Department of Transportation
Proposes To Amend Rules Governing Access
For Intrastate 102-Inch Wide and STAA Vehicles

N.J.A.C. 16:32 articulates the requirements, with respect to permitted routes, and width and length restrictions, applicable to the operation throughout the State of vehicles of over 96 inches wide and up to 102 inches wide, and other vehicles subject to the STAA.

Throughout the chapter, the Department proposes to delete references to “truck” and “standard truck” as in the phrase “102-inch wide standard truck” defined at N.J.A.C. 16:32-1.2, and to replace these terms with the word “vehicle.” This change would eliminate potential confusion as to the chapter’s applicability to all types of 102-inch wide vehicles, which can include vehicles such as mobile homes, camping trailers, private utility trailers, horse trailers, recreational vehicles, delivery vans, and many other non-commercial and privately owned vehicles and trailers.

The appendices to N.J.A.C. 16:32 designate the State highway routes that are eligible and ineligible for intrastate access travel for 102-inch wide and STAA vehicles, commonly referred to as the intrastate access network. The Department is proposing to add various missing-link route segments to the intrastate access network to connect smaller routes to larger routes that already are part of the intrastate access network. The Department believes that adding these missing links would reduce roundabout routing necessitated by gaps in the network and would reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in New Jersey by 102-inch wide and other STAA vehicles. The Department first announced its intention to propose a rulemaking to address the issue of missing links in the intrastate access network in the October 1, 2001, issue of the New Jersey Register.

In response to a request of the Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Department is proposing to add sections of Route 565 and County Route 639 to the intrastate access network located in Sussex County.

The Department also is proposing technical amendments to correct route descriptions and mileage points referenced throughout the chapter to reflect the more precise road mapping and measurements the Department has obtained during re-inventory using such scientific advances as Global Positioning System technology. Being technical in nature, the proposed amendments would result in no substantive or physical changes in the routes that make up the access network.

The proposed amendments appear in the February 19, 2002, issue of the New Jersey Register. The public has until April 5, 2002 to comment on the proposal. Persons wishing to comment on the proposal must provide their comments in writing to Thomas P. Thatcher, Administrative Practice Officer, NJ Department of Transportation, 1035 Parkway Avenue, P O Box 600, Trenton, NJ 08625-0600, Fax: (609) 530-3841. Comments must be postmarked or sent by fax on or before April 5, 2002, which is the close of the 45-day public comment period.

The Department has scheduled two informational workshops on the proposed amendments. Persons planning to attend one of the informational workshop sessions are asked to call (609) 530-2038 at least four working days in advance of the workshop to notify the Department of their planned workshop attendance. The Department requests this advance notice so that the Department can prepare sufficient seating and handout materials at the workshop. The Department will hold the first informational workshop on Wednesday, March 27, 2002, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Department will hold the second informational workshop on Thursday, March 28, 2002, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Department will hold both informational workshops in the Multipurpose Room, NJ Department of Transportation Main Office Building, 1035 Parkway Avenue, Trenton, New Jersey.

The Department has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed amendments. Persons planning to attend the public hearing are asked to call (609) 530-2038 at least four working days in advance of the hearing to notify the Department of their planned attendance at the hearing. The Department requests this advance notice so that the Department can prepare sufficient seating and handout materials for the hearing. The Department will hold the public hearing on Tuesday, April 2, 2002, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room, NJ Department of Transportation Main Office Building, 1035 Parkway Avenue, Trenton, New Jersey.

Comments submitted to the Department on the proposed rulemaking are public records and are available for public inspection by prior appointment during normal Department business hours.