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Bill

S 3456

Incorporates boardwalks into transportation local aid program and provides for Local Aid Infrastructure Fund grants to boardwalk projects.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Jim Beach

Expands LAIF to treat boardwalks and promenades as public highways, guaranteeing at least $4 million annually (2026–2031) for boardwalk projects.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Transportation Committee
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Bill Summary · S 3456

Summary of Bill: S 3456 (NJ 222nd Legislature)

Purpose and Intent

  • Expands New Jersey’s transportation local aid framework to explicitly include boardwalks (promenades) as eligible public highways and related infrastructure.
  • Creates a dedicated grant set-aside within the Local Aid Infrastructure Fund to support boardwalk projects and related improvements from State Fiscal Year 2026 through 2031.

Key Provisions

  1. Definition and Scope Expansion

    • Amends the Transportation Trust Fund Authority Act to include “boardwalks” and “promenades” in the definition of public highways.
    • Broadens the types of transportation infrastructure that can be funded under the program.

  2. Local Aid Infrastructure Fund (LAIF) Enhancements

    • Maintains the existing Local Aid Infrastructure Fund (LAIF) as a subset of the statewide transportation funding formula.
    • Requires that beginning with State fiscal year 2026 and continuing through 2031, no less than $4 million per year of LAIF grants be awarded specifically for boardwalk-related projects (public highway projects that construct, reconstruct, or repair boardwalks and promenades).

  3. Allocation Formula and Boardwalk Mileage

    • The bill amends Section 25 of P.L.1984, c.73 to incorporate boardwalk mileage into the distribution formula for state aid to counties and municipalities.
    • Boardwalk mileage is added to the metric alongside municipal road mileage for calculating aid, ensuring that jurisdictions receive funding proportional to boardwalk maintenance needs in the same way they receive funds for road maintenance.

  4. Administrative and Timing Provisions

    • The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.
    • The annual $4 million minimum LAIF grant commitment for boardwalks runs for six fiscal years (2026–2031).

Who Is Affected

  • Counties and Municipalities: Eligible for LAIF funding based on a new distribution factor that includes boardwalk mileage, on par with road mileage. Jurisdictions must maintain boardwalks with funding comparable to their road mileage funding.
  • Boardwalk Projects: Projects that involve constructing, reconstructing, or repairing boardwalks and promenades within state highways or transportation networks become eligible for LAIF grants.
  • State Agencies: Commissioner of Transportation gains a dedicated, recurring obligation to allocate at least $4 million annually to boardwalk projects from LAIF.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction Date: February 9, 2026.
  • Next Steps: Referred to Senate Transportation Committee (as introduced). If advanced, would proceed through typical committee and floor action processes.
  • Effective Date: Immediate upon enactment.
  • Funding Window for Boardwalk Grants: Fiscal years 2026 through 2031, with a guaranteed minimum of $4 million per year from LAIF for boardwalk-related infrastructure.

Notable Details

  • The bill preserves the existing structure of LAIF allocations (counties, municipalities, Local Freight Impact Fund, Local Bridges Fund, etc.) while adding boardwalk mileage into the calculation and adding a new mandatory grant stream for boardwalks.
  • LOOs and percentages for other sub-funds remain as defined in current law, but the boardwalk mileage inclusion could influence relative priority and total allocations to jurisdictions with substantial boardwalk mileage.

Potential Impact and Considerations

  • Encourages investment in coastal, shoreline, and waterfront communities where boardwalks are common, potentially improving pedestrian safety, tourism appeal, and coastal resilience.
  • Ensures equity in funding by aligning boardwalk maintenance needs with road maintenance funding levels.
  • Creates a predictable funding stream for boardwalk projects, which may accelerate planning and project delivery in eligible jurisdictions.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison of current law vs. S 3456 language, or a plain-language briefing for local officials and community groups.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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