Garden State Times

Senate Minority Leader Anthony M. Bucco's legislation, aimed at enhancing road safety and transparency, has gained approval from the Senate Transportation Committee. The bill, sponsored by Bucco (R-25), focuses on requiring the Department of Transportation to include information on potholes in their annual Roadway Pavement System report.

In a statement, Bucco emphasized the importance of road maintenance for the safety of New Jersey commuters, stating, “Every day, New Jerseyans navigate a complex network of roadways to commute throughout our State. It is imperative that our roads are maintained for the safety of our commuters.” He also highlighted the pressing issue of potholes on State roads, expressing his belief that the legislation would contribute to improving road maintenance by incorporating data on pothole repairs and damage claims into the DOT's annual report.

Currently, the Department of Transportation's annual report does not encompass information about potholes, despite New Jersey being ranked among the worst states in the country for such road hazards. Senator Bucco's bill, known as S-2491, aims to address this gap by mandating the inclusion of pothole repair project details and associated costs in the annual report. Additionally, the DOT would be required to conduct a lifecycle cost analysis and report on the number of pothole damage claims submitted by commuters on State roadways. Importantly, this information would be made accessible to the public as stipulated by the legislation.

Bucco reiterated the significance of the bill, stating, “This bill takes an important step towards improving road safety and transportation transparency. By obtaining pothole repair and damage claim data from the DOT, the Legislature can work towards implementing targeted solutions that enhance roadways throughout the Garden State.”