The NJTPA Board of Trustees, at its May 10 meeting, approved a $3.8 million package of eight new projects under the Local Mobility Initiatives Program, including local shuttle services and a pilot bike-sharing system that will serve students around the Rutgers and NJIT campuses in Newark.
The Local Initiatives Program, which is supported by federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funds, is designed to promote transportation measures that reduce single-occupancy vehicle usage, traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.
“These programs will provide greener alternatives to travelers who otherwise might drive themselves,” said NJTPA Chairman Dennis McNerney, Bergen County Executive. “Every less vehicle on the road means a little less traffic, fossil fuel consumption and air pollution.”
The following projects were approved with a three-year funding cycle:
- Carlstadt-Moonachie Shuttle, Hudson and Bergen Counties. Sponsor: Meadowlink. Funding approved: $342,000.
- Shorelink, Monmouth County. Sponsor: Meadowlink. $637,382.
- Secaucus-North Bergen Shuttle, Hudson County. Sponsor: Meadowlink. $342,000
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NJTPA Chairman Dennis McNerney, left, as the Board approves nearly $4 million of projects under the Local Mobility Initiatives Program. |
- Newark Bike Share, City of Newark. Sponsor: Meadowlink. $398,610.
- Bergen County Tri-Boro Shuttle, Bergen County. Sponsor: Bergen County Dept. of Human Services. $450,000.
- Brunswick Square Mall-South Amboy Shuttle, Middlesex County. Sponsor: Middlesex County Area Transit. $733,935.
- Sayreville Shuttle, Middlesex County. Sponsor: Middlesex County Area Transit. $143,368.
Madison Shuttle, Morris County. Sponsor: TransOptions. $370,325.
Funding has been used in the past to support initiatives such as ridesharing, non-traditional transit strategies and traffic mitigation projects.
To be considered, proposals were required to have local funding support in place. They were to also implement policies and strategies outlined in the NJTPA’s Regional Transportation Plan, Plan 2035. For more information about these projects or the Local Initiatives Program, contact Hamou Meghdir at hmeghdir@njtpa.org.
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| NJTPA Board member and Warren County Freeholder Angelo Acceturro, in orange vest at center, participates in the March 25 Walkable Community Workshop at the intersection of Route 22 and Roseberry St. in Philipsburg. |
Over the past four years, NJTPA has been helping communities identify ways to enhance and improve walking and safety in northern and central New Jersey. The effort involves a series of Walkable Community Workshops (WCWs). The program remains an active and unqualified success. A new round of ongoing workshops got underway in the spring.
WCWs are half-day sessions that focus on a selected location in one community. At each location, NJTPA staff, county and municipal planners, elected officials, law enforcement personnel, business and school representatives, and others meet for an initial briefing by local stakeholders to talk about their particular pedestrian travel issues. Next, there’s a presentation covering best practices from other communities. Then, the group goes outside for a walking tour to get an up-close look at the challenges, and potential solutions, associated with their location.
Potential solutions discussed during small group sessions following the walking tour might include simple fixes such as addressing missing sidewalks or, perhaps, the need for traffic signals, crosswalks, signage and traffic calming, as well as non-engineering solutions such as enforcement and educational initiatives.
“This is what good planning is all about,” said Hunterdon County Freeholder Matthew Holt, who chairs the NJTPA’s Planning and Economic Development Committee. “In just a half-day, Walkable Community Workshops go a long way toward making our communities safer and more livable and ensuring that we have options for getting around.”
Each workshop results in a prioritized list of specific safety and mobility improvements. “The needs identified can be used by local and county governments as a catalyst for insuring pedestrians are considered in all investment plans,” said Warren County Freeholder Angelo Acceturro, who participated in a recent WCW.
Typically, a facilitator leads each WCW and trains county staff members to work with other municipalities in conducting future workshops. So far this year, WCWs were held on March 25 in Philipsburg, Warren County; May 11 in Manchester, Ocean County; May 25 in Jersey City; and June 14 in Annandale Village, Hunterdon County.
Workshop locations are usually selected by NJTPA staff in consultation with county and city officials throughout the region. For more information about the WCW program, contact Elizabeth Thompson at ethompson@
njtpa.org.
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Members of the NJTPA Board of Trustees and Central Staff participated in TransAction, the state’s annual transportation conference. The 34th annual event was held April 28-30 in Atlantic City. Workshop sessions covered a range of timely issues including: transportation funding, Complete Streets, climate change, technology, and freight/goods movement, to highlight a few.
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Somerset County Freeholder Peter S. Palmer, who chairs the NJTPA’s Freight Initiatives Committee, receives the Freidland Award for Outstanding Service from Bob Bailey of the New Jersey Short Line Railroads Association. |
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Sussex County Freeholder Susan M. Zellman, center, headed the Complete Streets session. Other speakers, from left, were: Deb Kingsland, NJDOT; Michael Dannemiller, RBA Group; Jim Rutala, Ocean City Business Administrator; and Kimberli Craft, Montclair Township. |
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Assemblyman Alex DeCroce introduces some of those at the head table during the main conference luncheon. Seated from left: NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson, Assemblyman John Wisniewski, NJ Transit Executive Director James Weinstein, Brigid Hynes-Cherin of the Federal Transit Administration, and Freeholder Zellman.
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Freeholder Palmer, right, moderated a session that focused on the federal transportation trust fund. Speakers included former Rep. Robert Roe, left, and NJ Alliance for Action President Phil Beachem, center. |
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Morris County Freeholder Director Gene F. Feyl, left, moderated the conference’s VIP roundtable, which drew about 100 attendees. Panelists included, from left, Assemblyman DeCroce, Executive Director Weinstein, and Commissioner Simpson. |
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Freeholder Zellman Honored for Transportation Leadership |
Freeholder Director Feyl Wins NJCM Award
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Sussex County Freeholder Susan M. Zellman (right), the NJTPA’s immediate past chairman, receives a Newark Regional Business Partnership (NRBP) transportation leadership award from Cathleen Lewis, of the AAA New Jersey Automobile Club. The NRBP held its annual awards breakfast on May 17 to honor several individuals who have helped to improve the region’s transportation network.
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Morris County Freeholder Director Gene F. Feyl, at podium, accepts the Freeholder Award from the New Jersey Conference of Mayors at its annual conference in April. Feyl serves as the NJTPA’s First Vice-Chairman. Also pictured, from left, is Piscataway Mayor Brian Wahler, Port Republic Mayor Gary Giberson, and NJCM Executive Director Al LiCata |
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The NJTPA recently launched two major studies: a Pedestrian Safety at Bus Stops Study and a Elizabeth Multi-Modal Integration Study.
A kickoff meeting for the Pedestrian Safety at Bus Stops study was held at the NJTPA on May 7. The study is a joint effort of the NJTPA and the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, in coordination with NJ Transit. The study seeks to improve safety for bus riders at many thousands of bus stops in the northern New Jersey region. Its centerpiece will be a safety educational awareness campaign to raise awareness about safety for both pedestrians and motorists. The study will also make recommendations related to physical improvements and design guidelines to create safer bus stops. The lead consultant for the study is Nelson/Nygaard.
A kickoff meeting for the Elizabeth Downtown Multi-Modal Integration Study was held at the NJTPA on May 4. Conducted by the NJTPA, in coordination with NJ Transit and Union County, the study will develop a plan to integrate improvements being developed by NJ Transit for the City of Elizabeth rail station with the City’s ongoing redevelopment and revitalization efforts in the surrounding central business district. The lead consultant for the study is AECOM.
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The NJTPA Board on May 10 endorsed the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s (NJDOT) proposed Fiscal Year 2011 Capital Construction Program (CCP), an investment plan expected to include $1.6 billion to upgrade the state’s transportation network and generate jobs.
The annual program outlines road, bridge, and transit projects planned by the NJDOT and NJ Transit for the state fiscal year starting July 1.
The NJTPA Board, in its endorsement, informs the state Legislature that it supports the CCP’s projects and believes they represent a balanced investment plan. The CCP was developed in coordination with the 15 counties and cities represented on the NJTPA Board.
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Smart Growth America President Geoffrey Anderson discussed some of the demographic trends that will impact transportation and development policies in the near future at the NJTPA’s May 10 Board of Trustees meeting.
Anderson warned that a “silver tsunami”—a huge number of Americans about to turn 65—is fast approaching and will contribute to a small lot (compared to large, family lot) housing shortage by 2025. Anderson also touched on recent research by the Centers for Disease Control linking transportation and health. He said residents are healthier in areas with complete streets that provide travel options for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Anderson said the federal government is changing the way it does business by creating new competitive grant programs to fund projects and programs that advance multiple policy goals.
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A new NJTPA publication highlighting completed Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Subregional Studies is now available. The Summary of Subregional Studies recaps each project, explains how it was conducted, and includes its findings.
The Subregional Study Program funds studies of important regional issues in any of the NJTPA’s fifteen subregions. The studies are intended to help identify potential solutions for a particular study area or component of the transportation network. Many of the 2008-2009 projects focus on a combination of issues—safety, multimodal accessibility, system performance, and design, which adds to each study’s overall value for the region. The publication is available at njtpa.org or contact Megan Kelly at mkelly@njtpa.org.
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