Pothole Data to Be Made Public Under Newly Signed NJ Legislation

Legislation requiring the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) to include detailed pothole repair data in its annual roadway report was signed into law on Monday. Bill A2596, sponsored by Assemblymen Robert Karabinchak and Clinton Calabrese, is designed to give residents better access to information on road repairs, costs, and timelines, helping the State maintain safer and more reliable roadways.

“New Jersey drivers know the frustration of hitting a pothole all too well, but until now, there’s been little visibility into how and when those issues are addressed,” said Assemblyman Karabinchak (D-Middlesex). “By tracking pothole repairs more transparently, we’re giving the public the tools to see how their government is working for them, and helping the DOT make data-driven decisions to strengthen our transportation system.”

The bill tasks the DOT with identifying the number of pothole repair projects, associated costs, response times, and estimated timelines for repairs in its annual report that it provides to the Governor and Legislature on New Jersey’s Roadway Pavement System. The bill also requires the DOT to conduct a life cycle cost analysis of the pavement surfaces, including the number of pothole damage claims filed by users of state roadways and the associated costs of damages as recorded by the Division of Risk Management within the Department of the Treasury. Under the bill, the report will be publicly available on the DOT’s website.

“Drivers may not read every line of a DOT report, but they do notice every pothole, and they deserve to know what’s being done to fix them,” said Assemblyman Calabrese (D-Bergen, Passaic), Chair of the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee. “This legislation ensures that information is clear, accessible, and directly in the public’s hands. By bridging the gap between state-level planning and everyday experience, we can make smarter investments, improve road safety, and ensure our maintenance efforts meet the real needs of New Jersey residents.”