NJ s Land Use and Transit Policies

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2 NJ s Land Use and Transit Policies NJ TRANSIT created in 1979 to reverse decline of public transportation State Development & Redevelopment Plan adopted (1986) encourages growth in areas where population, jobs and infrastructure exist NJ TRANSIT s Transit-Friendly Planning Assistance Program (1999) community engagement, visioning and TOD plan adoption NJ s Statewide Transit Village Initiative (1999) rewarding communities who get TOD NJ s Green House Gas Plan (2008) reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and cut emissions to 80% under the 2006 level by 2050 Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit Act (2009) incentivizing commercial and residential development in NJ s 9 urban core communities (tax breaks and job creation) 2011 NJ Office of Plng Advocacy releases the DRAFT Strategic State Plan; focus on getting people to jobs and industry retention/expansion 2011, Northern NJ region awarded $5MM US HUD Sustainability Grant to create a regional plan for sustainable and equitable development through strategic TOD 2

3 NJ TRANSIT s Multimodal Network Third largest commuter transit system in the country Commuter Rail, Light Rail, Express Bus, Intra-state Bus, Private Bus Carriers, Bus Rapid Transit Lite & Community Transit (by private carriers and/or counties) Connecting NJ to Center City Philadelphia, Atlantic City, Newark, Jersey City and Lower and Midtown Manhattan 3

4 NJ TRANSIT s Light Rail Network 3 different lines (Newark, River LINE, Hudson-Bergen) 60 stations in 21 NJ communities 4

5 NJ s Integrated Transit Network Enables TOD 75% of New Jersey s residents live within 5 miles of a transit station 1 in 4 NJ communities hosts a rail station 30% of NJ s residents live within walking distance of rail stations 10% of NJ residents use mass transit for work trips 5

6 How does NJ TRANSIT assist communities so that they take advantage of NJ s multi-modal, interconnected transit network to ensure a sustainable land use/transportation connection TRANSIT FRIENDLY PLANNING, LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (TFPLUD) & TOD!! Engaging community leaders, advocates, residents and businesses Providing technical assistance and on-call consultant expertise Collaborating with local, county, regional and state partners Building consensus Creating market-worthy plans Executing good projects to create sustainable local economic opportunity around transit (Transit-Oriented Development) 6

7 Educate, Educate, Educate 7

8 Create An Achievable Vision River Line Economic Opportunity Project (2004) 8

9 Community Adopts a Plan Key station located along the NEC Expanded Transit Capacity Relocate and expand Bus loading capacity to 9 positions 500 new commuter parking spaces Development Program 260,000 SF of mixeduse development: 60,000 SF Retail 35,000 SF Professional Offices 35,000 SF Communiversity 160 Room Hotel Metropark Rail Station Economic Analysis (2009) 9

10 Evaluating the Options: Summary Option A Maximize Commuter Parking Option B Traditional Office Development / Single Use Option C Transit-Oriented Development / Parking Maximize Land Value of Parcel No No Yes Trigger Offsite Traffic Improvements Yes Yes Yes Maximize Ratables/Fiscal Impact $0 million $ 1.9 million $ 1.3 million Build long term value of the Area No No Yes The Transit-Oriented Development / Parking Expansion produces the greatest benefits to both NJ Transit and Woodbridge Township: -Largest ridership increases -The only option that provides amenities and services to the workers in the area, enhances the Woodbridge and Metropark brands and builds the long term value of the district -It is the option that has a positive residual land value 10

11 Build Something! Joint Development Partnership (Morristown) Facilitation of Property Assembly (Cranford) Structured Parking Partnership (Montclair) Montclair Residences at Bay Street Station (2009) 165-unit studio, one and two BR Rental Residential Units Hamilton Transit Center (1999) 2,066 space garage New garage shared by residents, commuters and visitors The Highlands at Morristown Station (2009) 217 Residential Units 10,400 sf Retail 736 space garage Cranford Crossing (2007) 50 Residential Units 22,000 sf Retail 310 space garage 11

12 Successful Transit Oriented Development in NJ Around Established Rail Stations a Collaboration 12

13 Rahway, NJ Northeast Corridor Station Plaza, mid-1990 s Rahway, NJ NJ TRANSIT Reconfigured and modernized rail station (mid-1990 s) Partnered with the community to provide commuter parking in downtown deck: 450 dedicated spaces, resulted in Significant private investment in downtown TOD: 1,000+ new downtown residential units, New retail, office commercial and civic spaces 100-room luxury hotel Downtown Cultural & Arts Initiatives include Union County Performing Arts Theatre; open-air concert shell, black box theatre 13

14 Rahway Station 14

15 Mo town Station 15

16 Morristown Station The Morristown Station, 2009 Morristown, New Jersey 16

17 Morristown, NJ Morris & Essex Corridor The Morristown Station 217 Residential Units 8,000 sf Retail 736 space garage 17

18 Montclair, NJ Montclair-Boonton Line Bay Street Station Former Surface Parking Lot w/ new deck, mid-2000 s Montclair, New Jersey 18

19 Montclair Residences at Bay Street Station (2009) 165-unit studio, 1 and2 BR Rental Residential Units 19

20 NJ s GOLD COAST The Hudson River Waterfront Source: Reconnecting America/RU Voorhees Transportation Center

21 City of Jersey City JERSEY CITY S HUDSON RIVER WATERFRONT (Downtown Manhattan in the background) Transit Village District established around multi-modal Journal Square Transportation Center (traditional CBD) where high-rise housing and mixed use renaissance is planned Significant parks and open space created and preserved for public access and enjoyment (Liberty State Park, Hudson River Waterfront Walkway) enhances livability Major new mixed-use developments as a result of access to Manhattan and NJ TRANSIT Hudson Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) system; connecting employees and residents to job centers in NJ and NYC 10,000+ residential units built along Hudson River since HBLR opened in 2001; more to come! Western waterfront (Hackensack River) new frontier for redevelopment, infrastructure investment, open space, transit (HBLR extension) 21

22 Next Generation Land Use/Transportation Connections Engage not-for-profit developers and community development finance institutions (CFDIs) in TOD Regional Corridor Approach Bus/BRT TOD Opportunities (see next slide) Reconnecting Jobs to Transit Expand partnerships to leverage ALL available funds Develop understanding of sustainable benefits of TOD (GHG reduction, green land use, brown/greyfield reuse, walkable environments = healthier lifestyles) and environmental impacts Understand and exploit trends increasing senior population, increasing demand by Gen Y and Millennials for gadgets and proximity to jobs rather than cars, smaller households = significant increase in demand for housing within walking distance of transit PHOTO: BRAZIL S BRT REPORT IMAGE: NEW JERSEY FUTURE

23 Bus - Union County Sustainability Corridor (BRT) Dedicated Right of Way (old Conrail track bed) Runs from west of Garwood Rail Station to Newark Liberty Airport and Jersey Gardens Mall (NJT Exit 13A) Connects NE Corridor to Port of Newark & JOBS! (Port, Airport and Mall) Envisioned as a Sustainability Corridor with BRT, bike paths, trails all sharing the dedicated ROW Up front collaboration with communities to evaluate and, where appropriate, change land use codes to allow TOD; identify and market potential TOD sites; secure gov t, not-for-profit and private sector support for implementing community vision 23

24 NJ s Transit Village Initiative Effort led by NJ DOT and NJ TRANSIT (started in 1999) State agencies partner to recognize TOD in designated communities 26 transit communities designated, to date Designation criteria include municipal adoption of transit oriented development by Master Plan (vision document), AND Zoning Code and/or Redevelopment Plan, creation and implementation of TOD-friendly, sustainable design guidelines. Rolling designations, inclusionary affordable housing requirements Discretionary and competitive grant funding available only to designees 24

25 Key TOD Success Factors Transit must be welcomed by the community Stable local political environment Seek a local champion Open, transparent, engagement of local officials and community as a whole Active management of the effort; professional guidance and expertise must be offered (many communities don t have it readily available) Partnerships are KEY! (engagement and funding between and amongst state agencies, MPOs, Counties, Municipalities, not-for-profits, private sector, etc.) Target effort to create platform for community to take further action (e.g., rezoning, redevelopment, etc.) 25

26 Lessons Learned TOD is an economic empowering strategy that improves access to transit Education and partnerships are central to success TOD can be a win-win for a community if the correct, helpful approach is taken TOD cannot be mandated or pushed on communities push back will occur in the form of anti-growth policies and actions Transit providers need TOD to succeed in order to survive we have to build our constituent base What better way than to foster infill and/or new development within closer walking and biking distances to transit stops? We are providing environments where walking and biking are attractive access alternatives to cars! We are encouraging communities to deploy effective shuttle bus and van systems to connect transit riders living further out; and We are thoughtfully locating parking around our systems where we can reach a comfortable accommodation with host communities 26

27 Some Local Transit Friendly Planning & TOD Resources NJ TRANSIT s Guide to Transit Friendly Planning: A Handbook for NJ Communities (1994) New Jersey Future s two recent releases Targeting Transit: Assessing Development Opportunities Around NJ s Transit Stations (2012) ( A Citizen s Guide to TOD (2003) ( NJ Dept of Transportation s NJ Transit Village Initiative ( DVRPC ( provides a variety of resources to counties and communities within the MPO region detailing TOD progress, Regional TOD Inventory, TOD plans, TOD funding, and TCDI-funded TOD Plans. 27

28 Vivian E. Baker Transit Friendly Planning, Land Use & Development (973) Thank you! 28