2. a. There is established in the department the Mobility and Transportation Innovation Pilot Program to award grants to local government units and transit agencies to fund public transportation projects within Mercer County that utilize innovative technologies and strategies to enhance passenger mobility, increase access to public transportation among disadvantaged communities, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

b. A local government unit or transit agency may use a program grant to support the provision of new transportation services, the expansion of existing transportation services, or the matching requirements for an otherwise eligible project that receives federal funding. To qualify for a program grant, the transportation project undertaken by the local government unit or transit agency shall:

(1) enable low-income persons, including persons without access to smartphone technology, to access any transportation services made available through the project;

(2) include accessibility features to accommodate the mobility needs of persons with disabilities;

(3) utilize innovative technologies or strategies that have already demonstrated success in similar transportation projects; and

(4) meet any other eligibility criteria established by the department.

c. Any local government unit or transit agency may submit an application to the commissioner for a program grant, provided that the application shall be submitted in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner. In addition to any other information that the commissioner may deem appropriate, the application shall require the applicant to submit information:

(1) describing the transportation project, including the total anticipated costs of the project, all other sources of project funding, and the requested grant amount; and

(2) demonstrating that the transportation project meets the eligibility criteria for the program.

d. The commissioner shall approve applications for the program on a competitive basis, subject to the availability of funds. The commissioner may award grants to approved applicants in such amounts as the commissioner deems appropriate.

e. Within one year of the effective date of P.L.2023, c.184 (C. 27:1D-10 et seq.), the department shall submit a written report to the Governor and to the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C. 52:14-19.1), detailing the operations of the program. At a minimum, the report shall describe each project for which a program grant was awarded, specify the amount of each grant award, and assess the performance of the program.

L.2023, c.184, s.2.