The NJTPA has launched an update to its Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) which guides transportation improvement and capital investment in northern and central New Jersey through 2035. The updated plan is scheduled for adoption in mid-2009.
The NJTPA is seeking to involve as many citizens and interested groups as possible in the plan update through an extensive "visioning" process. This will include a symposium of experts on future challenges, a series of public workshops throughout the region and interactive web features.
The NJTPA recently selected DMJM Harris to lead its consulting team on the project. The team will also include the firms of AECOM Consult, Stokes Advertising, and Howard/Stein-Hudson.
The 2035 plan will build upon the current RTP, Access & Mobility 2030, adopted in 2005, while incorporating several important enhancements. The federal government requires the NJTPA to adopt an updated long-range plan every four years as a condition for the receipt of federal transportation funding.
The plan update will reexamine the eight investment principles that were the centerpiece of the 2030 plan—enhancing smart growth, making travel safer, giving priority attention to system maintenance, expanding public transit, limiting road expansion, improving freight efficiency, applying new technologies and supporting walking and biking. It is expected that recommendations for updating the investment principals will result from outreach and analysis for the plan update.
Among the plan update tasks will be:
- Gathering historical data on regional travel and land use to help forecast conditions in 2035
- Evaluating existing and future infrastructure needs
- Identifying the region's financial resource opportunities and constraints
- With direction from the NJTPA Board of Trustees, identifying and evaluating future transportation scenarios
- Recommending specific strategies and capital projects
A Plan 2035 webpage has been created to help citizens share thoughts on priorities for the region. In the coming months, an e-survey, interactive features and details on the plan's progress will be available on this page.
A Plan 2035 email list has been established. Use the link on the Plan 2035 webpage to sign up. Further information is also available by emailing plan2035@njtpa.org or calling (973) 639-8400.
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| Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney speaks at the NJTPA Board's March 24 meeting. McNerney chairs the Project Prioritization Committee; he introduced the Capital Construction Program for Board endorsement. Seated at right is NJTPA Chairman Susan M. Zellman; NJTPA Executive Director Mary K. Murphy is at left. |
The NJTPA Board of Trustees demonstrated its strong commitment to repairing the region’s infrastructure at its March 24 meeting, when it unanimously endorsed the state’s draft Capital Construction Program. NJDOT and NJ Transit had requested the Board’s action in advance of submitting the proposed program to the state Legislature for final approval.
The draft program outlines 10 years of spending on road, rail and other projects in final design, engineering, right-of-way acquisition and construction, as well as related transportation programs.
Each year, NJDOT and NJ Transit work with the NJTPA and its member subregions to develop the plan. The program endorsed by the NJTPA would invest $2.6 billion in state and federal funds for projects and programs in Fiscal Year 2009. Endorsement of the state program is the first step in the NJTPA finalizing its own, federally required Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
The Board’s endorsement came after extensive negotiations with the state. Following those meetings, NJDOT included a list of “Tier 2” projects, which are unfunded in the draft program but would be the first eligible for any funding that becomes available.
"We expressed grave concern regarding the unfunded projects," said NJTPA Chairman Susan M. Zellman. “The NJDOT agreed to include the Tier 2 projects in its submission to the Legislature.”
Under this program, spending on bridge repair and replacement would grow to more than 21 percent of funds spent in FY 2009, in keeping with the NJTPA’s “fix it first” Regional Capital Investment Strategy. Over the past five years, just under 17 percent of funds have been dedicated for this purpose, on average. Major bridge investments in FY 2009 include nearly $77.7 million for replacement of the St. Paul’s Avenue/Conrail Bridge on Route 1&9T and $50 million for interim repairs to the Pulaski Skyway.
The proposed program would fund $20.36 billion in work through FY 2018. The fiscally constrained program makes conservative assumptions about available state and federal funding in the coming year. Over the course of the 10-year program, the NJTPA’s allocation of state and federal funding for road and bridge projects would be reduced from its historic 75 percent to 71.3 percent due to major projects in the state’s other MPO regions. Zellman noted that NJDOT agreed to work at making up this shortfall in the future.
Before the vote, Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri addressed the Board, speaking about the importance of the program to the region and the state, especially at a time when the economy is in decline. He called approving the proposed program “the single most important action that we can take to show people we are serious about preserving their jobs.”
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The Northwest New Jersey Bus Study is progressing on several concurrent fronts this spring.
The study—launched in November and scheduled for completion in early 2009—looks at ways to use improved or expanded bus, shuttle and carpooling options to increase access to jobs and other destinations for people who live and work in the growing northwest part of the region, including Sussex, Warren, Passaic, and Morris counties.
On-board surveys of riders on NJ Transit and private carrier bus routes began last month and will continue into May. Next, a web-based travel survey will allow transit users and drivers to provide data on their current travel experiences in northwest New Jersey.
A new webpage has also been activated, providing a study area map, background and public outreach information, and other details; this webpage is easily accessed by visiting www.nwnjbus.org.
The study’s webpage will soon include a secure log-in feature for Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) members to review draft study products.
The TAC held its first meeting on Feb. 27, resulting in the development of a stakeholder outreach process through which mayors and other key local officials within the study area will provide input at two meetings to be held in May.
The NJTPA and NJ Transit are co-managing the bus study, assisted by consultant TransSystems Corp.
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In order to get a head start on its fall 2008 public awareness campaign, the New Jersey Deer Vehicle Crash Coalition (NJDVCC) met on March 11 in Morris County. Coalition members discussed the NJTPA’s Regional Safety Priorities Update, as well as new survey results to help pinpoint deer crash locations. In addition, the group reviewed deer crash mitigation pilot programs that could be implemented in the region. The fall campaign is expected to include distribution of brochures and bumper magnets. For information, contact Megan Kelly at mkelly@njtpa.org.
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This NJ Transit chart spotlights the success of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail transit system since segments began operating. A, the light rail is extended from Jersey City north to Hoboken Terminal; B, extension south to 22nd St.; C, extension north to Lincoln Harbor; D, extension to Port Imperial on weekends; E, extension to Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen, plus full weekday service at Port Imperial Station. (*-2008 projected)
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Members of NJTPA Central Staff were among a group of planners and other officials attending a recent bus tour in Jersey City. As illustrated by the photos below, the tour highlighted many components of the city's transportation network and infrastructure.
It was also designed to coordinate with Jersey City's Fiscal Year 2008-2009 NJTPA-funded Subregional Study to update the city's Master Plan transportation circulation element.
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Huge container cranes are ready to unload the nation’s freight near Port Jersey Blvd. and Industrial Dr.
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This pedestrian bridge at St. Peter's College enables students to safely walk to different parts of the campus . . . avoiding traffic at nearby intersections.
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Truck traffic, cars, and even an old freight rail grade crossing make for a busy scene in this industrial section of Jersey City at Pulaski Street.
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The iconic Pulaski Skyway—now in need of an extensive and costly overhaul—stretches across the New Jersey Meadowlands.
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A Hudson-Bergen Light Rail train pulls into NJ Transit’s Garfield Ave. station.
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| At Jersey City’s Exchange Place station “transit mall,” PATH riders can connect with buses, walk to nearby offices, or pedal onto the city’s bike routes to get to work. |
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NJTPA Freight Initiatives Committee Chairman Peter S. Palmer and NJTPA Executive Director Mary K. Murphy led Central Staff’s participation at TransAction 2008. The state’s 32nd annual transportation conference was held Apr. 2-4 at the Trump Taj Mahal casino hotel in Atlantic City.
Freeholder Palmer moderated three of the conference’s panels, including two freight-related sessions and a VIP roundtable featuring former Governor James Florio and NJDOT Commissioner Kris Kolluri.
Murphy moderated an “Executive Directors” VIP roundtable and a session devoted to freight planning developments in California; she also was a speaker on a panel focusing on transit hubs and corridors.
Other members of Central Staff moderated or served as speakers on panels covering freight issues, human services transportation planning, bicycle/pedestrian funding, and public outreach initiatives. Four of the sessions involving NJTPA staff offered credits toward American Institute of Certified Planners certification, a popular new addition to the conference this year.
In addition, the NJTPA's information booth was staffed during the conference expo, featuring NOTIS demonstrations, the 2005 RTP video, and the latest NJTPA publications.
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A public meeting on the NJTPA’s Freight Rail Crossing Assessment Study was held on on April 17. It was attended by a dozen people, including stakeholders, staff from NJTPA subregions, as well as NJTPA Central Staff and its consultant team. The four-hour “open house” was held to help gather input on the study, which is on schedule to conclude this spring.
The study builds a framework for evaluating a range of issues at railroad grade crossings in the region, with an eye toward improving safety and facilitating efficient goods movement.
In particular, the study team is focusing on 64 existing grade crossings located along the River Line, Lehigh Line, West Trenton Line, Chemical Coast Line, and the Port Reading Secondary.
For details, contact Ted Matthews at tmatthews@njtpa.org.
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The NJTPA’s recently upgraded website, www.njtpa.org, features many practical resources for transportation planning professionals and other users. These include:
NOTIS—The NJTPA Online Transportation Information System (NOTIS) is an easy way to get quick information about funded and planned transportation improvement projects in the region. Look for the NOTIS icon on the NJTPA’s website.
In the News—Central Staff regularly monitors the region's news sources for articles, editorials, and features related to transportation, planning, land use and similar issues. Links to these articles are posted on the NJTPA’s website.
InTransition blog—To supplement InTransition magazine, a new blog has been launched, offering readers another way to learn about and discuss important issues in the transportation world. To access the blog, visit njtpa.org, click on the publications menu, then select InTransition.
NJTPA E-list—You can get meeting agendas, newsletters, and announcements from the NJTPA via email. Follow this link
to subscribe.
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North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, Inc.
One Newark Center, 17th Floor. Newark, NJ 07102
(201) 639-8400; Fax 639-1953
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