The federal government requires metropolitan planning organizations like the NJTPA to update these plans every four years to ensure there is a “continuing, cooperative and comprehensive” planning process that provides “for the development of an integrated multimodal transportation system … to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of people and goods in addressing current and future transportation demand.”

The Long Range Transportation Plan guides our agency’s work and makes our region eligible for federal transportation funding. The NJTPA Board adopted the latest plan, Connecting Communities: The NJTPA Long Range Transportation Plan, on September 8, 2025. Connecting Communities has a 25-year planning horizon of 2050.

This plan was developed under the direction of the NJTPA Board  in close collaboration with partner agencies, including member city and county “subregions,” the New Jersey Department of Transportation, NJ TRANSIT, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and the state’s eight Transportation Management Associations, among others.

The plan update included extensive virtual and in-person public engagement. Below are the vision statement and goals developed for this plan.

Vision Statement

Connecting Communities: The NJTPA Long Range Transportation Plan envisions a resilient, modern multimodal transportation system that meets the needs of all users—getting people and goods to their destinations safely, easily and reliably. The NJTPA will strive to ensure the transportation system supports a thriving, resilient regional economy, and improves the environment, health and quality of life for all residents. 

Goals

The NJTPA commits to collaboration, planning, and investments that: 

  • Ensure the transportation system meets the needs of all communities.
  • Make the transportation system safer for all travelers and reduce fatalities to zero by 2050. 
  • Enhance system accessibility, efficiency, connectivity, and reliability for the movement of people and goods.
  •  Make the system resilient to the impacts of extreme weather and other hazards.
  •  Coordinate land use and transportation to create healthy and vibrant communities that reduce environmental and air quality impacts and support transit ridership, biking, and walking.
  • Maintain the transportation system in a state of good repair.
  • Increase the region’s economic activity, sustainability, and competitiveness.