As a follow-up to the Strategy Evaluation effort, the NJTPA conducts Strategy Refinement to develop concepts for future improvement projects on the highway and transit networks. The current Strategy Refinement effort is producing 30 concepts, including studies, to address significant needs within the NJTPA region. Each concept includes an assessment of specific needs and strategies, potential transportation improvements, anticipated performance benefits, basic consideration of environmental issues in the area, cost estimates and recommendations for implementation.
While concepts emerge through many avenues in the NJTPA process, those developed in the performance-based Strategy Refinement are important candidates for future project development and implementation. Further detailed study and project implementation will be the responsibility of the NJTPA and/or the region’s implementing agencies, including NJDOT, NJ Transit, and Transportation Management Associations (TMAs). Strategy Refinement findings are included in Plan 2035.
Study Process
Potential Refinement Areas and associated strategies extracted from Strategy Evaluation findings were screened in accordance with NJTPA planning principles. Two groups of screening factors were applied. The first included the individual features of each Refinement Area:
- Compatibility with Smart Growth principles, including compact development, preservation of natural resources and economic diversity.
- Advancing sustainability by addressing energy and environmental issues
- Serving people in areas with identified needs, which were listed during Strategy Evaluation.
- Impacts and benefits to minority and low-income communities.
- Compatibility with the additional Regional Capital Investment Strategy principles.
Refinement Areas were also evaluated for their suitability in a regional context and for potential feasibility of implementing associated strategies. Factors considered in this level of evaluation include:
- Level of local and institutional support;
- Cost;
- Magnitude of benefits;
- Difficulty of implementation;
- Synergies between two or more Refinement Areas in the same vicinity; and
- Impact on multiple subregions.
With this foundation, a series of in-depth meetings and a regional workshop finalized a package of 30 Recommended Refinement Areas and associated strategies. These form the basis for the development of brief Project Concept Reports for each area.
For more information on the Strategy Refinement Study, contact Kevin Twine of the NJTPA central staff at (973) 639-8430 or ktwine@njtpa.org.