Central NJ Tri-County Urban Transit Studio Findings and Recommendations SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2017

SAMANTHA A. SPAGNOLI BRIAN G. LECKIE DAEHEE KIM

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO OVERVIEW

. Study area overview Introduction . Purpose of studio & vision for area

. Methodology Current Conditions & Stakeholder . Demographics Feedback . Stakeholder feedback . Intra-county route proposals . Inter-county route proposals Improving Current Service . Commuter route proposals . Additional recommendations Q&A INTRODUCTION – Study Area

. 14 municipalities in Mercer County, Middlesex County, and Somerset County

. Services include: 6 NJ Transit lines; 12 community transit routes; 5 Coach USA lines

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO INTRODUCTION – Existing Transit Routes

. Bus routes in the study area do not form an interconnected network

. Unique markets in the region that are open to transit use

. Establish a unified network with reliable urban and suburban links; which will make transit a competitive option to driving

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Background

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Existing Conditions – Methodology

. Findings are informed by a mixed-method process that included: . Demographic analysis . Ridership and operations analysis . Stakeholder meeting (March 3rd, 2017)

. Recommendations have been informed by the above processes

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Existing Conditions – Place of Work Employment Outflow, by Municipality 98.8% 100.0% 95.2% 94.5% 95.5% 92.4% 91.3% 91.2% 88.2% 89.0% 88.5% 89.4% 89.0% 84.9%

80.0% 72.9%

On average, 60.0% 90.1% of all residents in the study area 40.0% commute outside of their place 27.1% of residence for work 20.0% 15.1% 11.8% 11.0% 11.5% 10.6% 11.0% 7.6% 8.7% 8.8% 4.8% 5.5% 4.5% 1.2% 0.0%

Living in Area, but Employment Outside Living and Employed in Area

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Existing Conditions – Distance to Work Distance Between Home and Workplace 100%

80%

On average, 60% 40% of commuters in study area 40% travel < 10 Miles 20% to work 0%

< 10 Miles 10 - 24 Miles 25 - 50 Miles > 50 Miles Source: 2015 ACS

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Existing Conditions – Public Transit Use Public Transit Use in Study Area (2000 – 2015) 16.0%

14.0%

12.0%

Approximate transit use in 10.0%

Study Area: 7%, 8.0% New Jersey: 11%, 6.0% U.S.: 5% 4.0% 2.0%

0.0%

2000 2010 2015 Source: 2015 ACS

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Existing Conditions – Propensity to Use Transit Criteria Weighted Value

Population density 370 . Used to identify key areas and populations that are likely to use public transit Zero-car households 200

Population with ambulatory difficulty 178 Developed using . Weighted factors from ACS 2015 data Multiple member households with one car 100 Population with a disability 67 . Guidelines from Transit Cooperative Research Program, Report 28 Nonwhite population 65 Foreign born population 39 . Adjusted for study for study area Household income under $30,000 38

Women 31

Young worker 10

Senior worker 10

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Existing Conditions – Propensity to Use Transit

Propensity to Use Tra nsit .. Very low .. Low Medium South Brunswic k .. High .. Very High N A 0 2 4 ••c:::11•-==---•Miles RpTGERS MTRANSIT Edward J. Bloustein School 2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO The Way To Go. of Planning and Public Policy ® Stakeholder Feedback – What We Learned

. Desires for more service(s): . Demand for more service along Route 1 and Route 206 . More inter-county connections . Non-traditional hours for some workers . Multimodal hubs . Transfer points

. Other considerations . Increased and better promotion . Central sources for all information

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Intra-county Service Proposals

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Revised Service – MCAT M5

Current Service . The M5 had an average daily ridership of 282 people in December 2015

. The M5 connects residents of New Brunswick to the job centers on Jersey Avenue

. Operates along Jersey and Livingston Avenues

. Contains many stops very close together

. Operated by Middlesex County Area Transit

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Revised Service – MCAT M5 Proposed Changes . Connection to North Brunswick’s upcoming Transit Oriented Development (TOD)

. Maintain connection to job centers along Jersey Avenue

. Fewer stops

Operating Details . Span of service: 6 AM to 8 PM on Weekdays and Saturdays

. Frequency: 60 min.

. Operator: Community Transit

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Revised Service – R7 Hamilton Street Extension Current Service . Revision of current Brunsquick service

. Connects the neighborhoods in the West of New Brunswick to the College Avenue Rutgers Campus and Downtown New Brunswick

. Intersects with key transfer point with Rutgers buses on College Avenue campus

. Free to students and members of the public

. Poorly advertised and underutilized service

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Revised Service – R7 Hamilton Street Extension Proposed Changes . Extending route to new student oriented developments along Hamilton Street and affordable housing/training center on Wright Place

. Bi-directional loop

. Created a transfer point with the M5

. Eliminating the circuitous Nursing School stop

Operating Details . Span of service: 6 AM to 2 AM on Weekdays

. Frequency: 30 min.

. Operator: Rutgers University, partnership with New Brunswick and Franklin

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Revised Service – S1 Hillsborough - Bridgewater

Current Service . Revision of current SCOOT R2 service

. Hillsborough lacks service frequent enough to entice people working service and low-skilled jobs to take public transit

. Starts late in the morning and ends early in the afternoon

. Only four runs per day

. Operated by Somerset County Transportation

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Revised Service – S1 Hillsborough - Bridgewater Proposed Changes . Increase service frequency and span; providing service to those working non-traditional hours

. Expand service to the RWJ University Hospital in Somerville and employments centers in the area

. Route originates at Hillsborough and travels north to Bridgewater Commons

Operating Details . Span of service: 6:30 AM to 11:40 PM on Weekdays

. Frequency: 60 min.

. Operator: Community Transit

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Revised Service – S3 Somerville - Branchburg

Current Service . Revision of current CAT 2R service

. Sporadic stops during certain intervals

. Extensive and infrequent route; limits use to many, including RVCC students

. Route schedule is inconsistent

. Operated by Somerset County Transportation

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Revised Service – S3 Somerville - Branchburg Proposed Changes . Shorter run that would allow more frequent service to RVCC and local retailers/employment centers

. Timed transfers that allow connection to new S1 route via Downtown Somerville

Operating Details . Span of service: 6:15 AM to 10:15 PM on Weekdays

. Frequency: 60 min.

. Operator(s): Community Transit Operator in partnership with RVCC

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO New Service – S5 Franklin - Bound Brook

Proposed Service . Connection between Franklin and Bound Brook

. Integrate Bound Brook train station and employment corridors between municipalities

. Currently operated by Somerset County

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO New Service – S5 Franklin - Bound Brook

Rationale . Franklin is home to a number of office parks and hotels that are underserved

. Bi-directional loop

Operating Details . Span of service: 6 AM to 7 PM on Weekdays and Weekends

. Frequency: 30 min. peak, 60 min. off- peak

. Operator: Community Transit

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO New Service – S7 Bound Brook-Somerville

Rationale . Current gap in service between municipalities, though they are prime locations for transit service

. Bi-directional loop

Operating Details . Span of service: 7 AM to 8 PM on Weekdays and Weekends

. Frequency: 60 min.

. Operator: Community Transit

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO New Service – freeB Shopper

Proposed Service . Twice as frequent as any other route in the area

. Serves a number of hotels, malls, business parks, and high-density residential neighborhoods,

. Connection to the NJ Transit 600 and 605, as well as the Princeton Dinky Shuttle

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO New Service – freeB Shopper Rationale . Princeton stakeholders indicated frequency and reliability as a barrier to local transit

. Starts early, ends late, to accommodate people working in local malls

Operating Details . Span of service: 6:00 AM to 12 AM on Weekdays, 7:30 AM to 12 AM on Saturdays, 7:30 AM to 10:30 PM on Sundays

. Frequency: 45 min.

. Operator: Community Transit

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Revised Service – NJ Transit 604

Current Service . Revision of current Forrestal/PPPL line

. Connects Princeton University south campus to Forrestal and Princeton NJ Transit Station

. Ends early in the evening

. Provides riders with access to major employers in the area

. Operated by Tiger Transit

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Revised Service – NJ Transit 604

Proposed Changes . Expanding line to Princeton Junction

. Extending service hours to account for increased route length

Operating Details . Span of service: 7:30 AM to 8:00 PM on Weekdays

. Frequency: 60 min.

. Operator: NJ Transit

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Revised Service – NJ Transit 605

Current Service . Serves major shopping, residential, and employment centers north and south of Princeton

. Offers connections to bus and rail services

. Irregular timetable (70 min.)

. Operated by NJ Transit

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Revised Service – NJ Transit 605 Proposed Changes . Reduce service route length by eliminating service to low-ridership stops

. Keep connections to major points of interest

Operating Details . Span of service: 6 AM to 11 PM on Weekdays, 8 AM to 11 PM on Saturdays, 8AM to 9 PM Sunday

. Frequency: 30 min. peak, 60 min. off- peak

. Operator: NJ Transit

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Inter-county Service Proposals

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO New Service – S2 Somerville - Princeton Proposed Service . Route connects Somerville and Princeton via Route 206

. Designated stops in Somerville, Hillsborough, Montgomery & Princeton

Operating Details . Span of service: 5 AM to 8 PM on Weekdays

. Frequency: 30 min. peak, 60 min. off- peak

. Operator: Community Transit

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO New Service – S2 Somerville - Princeton

Rationale . Current transit service gap along Route 206 corridor

. Addresses underserved locations in Montgomery (i.e. Pike Run Village)

. Connection to regional rail services and other bus routes

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO New Service – S4 Hillsborough - New Brunswick Proposed Service . Connects Hillsborough to New Brunswick

. Designated stops in Hillsborough, Millstone, Franklin & New Brunswick

Operating Details . Span of service: 6 AM to 8:40 PM on Weekdays, 8 AM to 6 PM on Weekends

. Frequency: 60 min.

. Operator: Community Transit

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO New Service – S4 Hillsborough - New Brunswick

Rationale . Provides East-West connection across the area

. Local service in Hillsborough

. Connects the Franklin Township Municipal Complex with the Hamilton Street corridor

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO New Service – S6 Somerville - New Brunswick Proposed Service . Connects New Brunswick to Somerville

. Designated stops in New Brunswick, Franklin, Manville, and Somerville

Operating Details . Span of service: 6 AM to 11 PM on Weekdays, 8 AM to 6 PM on Weekends

. Frequency: 30 min. peak, 60 min. off- peak and on Weekends

. Operator: Community Transit

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO New Service – S6 Somerville - New Brunswick

Rationale . Integrate connection with local Bound Brook service

. Provides access to major working zones and lodging centers

. Serves senior citizen housing communities such as Somerset Run and Canal Walk

. Addresses underserved Manville

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Commuter Service Proposals

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO New Service – Hillsborough Flyer (Coach USA) Proposed Service . Connects Hillsborough to Midtown Manhattan

. Express service to New York City

Operating Details . Span of service: Peak hours and direction only; 5 AM to 7 AM, 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM, on Weekdays

. Frequency: 30 min.

. Operator: Coach USA

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO New Service – Montgomery Express (Coach USA) Proposed Service . Connects Montgomery to Midtown Manhattan

. Express service to New York City, with limited stops in Hillsborough and Montgomery

Operating Details . Span of service: Peak hours and direction only; 5 AM to 7 AM, 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM, on Weekdays

. Frequency: 30 min.

. Operator: Coach USA

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO New Service – Manville-Bridgewater-NYC (Coach USA)

Proposed Service . Connects Manville, Finderne, and Bridgewater Park-and-Ride to Midtown Manhattan

. Express service to New York City

Operating Details . Span of service: Peak hours and direction only; 5 AM to 7 AM, 5 PM to 6 PM, on Weekdays

. Frequency: 60 min.

. Operator: Coach USA

2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO Revised Service Area Map

Intra-county Routes .., ...... Montgomery M S Jersey Ave H1llsbj rough R7 Hamilton Street Extension :·· Oens ty Sl Hillsborough -Bridgewater )ilJj Ba oon S3 Som erville - Branchburg t Ba oonpo t

SS ~ran k lin - Boundbrook + S7 Boundbrook - Somerville

freeB Shopper

- 604

605 Revision CR 5 8 Inter-county Routes

SZ Somerville - Princeton S4 Hillsborough - New Brunsw ick N .?S S6 Sommerville - New Brunswick CR 522 Commuter Routes A Hillsborough Flyer Bus Route to NYC 0 2 4 Miles - Manville-Bridgewater Express Route © OpenStreetMap ~~ nd ) contributors, CC-BY-SA AJ ~" 4 CRS71 RpTGERS MTRANSIT Edward J. Bloustein School 2017 CENTRAL NJ URBAN TRANSIT STUDIO The Way T o Go. of Pl anning and Public Policy ® Thank you for your time. QUESTIONS? DAEHEE KIM - [email protected] BRIAN LECKIE - [email protected] SAMANTHA SPAGNOLI - [email protected]

YESTERDAY’S STATE THEATRE

• State Theatre New Jersey was designed by renowned theater architect Thomas W. Lamb, and opened in 1921 as a large, art deco vaudeville / silent film palace • “RKO State Theatre” operated primarily as a motion picture venue during the Golden Age of Hollywood and beyond, from 1930 to the mid‐1960s • Stars appearing in person in the early days included Bob Hope, Barbara Stanwyck, Minnie Pearl, Gary Cooper, Bela Lugosi, and Houdini 1920s VINTAGE COLORIZED POSTCARD

BOB MINNIE HOPE PEARL 1930s TODAY’S STATE THEATRE

• State Theatre is used 330 days of the year • More than 200 performances are presented each season, including: • Broadway Musical Tours • Classical Music and Pops • Dance • Comedy • Rock‐n‐Roll • Family Programming • World‐class talent from all over the globe comes each year to serve our diverse community • Over 5.7 million people served since 1988 Trenton's Long-range Comprehensive Master Plan

Central Jersey Transportation Forum 9/7 /2017 MASTER PLAN Objectives

D COMMUNITY-DRIVEN VISION AND PLAN

DA PLAN TO BE WELL-KNOWN WITHIN THE COMMUNITY

D THE PLAN IS ASTRATEGIC PLAN THAT IDENTIFIES GOALS, STRATEGIES, AND ACTIONS

D DEVISE ASTRUCTURE THAT INTEGRATES THE PLAN INTO DAILY OPERATION OF CITY GOVERNMENT MP FRAMEWORK Land Use Plan Comprehensive Framework -2013 Intergovernmental

District Plans Arts & Culture

Work Plans Hi!j:toric Preservation

Capital Plan

Recycling

Energy Use and Community Greenhouse Engagement Ga:;e~ Parks. Open Space and Climate Services Recreation REPORTS ADOPTED 5 Topic Reports plus Land Use Topic Reports -typically known as Elements Intergovernmental

District Plans Arts & Culture

Work Plans Historic Preservation

Capital Plan Public Safety

Community Engagement

Services