Bill

A 5134

Relates to the Long Island rail road commuter's council

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Noah Burroughs and 5 co-sponsors

Requures ferries, private autobuses, NJ Transit, and bi-state agencies to develop, publish, and maintain up-to-date route schedules and fares publicly.

REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

WeVote Research Nonpartisan

Bill Summary · A 5134

Summary — A5134 (1R): Requiring development and publication of route schedules

Status: Passed Assembly (May 22, 2025); delivered to Senate and referred to Senate Transportation. Reported favorably by Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee (Nov 13, 2025). Introduced: Dec 16, 2024.

Purpose / Intent

A5134 requires certain public and private providers of passenger transportation in New Jersey to develop, publish, and maintain route schedules so that passengers can readily access up‑to‑date routing and fare information. The bill extends posting and online‑publication duties to ferry operators, specified private “autobuses,” NJ Transit, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ), and the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA/PATCO), and authorizes the Governor to seek interstate compact amendments where necessary.

Key provisions

Ferries (R.S.48:8‑2)
- Must post a table of rates and a route schedule where the ferry is kept and in a manner visible to passengers entering the vessel.
- Must publish the table of rates and route schedule on the operator’s website.
- Must update those postings and the website within 30 days after any change.
- Civil penalty: $1 per day for failure to maintain required postings (i.e., up to $365 per year per ferry operator).
Private “autobuses”
- Owner/operators of certain private autobuses providing fixed‑route service must develop a route schedule for each vehicle/route.
- Must publish the schedule on the owner/operator’s website and post it at each transportation facility, station, stop, or stand where the autobuses provide fixed‑route service.
- “Autobus” is defined consistent with amendments to P.L.2013, c.224, generally applying to privately‑owned buses transporting not more than 40 passengers, with enumerated exclusions (e.g., motorbus regular route service, taxis, hotel buses, school buses, etc.).
NJ Transit
- Required to develop route schedules for each motorbus regular route service, rail passenger route, and ferry passenger route it operates.
- Must publish route schedules on NJ Transit’s website and at each transportation facility and station providing service to the route.
- Must update website postings and facility/station postings within 30 days of changes.
- (Committee amendments removed a previous requirement that NJ Transit post at individual stops/stands.)
PANYNJ and DRPA (PATCO)
- Authorized compact amendments: the Governor may enter supplemental agreements with New York and Pennsylvania as needed.
- Each authority must develop and publish route schedules for commuter railroad or PATCO routes on their websites and at each transportation facility, station, stop, or stand serving those routes.
- Must update website and posted schedules within 30 days of changes.

Who is affected

Ferry operators (estimated ~6 in NJ) — immediate posting/website duties and potential small fines for non‑compliance.
Private autobus operators running fixed‑route services (privately‑owned, ≤40 seats subject to exclusions).
NJ Transit — required to maintain website and facility/station postings (but not individual stops/stands per committee amendment).
PANYNJ and DRPA/PATCO — will need to publish and maintain route schedules; compact changes may be required.
Commuters and riders — greater transparency and access to route and fare information.

Fiscal impact

Office of Legislative Services estimates a potential state revenue increase of less than $1,000 annually from fines (noted maximum of $365 per ferry operator per year). The bill does not impose fines on autobuses; fines apply as described for ferries.

Procedural timeline / status highlights

Introduced in Assembly: Dec 16, 2024.
Reported out of Assembly Transportation & Independent Authorities with amendments: Mar 10, 2025.
Passed Assembly (70–5–2): Mar 24 / May 22, 2025.
Delivered to Senate and referred to Senate Transportation: May 22, 2025.
Referred to Senate Budget & Appropriations and reported favorably: Nov 13, 2025.
Companion/related bills: S1768 (companion), S5164 (companion), A9915 (prior session).