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New Jersey FIT: Future In Transportation
Case Studies: Evidence of Progress
A growing proportion of people who live, work, and visit New Jersey are realizing that current land use and development
patterns are unsustainable. From a congestion perspective, existing trends for development are overtaxing New Jersey Department of Transportation’s (NJDOT) ability
to provide sufficient capacity for infrastructure to handle the burgeoning number of trips. Housing is separated from
commercial and employment areas, schools and parks are located in isolated corners of land use, communities are no longer
walkable, and local streets are now intentionally designed to push traffic out to the state highway system as quickly as
possible.
This situation has created a need for a timely and reasonable repositioning. NJDOT has responded by emphasizing a series of
Integrated Land Use and Transportation Planning Studies and other community-oriented initiatives. These NJFIT projects seek
to balance the future development and redevelopment expectations of each community with all aspects of transportation, including
accessibility, mobility, safety, multi-modality, and the natural environment of the corridor.
A key component of these studies is empowering towns to partner with NJDOT and other state agencies in creating the
transportation/land use balance. In many New Jersey communities, the Circulation and Land Use elements of the town’s Master Plan
do not work together, are outdated, or work against the elements emphasized by NJFIT—such as a grid system, mixed-use development,
and compact Main Streets with traffic calming devices. Therefore, an important facet of all of these projects is providing
municipalities with the tools they need to make smart development decisions. Some of the projects provide for assistance to
municipalities in reworking their Master Plans, while other projects concentrate on facilitating communication between communities
and directing them to valuable resources.
NJFIT Case Studies include:
Route 1 Regional Smart Growth Strategy - Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset Counties 
NJDOT’s Route 1 Regional Growth Strategy is an interactive partnership and planning process focused on combining economic
development opportunity with NJFIT principles. The project area encompasses a
20-mile stretch of Route 1 from Trenton to New Brunswick that passes through 15 municipalities in 3 counties. The strategy
began in earnest in September, 2004 with an emphasis on public outreach, collaborative partnerships, and proving that there is
no conflict between sound planning and economic health. The Route 1 strategy involves collaboration with a variety of stakeholders
in the development of a planning process that can be replicated in other corridors and regions across the state. The project also
aims to increase travel options along this corridor by remedying access management problems and enhancing transit facilities. Case Study
Route 29 Waterfront Boulevard Study - Mercer County
The 3-mile section of Route 29 through the City of Trenton is known for its high-speed traffic while it provides poor access to
the surrounding community and environment. Therefore, the Route 29 Waterfront Boulevard Study is investigating the feasibility of
changing the design and character of this section of the road from a freeway to an urban boulevard. It aims to provide open space
and improved access to the Delaware River, improve safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, and serve as a better link to
redevelopment efforts in Trenton and along the riverfront. The project involves implementing traffic signals to improve access,
traffic calming devices to increase safety, and improved pedestrian facilities. NJDOT is working with the Capital City Redevelopment
Corporation and the NJ Office of Smart Growth to coordinate this project with Trenton’s Downtown redevelopment plans. Case Study
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NJFIT projects, especially Route 31 and Route 57, aim to preserve the natural and historic resources of rural areas while
concentrating development in walkable
downtown areas. |
Route 31 Land Use Transportation Plan - Hunterdon County
Congestion on the Route 31 corridor through Raritan Township and Flemington Borough has been of serious concern for communities
for many years, leading to consideration of constructing a standard highway by-pass to relieve the problem. With the current
Route 31 Land Use and Transportation Plan, however, NJDOT is developing a “smart growth alternative” to the previously proposed
Flemington Bypass that would be built sooner, be more environmentally friendly, and more successfully create transportation options.
The project aims to develop a local roadway network to supplement the state highway system which will increase travel options and
minimize traffic pressure on Route 31. In addition, there has been considerable focus on the role of local and regional land use
planning. To this end, the NJ Office of Smart Growth has awarded a grant to Raritan Township to revise its Master Plan to
accommodate the proposed roadway system. Case Study
Route 38/I-295 Interchange Study - Burlington County
In response to tremendous growth and traffic congestion in Burlington County, NJDOT is conducting an interchange improvement
study at the Route 38/I-295 Interchange. In this case, NJDOT agreed to conduct this study with the condition that Burlington
County’s Department of Economic Development and Regional Planning concurrently conduct a Smart Growth study of the interchange
area. This project, which is still in the initial planning stages, demonstrates that it is never too late for integrating land use
and transportation planning, even in highly developed areas.
Route 57 Conceptual Corridor Plan - Warren County
NJDOT’s Route 57 Conceptual Corridor Plan aims to develop a comprehensive preservation and scenic enhancement program for the
21-mile corridor between Phillipsburg and Hackettstown. In contrast with most of the other NJFIT projects, this study area
remains primarily rural and undeveloped. The project seeks to preserve the scenic views, stave off development pressures and the
need to widen Route 57, and assist communities in making smart decisions about land use, economic development, and transportation
planning. Case Study
Route 322 Corridor Study - Gloucester County
The Route 322 corridor will be a pioneering bi-state study where NJDOT, the Pennsylvania DOT, and the Delaware Valley Regional
Planning Commission (DVRPC) will partner to apply NJFIT principles to a corridor which spans two states. On the New Jersey side,
Route 322 will be examined in two sections; one will be managed by NJDOT and one by DVRPC. DVRPC’s land use and access management
assessment will focus on the corridor from the Commodore Barry Bridge east to Route 45 at Mullica Hill, and NJDOT is studying the
section west of Mullica Hill through Glassboro. Though this project is still in the initial planning stages, it is already clear
that the corridor will be approached in a way that considers Smart Growth, land use and build out analysis.
Transit Village Initiative - Statewide
There are many communities in New Jersey that either host a transit facility or are located quite close to transit, but fail to
capitalize on this valuable resource. One way that New Jersey is supporting transit-oriented development (TOD) is through the
Transit Village Initiative—an effort championed by NJDOT, NJ TRANSIT, and several other state agencies. A municipality that is
designated as a Transit Village has demonstrated a commitment to revitalizing and redeveloping the area around its transit facility
into a compact, mixed-use neighborhood with a strong residential component. Furthermore, the Transit Village Initiative is an
excellent model for Smart Growth because it encourages growth in New Jersey where infrastructure and public transit already exist.
Since 1999, 16 communities in New Jersey have been designated as Transit Villages. These communities range from urban to suburban,
rail-oriented to bus-oriented, and large to small, and they are already reaping financial and environmental benefits and improving
the quality of life for their residents. Case Study
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The Rahway Transit Village facilitates multi-modal trips and serves as a gathering place for
the community. |
New Jersey Seniors: A Driving Force for Health and
Safety - Statewide
Studies have revealed that while older drivers have higher rates of crashes, injuries, and fatalities on a per-mile basis when
compared to other age groups, driving remains the primary mode of transportation for New Jersey’s seniors. Seeking to improve
senior mobility, safety, and health, NJDOT is coordinating with the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) in an
initiative known as New Jersey Seniors: A Driving Force for Health and Safety. The two departments are overseeing pilot projects
and hosting educational programs to determine improvements that can be implemented to improve the safety and convenience of the
transportation system for all New Jersey residents. Case Study
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