27:1B-21.33 Preparation of estimated project schedules.

1. a. For each capital project funded by the authority, including transportation projects and public transportation projects, the authority, in conjunction with the department and the New Jersey Transit Corporation, may contract with consulting engineers to prepare an estimated project schedule (1) for the acquisition of rights-of-way and (2) for the construction of each project. The consulting engineer shall also estimate the amounts which shall be required during each six-month period for estimated costs of construction of each project. Thereafter, at least once in each six-month period during the construction of a project, the authority may require the consulting engineers to prepare a progress report updating the project schedule for the acquisition of real property for each project and construction progress, which may include comparisons of the actual time elapsed, actual costs, estimated time to completion, and estimated total cost between the most recent six-month period and the same actual and estimated times and costs in prior progress reports. Copies of each progress report shall be maintained on the authority's website and shall be submitted to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature.

b. For funds provided by the authority to the department or the New Jersey Transit Corporation for non-project costs, the authority may contract with an outside consultant to prepare a report which tracks, according to State capital program line items in each annual appropriations act, an estimated schedule for the expenditure of appropriated funds, and a description of how funds are being expended, including, but not limited to, contracts to be paid from each capital program line item, the amount of staff or outside consultants to be paid from each capital program line item, and measurable policy outcomes relating to each capital program line item which shall be required during each six-month period until an appropriation has been fully expended. Once in each six-month period in which the State appropriations of non-project transportation capital funds in a given fiscal year have not been fully expended, including if that period extends beyond the fiscal year of the original appropriation, the authority may cause the outside consultant to prepare a progress report covering the expenditure of appropriated funds and any progress in accomplishing the purpose of given appropriations, which may include comparisons of the actual time elapsed since the initial appropriation, actual expenditures from the appropriation, estimated time to completely expend appropriated funds, and estimated measurable outcomes for the entire appropriation between the most recent six-month period and the same actual and estimated times and outcomes in prior progress reports. Copies of each progress report shall be maintained on the authority's website and shall be submitted to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature.

L.2019, c.196, s.1.