13. a. There is created in the Department of Transportation a task force to be known as the “Congestion Buster Task Force” to study and make recommendations concerning the reduction of traffic congestion in the State.

The members of the task force shall be appointed by the commissioner in such number as the commissioner shall designate from the Department of Transportation, the New Jersey Transit Corporation, business organizations, Transportation Management Associations, the counties, and members of the public.

b. The task force shall organize as soon as may be practicable after the appointment of its members and shall select a chairperson from among the members. The members shall select a secretary, who need not be a member of the task force.

The task force shall meet at the call of the chairperson.

The task force shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State department, board, bureau, commission or agency, as it may require and as may be available for its purposes, and to employ stenographic and clerical assistance and incur traveling and other miscellaneous expenses as may be necessary in order to perform its duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for its purposes.

c. The task force shall conduct a study of highway traffic congestion in the State and develop a commuter options plan that would result in peak hour vehicle trips being “capped” at 1999 levels.

In developing the plan, the task force shall review relevant information and findings from other jurisdictions, both national and international. The plan shall include, but not be limited to, resources and incentives for public transportation, ridesharing, telecommuting and other travel reduction strategies. In making its recommendations for the plan, the task force shall include funding proposals, an implementation of the plan, and a method of evaluating progress toward the realization of the goal of the plan to cap peak hour vehicle trips at 1999 levels.

The task force shall also be charged with identifying the top 10 projects which can be quickly implemented to relieve congestion or improve safety.

d. The task force may meet and hold public hearings at such place or places as it shall designate and shall issue a final report containing its findings and recommendations, including any recommendations for legislation that it deems appropriate, no later than one year after the task force organizes, to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the members of the Senate Transportation Committee and the Assembly Transportation Committee, or the successor committees.

e. The task force shall dissolve one year following organization of the task force.

L.2000,c.73,s.13.