasible, the participation of private enterprise and to avoid destructive competition in the provision of public transportation services.

This bill would amend this provision to clarify that NJ Transit should only avoid destructive competition against a private entity if such entity provides safe, adequate, and reliable services. If a private entity fails to provide safe, adequate, and reliable public transportation services, it would then become the responsibility of the state, or instrumentalities thereof, such as NJ Transit, to supplement, compete against, or replace such services.

Beck concluded by saying, “It is my hope that the passage of these bills will make passenger bus commuter service much more accessible and consumerfriendly going forward. I call on Chairman Sacco to post these bills for a vote in the Transportation Committee so they may receive a full public discussion and an up or down vote.”