48:15-41. Substitution of trackless trolleys or trolley busses for street cars; overhead ground wires

Any traction company or company operating or authorized by the laws of this State to operate a street railway or railroad operated as a street railway or an elevated railroad or a subway by means of an overhead trolley system may, if the Board of Public Utility Commissioners has approved or hereafter shall approve substitution on any such line or part thereof, substitute in whole or in part, in the operation of its lines or any part thereof over which it has a franchise or consent for the construction and operation of an electric street railway, an elevated railroad or a subway, or the approval of the Board of Public Utility Commissioners for the operation of autobusses in substitution for railway service pursuant to section 48:15-38 of the Revised Statutes, for the operation of street railway cars or substituted autobusses, the operation of vehicles known as trackless trolleys or trolley busses or motor vehicles which are operated in part by electricity furnished by an overhead trolley system and in part by other motive power, and for the purpose of providing electric power for the operation of such substituted vehicles as aforesaid may use, construct and reconstruct in and along all public highways, streets and public places in, along, on, over or under which such company is authorized to operate, such poles and overhead wires as may be necessary or proper for such operation including overhead ground wire or wires parallel to each trolley wire or wires necessary for such substituted operation. In case any poles or wires theretofore used for such street railway operation shall have been removed, any such company may restore the same. Whenever the Board of Public Utility Commissioners has approved or hereafter shall approve the substitution of vehicles of the character described herein on any line or part thereof, and there exists any emergency or unusual traffic or transportation condition, the company operating such substituted vehicles, in order to furnish safe, adequate and proper service to the public, may, during the continuance of such emergency or unusual traffic or transportation condition, operate autobusses on such line or part thereof. Whenever the Board of Public Utility Commissioners has approved or hereafter shall approve the substitution of vehicles of the character described herein on any line or part thereof, the company operating any such line may, from time to time, with the approval of the Board of Public Utility Commissioners, utilize in lieu of such vehicles, autobusses in the operation of any such line, or part thereof, including any extension or substitution thereof made pursuant to the provisions of section 43.3 of this chapter.

Amended by L.1941, c. 131, p. 445, s. 1; L.1946, c. 71, p. 260, s. 1, eff. April 12, 1946.