The Sustainable Land Use Transportation Connection in NJ: NJ TRANSIT’S EXPERIENCE

December 15, 2010 Housing& Community Dev Network of NJ Annual Meeting - Trenton, NJ

1 December 2010 Presentation Overview

How NJ TRANSIT’s existing transit network provides mobility choices, enables transit oriented development and supports NJ’s economy.

NJ TRANSIT’s successful “Transit Friendly Planning” program and TOD project work, focusing on how we engage communities (who control local land use decision-making); highlight TOD project examples and the NJDOT/NJT Transit Village Program

The US HUD-EPA-DOT Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities

Discuss Transit Oriented Development, livable communities and the sustainable transit/land use nexus; next gen of NJT’s Transit Friendly Planning Program

Give you a “look ahead” into where we think the connection between land use and transportation should focus

2 December 2010 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) • Economic Redevelopment & Growth Grants (2009)…incentivizing redevelopment (up to 75% of state or local tax) in State Plan targeted growth areas

3 December 2010 NJ Transit’s Multimodal Network

RAIL BUS

• 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

4 December 2010 NJ’s Light Rail Network

Newark Light Rail River LINE Hudson Bergen Light Rail

3 different lines (Newark, River LINE, Hudson-Bergen)

60 stations in 21 NJ communities

5 December 2010 Ongoing and Future Challenges: System Initiatives, Capital Projects, Lack of Operating Funding • System • Light Rail • HBLR Extension to West Side JC (study) • Passaic-Bergen Line, linking Passaic County with Bergen County (design) • Commuter Rail • Lackawanna Cutoff, linking NW NJ to NE PA (docs submitted to FTA) •Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) • Route 1 Corridor (study) • Route 9 Shoulder Lanes (phase 1 in place) • Route 42/55 Corridor (study) • “GO BUS” TSP Enhancements in Bloomfield, Irvington, Newark, Airport (study/need funds) • Union County Sustainable Transit Corridor, connecting Cranford – and all points in- between - to Midtown Elizabeth, Jersey Gardens, Newark Liberty Int’l Airport (study) • Capital Projects • Pennsauken Transit Center (ARRA Funding) – connect ACL w/ River LINE (underway) • Equipment • DMUs and Double Decker Cars; Clean Buses (underway) • Signal Upgrades (rail network)

6 December 2010 NJ’s Integrated Transit Network Enables TOD

75% of New Jersey’s residents live within 5 miles of a transit station 1 in 4 New Jersey communities hosts a rail station 30% of New Jersey residents live within walking distance of rail stations, and 10% of New Jersey residents use mass transit for work trips

7 December 2010 TOD’s Measurable Benefits

More livable, sustainable, environmentally friendly and energy savings…

NJ TRANSIT analysis…residential TODs = 10% to 25% reduction in vehicle trips during peak periods; 10% to 15% reduction daily

Federally funded study (Transportation Cooperative Research Program/TCRP) of residential TODs: Up to 44% fewer weekday vehicle trips & lowered parking ratios, up to 50%

TODs contain mixed use, clustered, well located, near a major CBD = more transit use, less auto use, less parking need

Convenient transit access… Increases property values Is economically viable and sustainable development Enhances tax base of municipality Provides an opportunity for community to plan its future Creates or enhances community “center” that improves quality of life

8 December 2010 Current Market and Demographic Trends

• Little current development activity

NJ and National Trends • Increasing senior population • Smaller households • Increasing impact of energy prices and carbon emissions

• Significant increase in demand for housing within walking distance of transit

9 December 2010 How does NJ TRANSIT assist communities so that they take advantage of NJ’s multi-modal, interconnected transit network to ensure sustainable land use/transportation connections?

TRANSIT FRIENDLY PLANNING & TOD

. Engaging elected officials, community leaders, advocates, residents and businesses . Providing technical assistance and on-call consultant expertise . Collaborating with local, county, regional, state & federal partners, as well as non-profit foundation partners . Building consensus . Creating market-worthy plans . Executing good projects to create sustainable local economic opportunity around transit (Transit-Oriented Development)

10 December 2010 NJT’s “Transit Friendly Planning Program” (1994-present)

West Windsor Program Activities

• Public Outreach • Education • Technical Assistance

Redevelopment Plans Other Planning Projects

•Rutherford Somerville •Netcong •Morristown •Trenton •Newark Broad Street •Matawan •Secaucus •Hamilton •Cherry Hill •Somerville •Dover (Morris County) •South Orange •Galloway •Jersey City •West Windsor •Riverside •Camden •Asbury Park •River LINE communities (southern NJ light rail)

11 December 2010 NJ Transit’s Approach

EDUCATE communities Create a VISION for TOD, engaging numerous, varied partners & stakeholders Work with municipality so they revise MASTER PLAN, adopt redevelopment PLAN or new zoning ORDINANCE to memorialize vision; creation of local, sustainable development entitlements is essential IMPLEMENT (build something!) If NJT-owned property involved: RFP process Development and/or conveyance agreements

12 December 2010 Educate, Educate, Educate

13 December 2010 Create An Achievable Vision – RIVER LINE LIGHT RAIL

River Line Economic Opportunity Project

14 December 2010 Create a Strategic Plan – RIVER LINE LIGHT RAIL

Downtown Camden Strategic Development Plan

15 December 2010 Community Adopts a Plan - METROPARK TOD ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

• 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 mixed- use development: • 60,000 SF Retail • 35,000 SF Professional Offices • 35,000 SF Communiversity • 160 Room Hotel

16 December 2010 Evaluating the Options: Summary

Option A Option B Option C Maximize Commuter Traditional Office Transit-Oriented Parking Development / Single Use Development / Parking

Maximize Land Value of No No Yes

Trigger Offsite Traffic Yes Yes Yes

Maximize Ratables/Fiscal $0 million $ 1.9 million $ 1.3 million

Build long term value of 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

17 December 2010 NJT’s Successful TOD History…Collaborate to 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 ResidentiaHamiltonl Units Transit Center (1999) New garage2,066 shared space by garageresidents, commuters and visitors

The Highlands at Morristown Station (2009) Cranford Crossing (2007) 217 Residential Units 50 Residential Units 10,400 sf Retail 22,000 sf Retail 736 space garage 310 space garage

18 December 2010 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 • 23 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. • Program re-tooled in 2008…“rolling” designations, address affordable housing

19 December 2010 NJ’s Transit Village Initiative

New Jersey’s “Transit Village Initiative” encourages communities with transit to create attractive, vibrant, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods – using design standards of transit-oriented development (TOD) - where people can live, shop, work and play without relying on automobiles. In addition to community revitalization, the Transit Village Initiative seeks to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality by increasing transit ridership.

Designation provides a municipality with the following benefits: State of New Jersey commitment to the municipality's vision for redevelopment. Coordination among the state agencies that make up the Transit Village Task Force. Priority funding from some state agencies. Technical assistance from some state agencies. Eligibility for grants from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT).

20 December 2010 Village of South Orange Township

. NJ TRANSIT partnered with the community to renovate retail space under the railroad viaduct . Numerous redevelopment projects underway or recently completed in station area; mixed-use, heavy residential within walking distance of station or along community- operated shuttle routes (originally funded through NJT) . Commuter parking expansion provides evening and weekend parking for retail and new performing arts center (SOPAC) South Orange Station Plaza Shoppes . New Complete Streets policy adopted

21 December 2010 City of Rahway . 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: • new residential units, retail, office commercial and civic space • 100-room Indigo hotel . Downtown Cultural & Arts Initiatives include Union County Performing Arts Rahway Station Plaza Theatre; open-air concert shell, black box theatre

22 December 2010 TOD – Progress Report

Somerville Station Area TOD Great Location Local Champion Comprehensive community visioning Consistent leadership and professional administration State, County and local cooperation Adopted TOD redevelopment plan Joint (NJT & Boro) developer solicitation has occurred; short list under review

Designated NJ’s 22nd Transit Village

23 December 2010 Somerville Landfill/Station Aerial

Somerville Station

24 December 2010 “Next Generation” Land Use/Transportation Issues…

• Engage not-for-profit developers and community development finance institutions (CFDIs) in equitable TOD

• Regional Corridor Approach

• Bus/BRT TOD Opportunities

• 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: NEW JERSEY FUTURE 2009

25 December 2010 HUD-EPA-DOT Partnership for Sustainable Communities

“The prosperity, equity, sustainability, and livability of neighborhoods, cities and towns, and larger regions depend on the ability of the federal government to enable locally driven, integrated, and place-conscious solutions guided by meaningful measures, not disparate or redundant programs which neglect their impact on regional development.”

SOURCE: Peter Orszag, of the Office of Management and Budget, along with then-WHOUA (White House Office on Urban Affairs) head Adolfo Carrión and others, (from a) memorandum to all agencies in mid-2009 telling them to create more place-based policies for 2011.

26 December 2010 HUD-EPA-DOT Partnership for Sustainable Communities

HUD is trying to return to a place-based focus that was so much a part of its original founding, but is attempting to do it in a way that is much more flexible and linked into locally based community development, strengthened local government and a “new” third sector of “non-profit local development corporations and community organizations” that has emerged since HUD was created.

In addition to having the agencies interact more with one another, they must also interact with their constituents differently. HUD, along with other agencies, has been rolling out its more innovative programs as competitive grants, harnessing local innovation and offering resources and expertise to local governments. HUD is going from being a regulator to being a partner and a problem solver.

The question then becomes: How does the Administration step up federal support and engagement for urban policy, urban investment [and] urban revitalization without going back to the one-size-fits- all [approach] that characterized urban renewal and “model cities,” approaches that … were fundamental to the founding of HUD? Today’s problems require federal engagement that has to recognize and partner with the “infrastructure” that has emerged at the local level.

27 December 2010 “Next Generation” of Transit Friendly Planning at NJ TRANSIT…

28 December 2010 Program Overview

29 December 2010 Public Outreach, Engagement & Education

OUTREACH CONTENT Digital Value Capture TFD E-newsletter Case Studies Website Guide to Available Video Clips Resources Technical Info Face to Face Continuing Education Conferences

ALTERNATE FUNDING WORKSHOPS OPPORTUNITIES TOD as a Viable New partnerships with: Revitalization CDFIs Strategy for Your CDCs Community? MPOs Universities Counties Regional Approaches

30 December 2010 New Content

• Develop new TFP Program content • Sustainability (GHG) • Public Health and TOD • Partnerships with CDCs

• Case Studies that • Articulate VALUE of TOD • “Put a Face” on NJ TOD • Debunk myths surrounding TOD

31 December 2010 Alternate Funding Sources to Support NJT’s TFP

Two-pronged approach to supporting the TFP Program with “non- traditional” funding:

1. Focus on identifying funding options from sources such as HUD, EPA, DOT (Livable Communities Initiative/ Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities)

2. Concentrate on securing outside funding through PARTNERSHIPS and COLLABORATION with foundations and other sources

32 December 2010 Technical Assistance

33 December 2010 Technical Assistance - Screening Process

34 December 2010 • Recent development around Inner Morris & Essex Line Brick Church and Highland Ave stations demonstrates established market

• Established urban fabric and infrastructure to build off

• High Level of service with access to I-280

• Strategic regional location; best opportunities: East Orange Brick Church Orange Highland Ave

• Economic Development Analysis & Community Empowerment Study – proposed partnership with major foundation funder and local CDCs (discussions underway)

35 December 2010 Bus and Bus Rapid Transit

• Buses carry the majority of riders on NJT’s statewide system

• Local trips all occur via bus

• BRT will be important for any future system expansion considerations

36 December 2010 Bus and BRT in NJ

. Route 1 BRT (Central NJ connection to Northeast Corridor)

. Routes 42/55 (Philadelphia, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester Counties) . Union County Sustainable Transit Corridor (TIGER II/HUD Challenge Grant) . Route 9 Shoulder Lane Express Service (Garden State Pkwy to Manhattan) - Existing . Springfield and Bloomfield Aves “GO BUS” (Newark) - Existing

37 December 2010 Bus - Union County Sustainability Corridor (BRT) • Dedicated Right of Way (old Conrail track bed)

• Runs from Garwood Rail Station to Jersey Gardens Mall/Newark Liberty Airport

• Connects NE Corridor to Port of Newark & jobs (at Jersey Gardens Mall)

• Envisioned as a “Sustainability Corridor” with BRT, bike paths, trails sharing the dedicated ROW

• Up front collaboration with communities to evaluate and, where appropriate, change land use codes to allow TOD; ID and market potential TOD sites; secure gov’t, not-for-profit and private sector support for community vision

38 December 2010 “New” Transit Friendly Planning Program Manual…NJ TRANSIT moving forward

. GROWTH PATTERNS Encourage TOD and support Sustainable Growth.

. TRANSIT MODE CHOICE Maximize each mode’s functional capabilities. Emphasize need to divert auto trips to transit. Seek incremental solutions.

. MOBILITY NEEDS Serve transit dependent populations. Access to economic development clusters and jobs. Assist in containing growth of congestion.

. ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT Emphasize diverted auto trips.

. FINANCIAL Costs vs benefits; sustainable operations.

39 December 2010 New T-F Plng Projects

TOD Database & Performance Metric

Value Capture

- HBLR Extension (Rte 440)

Non-traditional funding sources

Technical Assistance - Garwood, NJ (RVL) - TOD zoning and redevelopment; collaboration with community, county and North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (MPO)

40 December 2010 Key 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, CDC’s, not-for-profits, private sector, etc.) Target effort to create platform for community to take further action (e.g., rezoning, redevelopment, etc.)

41 December 2010 “Lessons Learned”

Sustainable TOD is an economic empowering strategy that improves access to transit

TOD can be a win-win for a community if the correct, helpful approach is taken

Education and partnerships are central to success

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  Providing environments where walking and biking are attractive access alternatives to cars  Encouraging communities to deploy effective shuttle bus and van systems to connect transit riders living further out  Thoughtfully locating parking around our systems where we can reach a comfortable accommodation with host communities

42 December 2010 The Future of Sustainable Land Use and Transportation Connections in New Jersey…

Emphasizes where there is existing transit service, stations or major bus stops

Is multi-modal, so it absolutely will include locations where highly frequent bus services converge

Needs to reflect market conditions

Transit Friendly Planning Program assistance Is applied strategically where we see local community receptivity; TRANSIT VIEWED & ACKNOWLEDGED AS AN ALLY IN SUPPORTING AND ENABLING LOCAL AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC GOALS

Focuses on situations where NJT has land (Asset Optimization) that can be part of the plan, but also fully supports connected, center based TOD surrounding our system facilities, regardless of property ownership (Value Capture)

Rationalizes internal policies and project activities with external economic objectives and transparencies

Supports statewide policy objectives for sustainability, housing choice, job growth, green house gas reduction and mobility choice

Positions NJ TRANSIT to collaborate successfully with communities and partner with both traditional (i.e., MPOs, state agencies, counties) and non-traditional stakeholders (i.e., NGOs, CDCs ) to pursue new funding streams and collaborations

43 December 2010 Vivian E. Baker Assistant Director Transit Friendly Planning, Land Use & Development

(973) 491-7822 [email protected]

Thank you!

44 December 2010