Case Vision Statement Camden City, Camden County & the State of June 2008

Cooper’s Ferry Development Association Two Riverside Drive, Suite 501 Camden, NJ 08103 (856) 757-9154

Anthony J. Perno III Esq., Vice President & COO [email protected]

Jacob A. Gordon Esq., Project Manager [email protected]

Camden Greenways Inc. www.camdengreenways.org

Daneen Morris, Executive Director [email protected]

Vision for the Camden Active Trail Network Camden, New Jersey

Executive Summary 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation Camden Active Trail Network

Camden, New Jersey is seeking to develop and build a comprehensive system of active transportation pedestrian and bicycling trails from Camden City throughout Camden, Burlington and Gloucester Counties. Known as the Camden Active Trail Network (CATN), this expansion of bicycle and pedestrian trails is essential to help reduce car dependence in the region, leverage economic development along Camden’s industrial waterfront and provide recreational and transportation options to residents and visitors. Camden seeks to be a community targeted for funding in the federal appropriation (SAFETEALU II) which will be up for reauthorization in 2010.

In 2005, the Non-motorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTPP) was created in the federal transportation act (SAFETEALU). The creation of the NTPP was spearheaded by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a national non-profit based in Washington D.C. working to shift federal transportation policy towards more sustainable approaches of non-motorized transportation. This pilot program provided four communities with $25 million each over 4 years to increase bicycling and walking trips as part of their area’s transportation load. The communities were (1) Columbia, Missouri, (2) Marin County, California, (3) Minneapolis & St. Paul, Minnesota and (4) Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. These four communities have discovered increased funding for trail infrastructure have helped decrease traffic congestion, reduce fossil fuel use, increase use of mass transit and get citizens more engaged in a healthy active living lifestyle.

Given the success of the pilot, RTC and others are pushing for an expansion of NTPP in SAFETELU-II. This new program will provide substantial funds for design, construction and promotion of trails in approximately 40 targeted communities across the country.

With assistance from RTC, Coopers Ferry Development Association (CFDA) has begun building support for CATN within Camden City and the surrounding counties. A steering committee has been formed including individuals representing Camden City, Camden County, New Jersey Department of Transportation, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Camden Greenways Inc.

For the alignment of the CATN, CFDA has been working with NJDOT to plan six distinct connections from Camden City out to the region. The plan includes: (1) Improvements to the Ben Franklin Bridge Bike Path to (2) Establishing a Ulysses S. Wiggins Loop around Camden City (3) Developing a Heritage Trail Connector north into Burlington County (4) Trail connections to the Cooper River Park and Bike Trail into Cherry Hill (5) Linking to the Merchantville Bike Trail through Merchantville to Moorestown (6) A Newton Creek Spur to an Atlantic Ave Connector down to Winslow Township.

Improved access to active transportations trails is necessary and essential for residents and visitors of South Jersey. The Camden Active Trail Network will create bicycling and pedestrian walkways that will be a backbone for the future of transportation in the region.

2 Vision for the Camden Active Trail Network Camden, New Jersey

I. Introduction

The State of New Jersey, Camden County, Camden City, Camden Greenways Inc. (CGI), and Coopers Ferry Development Association (CFDA) have joined together with Rails-To- Trails Conservancy (RTC) to lead the effort to develop and build a comprehensive system of active transportation trails from Camden City throughout Camden County, Burlington County, Gloucester County and the surrounding area. This system of trails will be known as the Camden Active Trail Network (CATN).

Beginning as a loop from the redeveloped Camden Waterfront, the Camden Active Transportation Network will connect Philadelphia to the South Jersey suburbs by providing bicycle and pedestrian transportation opportunities for residents and visitors alike.

Camden is uniquely positioned for such an active transportation trail network. Geographically, Camden is the gateway city between Philadelphia and the New Jersey suburbs. Via the Ben Franklin Bridge, Camden provides the region’s only pedestrian or bike access to the major metropolitan area of Philadelphia. All major highways and former rail lines in South Jersey also travel through Camden at some point. Given this prime location, Camden is currently a major destination for non- automotive transportation options in South Jersey. New Jersey Transit's River Line has its southern terminus in Camden and offers frequent light rail service to towns north along the to the capital, Trenton. The PATCO Speedline offers frequent train service from Camden to Philadelphia and the suburbs to the east in Camden County. The Walter Rand Transportation Center in downtown Camden is a major hub for all New Jersey Transit buses and Greyhound Bus Lines as well as a stop for the PATCO and River Line.

Despite these public transit options, high levels of traffic congestion still exist. With New Jersey’s status as the most densely populated state in the union, there is a strong area need for additional car-alternate forms of transportation. Since nearly half of all trips in the are three miles or less, a regional network of bicycle and pedestrian trails can have a significant impact on transportation mode change in the area. For the Philadelphia area, Camden is the obvious choice for such a network.

In providing alternative transportation options to residents of the region, the Camden Active Transportation Network will also leverage economic development along its corridor. Access to trails will raise residential property values as well as spark commercial growth.

3 Vision for the Camden Active Trail Network Camden, New Jersey

Camden is also an ideal choice for a trail network given the unique opportunities for redevelopment along its sizable waterfront. Surrounded on three sides by natural waterways including Newton Creek, Cooper River, the Delaware River and its back channel, Camden has a surplus of ideal trail locations. Almost all of these waterfront locations are currently cut off from the neighborhood by hundreds of acres of inaccessible, vacant and underutilized land. Reconnecting the residential communities of Camden to their local waterfronts is a fundamental component of a successful revitalization strategy for the City of Camden as a whole. By developing an active transportation trail network now, the convergence of multiple redevelopment plans by the neighborhoods, city and country can be unified into an impressive trail network on a linear greenway and finally provide neighborhood access to the local waterfronts for the first time in more than 100 years. In addition, such a unified trail network would provide individuals ample recreational access, help promote healthier living and help increase the quality of life for families and communities overall.

Significant grant funding has already been secured from the William Penn Foundation by CFDA for the development of the Camden Active Transportation Network. Funds from this grant will be used to build a coalition of support for CATN, develop a regional organizing campaign to promote active transportation awareness in the region and draft the conceptual design plan, vision and trail alignment for the trails themselves.

A steering committee has already been created, comprised of municipalities, organizations and state agencies around the region. Regional organizing has begun to recruit support from the local governments and community organizations in all municipalities set to benefit from the trail network. A trail vision has also been generated, discussed and is currently being refined. The New Jersey Department of Transportation has already begun to assist with the trail alignments. The stage is set for a remarkable transformation in Camden towards a greener more-sustainable beautiful city less dependant on automobiles. CFDA will continue to work with Rails-to-Trails Camden Greenways Inc., Camden City, Camden County, the State of New Jersey and other community organizations towards a realization of the Camden Active Trails Network.

4 Vision for the Camden Active Trail Network Camden, New Jersey

II. Action Plan & Project Vision for the Future

To accomplish the goal of developing a network of active transportation trails throughout the region, a campaign must have three main components: (1) the creation of a coalition of support from the local municipalities and surrounding areas, (2) a regional organizing campaign to promote active transportation awareness in the region and (3) the development of a conceptual design plan, including visuals and cost estimates, for the creation of physical linkages between the trail systems of Camden and the regional trails of Camden County.

(1) Community Support & Cooperation between Municipalities

Local and regional support is essential to the creation of the Camden Active Trail Network. To succeed, any detailed plan for trail networks throughout the region must engage active cooperation between municipalities in the area. A coalition of support must be built by engaging key public officials in the area to support the program

Since 2007, Cooper’s Ferry has been organizing stakeholders to promote and support the campaign for the Camden Active Trail Network. These initial stakeholders make up the crucial steering committee, which will mold and shape the progress of the effort. Besides members of CFDA and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, the steering committee includes:

• Sheree Davis, NJ Dept. of Transportation Steering Committee • Caren Fishman, Director, Camden County Parks Dept. • Larry Miller, NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection Advisory Committee • Daneen Morris, Camden Greenways Inc. • Jack Sworaski, Commissioner of Open Space, Camden County Support Support • Carrie Turner, Assistant Director, Camden from from Redevelopment Agency Local Govt. Local Orgs • Jay Watson, Assistant Commissioner, NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection Broad-based Community-wide • Ed Williams, Assistant Director of Development & Support for CATN Planning, City of Camden and Committee of Recreation and Parks

In the coming months and years, additional stakeholders will be added to generate a larger general advisory committee of support. The steering and advisory committees would be charged with bringing local governments and community organizations on board while developing a broad base of community-wide support for CATN in general.

In past years, trail planning between South Jersey municipalities has been a fragmented process. Each community planned bike and pedestrian trails alone, if at all. This CATN

5 Vision for the Camden Active Trail Network Camden, New Jersey coalition of support will unify the many communities of Camden County, Burlington Country and Gloucester County towards a joined purpose. The possibility of federal funding is the carrot which will entice even the most independent community to come together. Signed resolutions from the city councils of those communities will be the evidence of their buy-in. Targeted communities include Camden City, Pennsauken Township, Cherry Hill Township, Collingswood Borough, Haddon Heights Borough, Haddonfield Township, Oaklyn Borough, Mt. Ephraim Borough, Barrington Borough, Magnolia Borough, Somerdale Borough, Stratford Borough, Lindenwold Borough, Pine Hill Borough, Winslow Township, Palmyra, Cinnaminson, Riverton, Maple Shade and Moorestown.

(2) Regional Organizing to Promote Active Transportation Awareness

Raising awareness about active transportation is the second important aspect of the CATN campaign. A network of trails throughout the region is more than just beneficial, it is necessary. The Camden Active Trail Network would accomplish many goals of a densely- populated area which continues to grow through the twenty-first century.

(a) Increase Non-Motorized Mobility By Reducing Car Dependency

Nearly half of all trips by Americans are less than three miles in length, with 28% of trips less than one mile in length.1 If Camden area residents had the opportunity to get out of their cars and walk or bike for all or some of their short trips, the impact would be tremendous. A safe available network of trails leading to local destinations is the answer. Greater use of walking and biking alternatives will ease traffic congestion, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and lessen air pollution. Given rising fuel and insurance prices, non-motorized mobility options for lower income households are more important than ever.

New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the United State with 1134.4 residents per square mile. Camden County has almost 2,300 people per square mile while Camden City has over 9,000 residents per square mile. 2 With all of these residents, traffic congestion in the metro area is a major problem. Yet building more

1 Federal Highway Administration Conditions & Performance Report , US Department of Transportation 2006 2 Population, Housing, Area and Density for Places,, GCT-PH1, US Census 2000

6 Vision for the Camden Active Trail Network Camden, New Jersey roads is not sustainable. Instead, it has been shown that investments in non-motorized transportation opportunities can ease car dependency and increase mode share. With strong public policy encouraging bicycling and infrastructure investments, Portland, Oregon has more than quadrupled the amount of daily trips along its bikeways.3 Today, over 28 percent of daily trips in Minneapolis, one of the original pilot cities, are walking and biking trips. Such an increase in the Camden area would have a major impact in freeing up roadways. It would also have beneficial long-term effects on our economy and our environment. The United States’ dependence on fossil fuels and its worsening air quality are grave concerns.

Today, automobiles account for 20 percent of U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions. Automobile emissions are rising due to more people, more cars per person, and more miles driven per car. Walking and biking would yield even greater CO2 reductions than other popular solutions like hybrid cars. A mode shift for short trips is necessary.

In addition, trails would improve equity of mobility Transportation Mode: by providing accessible non- Commuting in Camden City motorized transportation choices for children, the 2% Walk elderly, disabled populations 1% Other and low-income groups. Means Since car ownership is the second largest expenditure 20% Use Public for the average American Transportation household, driving less can 55% Drive free up substantial resources Alone for other needs. More than 40% of Camden City 18% Carpool residents do not own a automobile. Only 55% of Camden City residents drive alone to their place of employment compared to 75% of Camden County residents and 86.5% of the U.S. population overall. Over 20% of Camden City residents use public transportation instead to get to work, compared to just 8% of Camden County residents and 4.7% of the nation overall. 6% of Camden City residents already walk to work, as compared with 2.3% and 2.9% in Camden County and the United States respectively. With a well-maintained and safe active transportation network of walking and biking trails, greater numbers of Camden residents would not struggle to access the employment opportunities, services and amenities that exist in the New Jersey suburbs and Philadelphia.

To lessen the need for automobiles, trails must connect residences with retail and commercial centers, educational facilities, recreation areas, and other important community destinations. Fragmented trails that do not lead to the important community services or areas remain underutilized. Only a comprehensive network of trails can

3 State of Knowledge, Bicycling in Portland Oregon, Metro Organization, RTC TrailLink Conference.

7 Vision for the Camden Active Trail Network Camden, New Jersey accomplish the vast connections necessary to facilitate non-motorized mode shift to walking and biking.

(b) Capitalize Investment in Trails to Leverage Private Investment in Neighborhood Revitalization

A comprehensive trail network would also spark necessary economic development in the Camden area. Investment in active transportation could assist in rebuilding obsolete local infrastructure and help leverage private investment to rebuild Camden’s neighborhoods. The Camden Active Trail Network will be mostly developed on a dedicated greenway of linear parks that will run throughout the region. The development of linear parks and trails has already been showed to have significant positive influence on the local economy.

The first major project undertaken by Coopers Ferry Development Association was the creation of a waterfront linear park with a large promenade that opened up public access of the Delaware River to the city residents, visitors, and businesses. Known today as Ulysses S. Wiggins Park, the 1.4 mile greenway became the backbone for more than $650 million of private and public investment into Camden City’s downtown waterfront. This investment has helped create a “live, work and play” environment on the redeveloped waterfront which is now home to more than 600 full-time residents, 1,700 office workers, and more than two million visitors annually. The success of this park and its promenade highlights how dedicated investment in greenways and accessible trails can have a significant impact on economic development.

As previously highlighted, a majority of Camden’s neighborhoods are located along waterways, including the Cooper River and Newton Creek as well as the Delaware River and its Back Channel. The potential for waterfront access is one of the greatest assets these communities have, yet most areas are cut off from the water by hundreds of acres of inaccessible, vacant and underutilized land. Establishing, re-establishing, or dramatically improving the linkages between residential communities and their waterfronts is a fundamental component of a successful revitalization strategy for the City of Camden. A developed plan already exists for the Camden Greenway, a contiguous linear park along the Delaware and Cooper Rivers connecting into the Camden County Parks system. This greenway provides the backdrop for the Camden Active Trail Network. This unified greenway with trails will provide neighborhood access and views of the water and will

8 Vision for the Camden Active Trail Network Camden, New Jersey

improve community housing values and leverage more private investment. The extension of existing street grids to access the greenway and trails will open opportunities for private developers to build housing and mixed use developments that are critical to neighborhood revitalization. This effect can be seen in the early projects on Camden’s downtown waterfront. Those efforts were largely publicly financed, where investments in infrastructure, parks and anchor attractions such as the New Jersey State Aquarium created beneficial market conditions where, today, major developers are privately financing residential, office and commercial development.

Finally, it is no secret that trails themselves consistently increase property values along their corridors as well as increase residential demand. According to a National Association of Homebuilders survey, trails are the number one amenity potential homeowners cite when they are looking at new communities.4 By consciously linking trails with businesses and commercial districts and public transportation, while providing desirable housing choices along the trail, communities like Camden can build economically stable neighborhoods which are sustainable.

(c) Expand Alternative Physical Connections between Camden and the Surrounding Region

A trail network of bicycle and pedestrian walkways would improve essential physical connections between Camden residents and the region. One of the most striking characteristics of Camden City’s current population is the level of physical, social and economic isolation that residents experience. With trails, mobility options increase and regional connections are improved.

Despite the recent history of isolation, Camden is actually perfectly positioned geographically to benefit from a non-motorized transportation network. Camden was once a major transportation hub for the region which led to its rise as an industrial center in the early 20th century. An urban transition between a major city and its main suburbs, car-alternative connections have succeeded in the Camden area because of the great needs for such alternatives. Part of the revitalization of Camden has been focused on restoring these physical connections between Camden City, Camden County and Philadelphia. The new RiverLine light rail alignment through downtown Camden connects

4 Melekian, Bradley, “From Kitchen to the Wild in 30 Second”, New York Times, September 9, 2006.

9 Vision for the Camden Active Trail Network Camden, New Jersey the area with Delaware River towns to the north as well as Trenton and New York City. The RiverLink ferry service from the Camden Waterfront to Philadelphia has been reestablished. An aerial tram linking Camden’s downtown waterfront with Penn’s Landing has also been proposed. PATCO, the high-speed line from Philadelphia to New Jersey, is also currently being expanded to satisfy demand. With these motorized public transportation options in place however, there is a still a need for non-motorized transportation options in the area.

Currently, the existing walking and pedestrian trails in the South Jersey region lack any cohesive network or necessary connections. Any potential users are thus denied the opportunity to utilize the paths as transportation as opposed to simply short-term recreation. With an infusion of federal funds, the crucial extensions and connections can be made from these existing trails to the areas where they would be most useful – namely between Philadelphia and into Camden and the South Jersey suburbs. The ability to bicycle or walk between local neighborhoods and towns on a dedicated safe trailway without cars is the future of mobility in the region.

(d) Improve Public Health by Encouraging Active Living

By providing an easy outlet for recreation and mobility to locations such as schools and commercial areas, a network of active transportation trails will improve the health of all users. Currently, over 63% of Camden Country residents are overweight or obese due in large part to sedentary lifestyles. Physicians in the area agree. According to Dr. Jeff Brenner of Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, “residents of Camden suffer high rates of preventable, obesity- related illness like diabetes and heart disease—largely from lack of physical activity. A regional trail network would provide a safe and inexpensive prescription to fight this problem.”

This obesity epidemic in the US today results in 300,000 annual deaths and $117 billion in health-related expenses. Experts recommend 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five days a week. Integrating exercise into daily trips is the easiest possible way to meet this requirement. Studies have shown that senior citizens who live in areas more conducive to walking are more active than those in areas where walking is more difficult. Such additional

10 Vision for the Camden Active Trail Network Camden, New Jersey exercise from living in “walkable” environments also helps reduce obesity in senior citizens and contributes to their overall health.5

(e) Improving Overall Quality of Life for Families and Residents

There are many other tangential benefits of a trail network for walking or biking throughout the community. An active transportation network would provide user- friendly walking and biking transportation options. So-called “walkability” has become a highly value commodity when selecting a residence.6 Trails also remain important because of the inherent dangers and mental barriers to biking or walking on traffic-filled roads. It is especially important to provide safe places free of traffic for children of the community. Safe routes to school is a major concern. Currently only 14% of children’s trips to school are made on foot, down from 50% in 1969. 40% of parents asked about barriers to their children walking to school cited traffic as a major concern.7 Additionally, walking daily may have beneficial effects to individual’s overall mental health. Recent studies have demonstrated a significant association between neighborhood walkability and depression in older adults.8

(3) Detailed Plan for Trail Expansion, Connection & Creation

The final essential element in developing the Camden Active Trail Network is generating a detailed plan for trail connection, expansion and creation. One of the major advantages for Camden is the future trail alignment will be based off of existing Camden City community plans and the proposed Camden Greenway plan. Connecting to existing regional plans in the surrounding counties will help unify the fragmented trail system in the area into a useable network more valuable than the sum of its parts.

Coopers Ferry Development Association with help from the steering committee has already created a comprehensive vision for the Camden Active Trail Network. Major trails would be

5 Association of the Built Environment with Physical Activity and Obesity in Older Persons, American Journal of Public Health, March 2007 6 See, e.g., Walkable and Bikeable Communities Project, Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, University of Washington Health Promotion Research Center 2005. 7 Mean Streets 2004: How Far Have We Come?, STPP 2004 8 Protective Association between Neighborhood Walkability and Depression in Older Men, JAGS 2007.

11 Vision for the Camden Active Trail Network Camden, New Jersey created to connect Camden City to least five other existing or proposed regional trails. In addition, a dedicated trail loop for Camden City would be created. In total, six major trails would become the backbone of the Camden Active Trail Network:

(1) the Ben Franklin Bridge Bike Path to Philadelphia (2) the Ulysses S. Wiggins Loop around Camden (3) the Heritage Trail Connector into Pennsauken and Burlington County (4) the Cooper River Park and Bike Trail into Cherry Hill (5) the Merchantville Bike Trail through Merchantville to Moorestown (6) the Newton Creek Spur to Atlantic Ave Connector down to Winslow Township.

3 1 4 2

5

6

12 Vision for the Camden Active Trail Network Camden, New Jersey

To begin to provide a promotional vision for this network including some of the maps and renderings in this case statement, CFDA partnered with Greenways Inc., a nationally recognized multidisciplinary environmental planning and landscape architectural firm, to create the conceptual design plan of these physical linkages which would stretch throughout Camden County. Greenways Inc. has developed a trail layout map, a regional context map for the city and the region respectively, as well as proposed trail renderings and as well as a detailed budget necessary for trail design and construction.

13 Vision for the Camden Active Trail Network Camden, New Jersey

As described, all of the proposed trails in the Camden Active Trail Network will expand on the original plans for a unified Camden City greenway. This greenway has been actively sought by Camden Greenways Inc. and there has been ongoing progress towards its completion.

14 Vision for the Camden Active Trail Network Camden, New Jersey

Below is a brief description of each trail and its regional connections from Camden City into the surrounding suburbs. The New Jersey Department of Transportation is currently assisting CFDA in identifying the exact alignment. These major trails would act as pedestrian and bike “highways” with smaller trails connecting in from schools, churches, community centers and other places of interest.

1. The Ben Franklin Bridge Trailway, Camden, NJ to Philadelphia, PA Trail Length: Approximately 1 mile as proposed

From Camden, a pedestrian and bike path across the Ben Franklin Bridge already exists which links all of New Jersey to Philadelphia and beyond. An extension is necessary to modernize the route to the bridge path, creating easy access to the Waterfront and the proposed greenway trail via Pearl Street through Rutgers Park. The current pedestrian stair tower would be replaced with a bike- friendly ramp at grade which would also make the bridge ADA accessible.

2. The Ulysses S. Wiggins Loop, Camden City, NJ Trail Length: Approximately 5 miles as proposed

The main loop of the Camden Active Trail Network, this trail would begin at Ulysses S. Wiggins Park on the Camden Waterfront, cross under the Ben Franklin Bridge and continue north through North Camden along the back channel of the Delaware River to Pyne Point Park. Continuing through North Camden, the trail would pass the historic State Street Bridge and continue south along the Cooper River eventually connecting to an already-planned bike path along Martin Luther King Blvd from the 676 freeway near the Campbell’s Soup campus. With all connections made, this would create a giant greenway trail loop, making it possible to bike or walk north from the Camden Waterfront along the Delaware & Cooper Rivers until heading back west down MLK Boulevard to the Battleship New Jersey and the on the Waterfront.

15 Vision for the Camden Active Trail Network Camden, New Jersey

3. The Heritage Trail Connector, Camden to Pennsauken & Burlington County, NJ Trail Length: Approximately 4 miles as proposed

Connecting to the Wiggins Loop at the historic State Street Bridge, this trail would cross the bridge into East Camden and Cramer Hill then continue along the back channel of the Delaware River. East of the bridge out to Pettys Island, the route would leave Camden but continue along the waterfront of the back channel through Pennsauken Township, eventually connecting to the current Heritage Trail in Burlington County.

4. The Merchantville Spur , Merchantville, NJ to Camden, NJ Trail Length: Approximately 2 miles as proposed

The redevelopment of the Merchantville Spur would be a true rails-to-trails project, with the proposed extension running along an abandoned rail line from Camden to the Merchantville Bike Path near Dudley Grange Park. From the back channel of the Delaware, the trail would run south through Von Neida Park parallel to 29th Ave in Cramer Hill, then follow the abandoned rail line along Rosedale Ave past the Cato School into Merchantville to their existing bike trail.

5. The Cooper River Spur , Cherry Hill, NJ to Camden, NJ Trail Length: Approximately 5 miles as proposed

This extension would connect the Wiggins Loop to the existing Cooper River Park trail in Cherry Hill. From the Wiggins Loop along MLK Blvd, the trail would pass under 676 and traverse the campus of Campbell Soup, crossing Cooper River on new pedestrian and bike bridges. Once across, the trail would connect to a wide existing trail on a large greenway along Admiral Wilson Blvd. Eventually this extension would continue around Farnham Park and along into Cooper River Park and the existing loop which spans both sides of the river in Cherry Hill.

16 Vision for the Camden Active Trail Network Camden, New Jersey

6. The Atlantic Avenue Connector, Winslow Twp to Camden, NJ Trail Length: Approximately 6 miles as proposed.

Further south, the historic Fairview neighborhood of Camden has a newly- redeveloped central park, Yorkship Square, and planned greenway additions to its main roadways. An extension would run from the Waterfront at the Susquehanna Bank Center down the Conrail right-of-way through . It would turn east at Bulson Street, crossing under 676 and loop through Fairview and Camden County Park. Further east, the extension would parallel Champion Ave across Newton Lake then connect Camden to Winslow Township along Atlantic Ave.

In developing a proposed network of trails, the establishment of proposed locations and design standards for the trail will be essential to garner support for the campaign and help foster cooperation between municipalities. A comprehensive scheme for trail design standards will bring trail-adjacent municipalities to the table, fostering regional cooperation across jurisdictional lines. It will also allow communities to help shape and then adopt the trail alignments and encourage them to adopt the specific trail design guidelines. With or without the 2010 federal funding, individual municipalities that buy into the overall regional trail network vision can work to develop the section of the trail in their own community. Once local municipalities buy into the vision of the trail network, they can dedicate their own resources to trail development as well as seek state funding from New Jersey Green Acres Program and the New Jersey Department of Transportation for implementation.

II. Anticipated Outputs & Outcomes of the Campaign for the Camden Active Trail Network

With a designation of federal funds from the SAFETEA LU II legislation for the Camden Active Trail Network, Camden will be poised to improve bicycle and pedestrian transportation opportunities, create value and generate economic activity, support active living, soften the patterns of urban growth, mitigate water and air pollution, protect wildlife habitat, and improve Camden’s quality of everyday life and the heath of its residents.

The campaign for the Camden Active Trail Network will increase collaboration with municipalities and quasi-governmental organizations, increase regional investment and advocate for improved policy. As an active campaign for a change in federal policy, this project will produce a direct positive impact on regional prosperity for the Camden area.

17 Vision for the Camden Active Trail Network Camden, New Jersey

Expected Campaign Outputs

• Formation of a steering committee to spearhead CATN campaign, including influential state, county, city and local officials (Spring 2008) • Develop a list serve/AIR SET for CATN which would provide comprehensive contact data for Campaign supporters as well as a clearinghouse of Campaign-related materials and resources (Summer 2008) • Presentation at National Trail Symposium (Fall 2008) • Development of a regional organizing campaign to promote active transportation awareness in municipalities and local governments with written promotional documents and brochures highlighting the campaign vision and trail connections (Winter 2008) • Creation of numerous promotional materials jointly with RTC, including Camden specific issue briefs for the five RTC 2010 Campaign categories (Mobility, Health, Economics, Climate, Family) including statistics, personal profiles and quotes from individuals and a 2010 newsletter feature on Camden. (Spring 2009) • Development of campaign literature and secured media publicity to promote active transportation awareness including secured media stories, written promotional documents and brochures highlighting the campaign vision and trail connections by (Spring 2009) • Creation of coalition in support of the Camden Active Trail Network, utilizing connections with state and local organizations and agencies (Summer 2009) • Outreach effort to residents of Camden towards benefits of active transportation and reconnection to surrounding cities and suburbs, as evidenced by the creation of a Camden-based organizing effort (Summer 2009) • Outreach effort to residents of suburban areas highlighting benefits of and active transportation trail network, flowing from their suburbs through Camden and into Philadelphia (Summer 2009) • Presentation International Trails Conference to garner national support for the Camden Active Trail Network and advocate the selection of Camden as a featured city in the 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation. (Summer 2009) • Bring national trail and transportation experts to Camden as well as supervising officials from four pilot communities of RTC’s 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation (Fall 2009) • Final Development of a conceptual design plan for physical linkages of active transportation trail network between Camden City Greenway and the regional trails of Camden County, including visuals and cost estimates (Winter 2009)

Anticipated Short-Term Outcomes

• Secure endorsements from key public officials, as evidenced by participation of the Director of the Camden County Parks Department, and high level officials from NJDEP, on the Camden Active Trail Network steering committee board. • Secure endorsements for Camden Active Trail Network from influential government agencies, as evidenced by approval and backing from New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and others local and state departments.

18 Vision for the Camden Active Trail Network Camden, New Jersey

• Secure dependable support for the Camden Active Trail Network from Camden County municipalities, as evidenced by adoption of resolutions of support by township and borough councils. • Secure dependable support from the Camden City residents, as evidenced by adoption of resolution of support by City of Camden • Positioning Camden to secure federal funding for active transportation in SAFETEA- LU II, evidenced by its designation as a city of priority. • Secure dependable support from the Camden County residents, as evidenced by county- wide publicity and active participation in campaign-sponsored events. • Develop alternative sources of funding for Camden Active Trail Network • Prepare for implementation of design vision and plan for network of active transportation trails around Camden County, as evidenced by ability to implement plans with federal, state or local funds.

Anticipated Long-Term Outcomes

• Improve federal policy on transportation funding while targeting federal investment in Camden County and the region, as evidenced by designation of Camden as city of priority in SAFETEA-LU II legislation. • Secure federal funds for Camden City and Camden County to spend on trail development. • Move into implementation stage of trail development.

• Anticipated long-term outcomes of trail development include:

o Increase the number of active transportation participants in Camden City and Camden County o Increased access to active transportation opportunities in Camden City and Camden County o Improved connections between Camden and Camden County with direct trail connections between Philadelphia, Pennsauken Township, Cherry Hill Township, Collingswood Borough, Haddon Heights Borough, Haddonfield Township, Oaklyn Borough, Mt. Ephraim Borough, Barrington Borough, Magnolia Borough, Somerdale Borough, Stratford Borough, Lindenwold Borough, Pine Hill Borough, Winslow Township, Palmyra, Cinnaminson, Riverton, Maple Shade and Moorestown. o New economic activity and investment alongside active transportation trails in Camden and throughout region, as evidenced by increased property values and greater residential and business development along greenway trail corridor. o Reduce auto dependency and decrease energy consumption in Camden City and Camden County demonstrated by trail use. o Improved air and water quality in Camden County o Improved health and reduced obesity among Camden Country residents

19 Vision for the Camden Active Trail Network Camden, New Jersey

III. Timetable of Key Project Benchmarks

Northeast Trail Forum outside Hartford, CT for Nine Northeast June 8-9, 2008 Target Communities including Camden Final Case Statement Submitted to RTC June 30, 2008 RTC in Washington DC advocating for legislation July 2008 Continuing Expansion of Steering Committee to spearhead Summer 2008 Camden Active Trail Network Campaign, including state, county, city and local officials. Development of preliminary design vision and development costs Fall 2008 of trail network throughout Camden City and Camden County. Presentation at National Trails Symposium advocating for CATN November 2008 Regional Development and securing of supporting resolutions for Winter 2008 trail adjacent communities and municipalities Meeting with federal delegations to present and discuss proposed Spring 2009 Campaign plans. Presentation at International Trails Conference advocating for Summer 2009 CATN Proposed Bicycle Sojourn through Camden & Camden County Summer 2009 Current Transportation Bill Expires September 2009 Community Leaders visit Washington DC Winter 2009 RTC’s International Trails and Greenway Conference to focus on Summer 2010 2010 SAFETEA LU II Bill or Extension Approved by Congress Summer 2010

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