NJTPA Update Blog

August 2017

2017 Tech Schools for Planning Expo

Posted: 8/4/2017 12:00:00 AM

Tech Tools for Planning - An Expo
The NJTPA’s fourth annual Tech Tools for Planning Expo, held December 14, showcased four innovative tools to support improved transportation planning and mobility in the region.

Zenobia Fields, NJTPA Department Director of Planning, introduced the five presenters who provided brief overviews of their applications. The 30 attendees then had an opportunity to test and provide feedback on the tools.

Lucas Marxen, Rutgers, presented the NJ Land Use + Transit Data Application, which allows users to map, report and download land use, travel, demographic and real estate development data focusing on the towns along part of NJ TRANSIT’s Hudson Bergen Light Rail line. Future development of the tool will include expanding its coverage to towns further north on the light rail line, as well as along other transit lines.

Danielle Loring, Cross County Connection, presented the Go Farther human services transportation web application, which can be used to identify available bus, rail, shuttle and other transportation services to assist those facing mobility challenges, including seniors, disabled, veterans and others. The tool, still under development, will be particularly useful to social service agencies seeking to provide travel options to clients. The tool helps implement recommendations in the recently updated Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan.

Peter Bilton, NJTPA, presented NJ Rideshare, a free carpool ride matching tool that connects people to rides within New Jersey's largest commuter network. NJ Rideshare, administered by the state’s Transportation Management Associations, allows users to search for carpool partners and vanpools. Personalized public transit and park and ride options are also available. The site has 19,100 registered carpools, including 540 added this year.

Miriam Salerno, Rutgers, presented Engage!, a toolkit that allows users to search through more than 350 specific tools and approaches for innovative public engagement. Approaches and tools range from best practices to specific methods or platforms to prepare for and conduct research and obtain valuable input from stakeholders and the public. The tool database includes search functions to filter strategies based on target audience, cost and other features.

Dave Schmetterer, Monmouth County, presented the Bicycle Resource Map application, which is used to gather crowdsourced information to map bicycle facilities in the county. The application provides the public the opportunity to identify bicycle routes and trails, maintenance locations and bicycle shops. All features and facilities submitted are verified before being mapped. The tool is intended to supplement the county’s printed biking map.