Nj bill would let towns add more speed humps without state approval

TRENTON, NJ – A new bill introduced in the New Jersey Assembly would give municipalities and counties more freedom to install speed humps and other traffic-calming measures on local roads without needing prior approval from the state Department of Transportation.

The measure, Assembly Bill A2316, was pre-filed for the 2024 legislative session and is sponsored by Assemblywoman Lisa Swain, Assemblyman Chris Tully, and Assemblyman William F. Moen Jr.

The proposal raises the traffic volume threshold that determines when local governments can install speed humps on residential streets.

Key Points

Bill A2316 allows towns and counties to install speed humps on certain roads without DOT approval.
The measure increases the allowable daily traffic volume from 3,000 to 4,000 vehicles for “speed tables” with flat tops.
The bill applies to residential and business district streets with posted speed limits of 30 mph or less.

Expanding local authority over traffic calming

Under current law, municipalities can install speed humps on low-traffic residential roads without state approval, but only if those roads carry fewer than 3,000 vehicles per day. The new bill would raise that limit to 4,000 vehicles for speed humps with flat tops of at least 10 feet—commonly known as speed tables.

The legislation also affirms that local governments can build such features on streets near schools and in business districts, provided those roads are not designated coastal evacuation routes.

Safety and community considerations

Supporters of the measure say it gives local officials more flexibility to address speeding and pedestrian safety concerns without the lengthy delays that can come with state review.

The bill maintains existing safeguards, requiring local governments to notify neighboring municipalities if a speed hump could impact nearby roads and to seek DOT approval only when a state roadway may be affected.

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