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D V R P C NEWS THE NEWSLETTER OF DELAWARE VALLEY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION DVRPC CO-HOSTS DELAWARE RIVER REGIONAL SUMMIT n December 2000, DVRPC, along with the Delaware River I Basin Commission (DRBC) and the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA), was proud to host a regional summit to discuss the current DVRPC along with DRBC and DRPA hosted One Region-One River, a one-day summit devoted to the future status of and future status of the Delaware River. the Delaware River. Leaders from DVRPC, DRBC and DRPA signed the Cooperative Accord committing to work together to This historic one-day summit, called preserve the future of the River region. One Region-One River, focused on the Summit panels were designed to cover Delaware River as the tie that binds IN THE WINTER 2001 ISSUE: our region together. a variety of river related issues including: Throughout the day, representatives •Charting the Course for the 21st Century ▼ Safeguarding NJ Natural Resources 2 Current Activities and a Future Vision of the port and the private sector pro- ▼ Our Regional Report Card 3 of the River vided updates on the current and future ▼ Refocusing Our Regional Priorities 4 status of the economy, environment •Quiche or Cargo? Waterfront Development as a Key to ▼ DVRPC Adopts Regional Intelligent 5 and communities surrounding the Transportation System Plan Delaware River. Leaders from DVRPC, Community Revitalization •Ships and Shad ▼ HORIZONS 2025: Helping The Region 6 DRBC and DRPA signed an historic Travel Smarter Cooperative Accord representing a Maintaining a Vibrant Port and a ▼ Spotlight on Central Jersey’s Future 7 commitment to work together to pre- Healthy Environment serve the future of the River region. Story continued on page 8. 1 SAFEGUARDING NEW JERSEY’S NATURAL RESOURCES an’s impact on watersheds continues to make the protection and preservation M of our water resources a high priority. As the guardian of responsi- ble regional growth, DVRPC is working to ensure that efforts to safeguard the region’s watersheds are an integral part of regional planning. This summer, New Jersey Governor Christine Whitman awarded DVRPC a contract to draft a watershed preservation and improvement plan for New Jersey’s Lower Delaware River Tributaries. In carrying out this work, DVRPC is working collaboratively with citizens on watershed planning in different parts of the region. “As the guardian of responsible Dozens gather at Gloucester County College in Deptford, New Jersey to kick off planning efforts for Watershed regional growth, DVRPC is working Management Area 18. This meeting and addititonal events are only part of a larger DVRPC effort to plan for the to ensure that efforts to safeguard preservation of watershed areas throughout the Delaware Valley Region. the region’s watersheds are an of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) protecting natural resources. DVRPC is integral part of regional planning.” led discussions on the proposed approach coordinating the efforts of private and to watershed planning in Area 18. public sector groups in Area 18 to acquire A kickoff meeting, which addressed plan- Area 18, one of twenty watershed man- natural open space; restore riparian buffers ning for Watershed Management Area 18, agement areas in New Jersey, is part of and degraded stream banks; monitor water was held last September at Gloucester the Lower Delaware River Region. The quality; improve urban and suburban land County College in Deptford, NJ. Special watershed encompasses parts or all of management practices; establish stream guest Michael Rockland, Chairman of the 64 municipalities in eleven Delaware watch programs; and create better envi- American Studies Program at Rutgers River Tributaries extending from Swede ronmental education programs. The com- University and author of Snowshoeing Run in Burlington County south to pleted plan will also detail strategies for through Sewers and Looking for America on Oldmans Creek, on the Gloucester-Salem limiting non-point source pollution, such the New Jersey Turnpike, spoke on the rela- county line. as fertilizers and pesticides, fluids and tionship between nature and our urban In October and November, DVRPC residues from vehicles and streets, and environment. Featured speaker Tom Schueler, hosted watershed sub-area meetings in floatable litter. Executive Director of the Center for Pennsauken, South Harrison Township These activities are only part of a larger Watershed Protection and a nationally rec- and Washington Township. The meetings DVRPC effort to plan for the preserva- ognized authority on watershed conserva- featured an educational component on tion of watershed areas throughout the tion, highlighted state-of-the-art approach- watershed planning as well as discussions Delaware Valley Region. Recently, NJDEP es to improving water quality and the pro- in which citizens had the opportunity to Commissioner Robert Shinn awarded tection of natural resources. Staff from provide input on planning initiatives DVRPC a contract to create a plan for DVRPC and the New Jersey Department aimed at improving water quality and the Crosswicks Creek Watershed Story continued on page 7. 2 OUR REGIONAL REPORT CARD DVRPC Releases Regional Indicators hether we’re gearing up for a revision to the region’s long-range plan Summary Of Regional Indicators Progress W or weighing the environ- + = positive regional trend; – = negative regional trend; +/– = mixed regional trend mental impacts of corridor improvements PROGRESS and development, evaluation of our past, TREND PHYSICAL FORM present and future is essential to DVRPC’s +/– Growth Patterns: Philadelphia continues to lose population as suburbs grow planning efforts. – Land Development: Rate of land development far exceeds rate of population growth In order to track progress toward the – Farmland Preservation: Farmland declines despite preservation effort goals of the Year 2020 Long-Range Plan +/– Parks and Recreational Open Space: Protected open space increases, but more is needed + Commercial Land Use: Office occupancy rates increase across the region and refocus for Horizons, the Year 2025 Plan, DVRPC has released a report called TRAFFIC CONGESTION Regional Indicators: Measuring Our Progress – Auto Usage: Traffic grows around the region to 2025 which analyzes the current condi- +/– Public Transit Usage: Transit ridership holds steady in recent years following previous losses – Vehicles: Vehicle growth far exceeds population growth tions and progress in eight focus areas– physical form, traffic congestion, environ- ENVIRONMENT ment, air quality, economic development, – Waste Generation: Per capita solid waste increases in New Jersey, remains steady in PA freight movement, mobility and housing. + Recycling: Recycling rate improves throughout region A total of 26 regional indicators were + Water Quality: Delaware River water quality generally exceeds standards + Water Withdrawal: Water usage declines in region selected that reflect the trends or condi- +/– Energy Consumption: Energy usage in PA and NJ less than national average, but increasing tions within these eight issue areas. Of at a faster rate the 26 indicators, eleven show an improv- ing trend, six represent a declining trend AIR QUALITY and nine demonstrate mixed results. +/– Ozone Pollution: Air quality improves, but still falls below standards – Drive Alone: Use of single occupant vehicles increases in all counties The findings, which follow, represent a synopsis of the issues explored in Regional ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Indicators: Measuring Our Progress to 2025. + Employment Growth: Employment grows in all counties except Philadelphia The report provides an in-depth look at + Income Growth: Regional income exceeds national average, grows at similar rate + Unemployment Rate: Unemployment rate declines in all counties since 1995 the full list of indicators, a complete analy- sis of the results and a background that FREIGHT MOVEMENT will help identify the assets and challenges +/– Port: General cargo increases since 1990, bulk cargo declines slightly facing the region. The sound use of these + Air: Air cargo nearly doubles since 1990 findings along with the collaboration of +/– Truck: Truck traffic increases throughout region government officials and concerned citi- MOBILITY zens will bring the Delaware Valley one + Safety: Automobile crashes decline significantly since 1988, increase slightly since 1995 step closer to the vision set forth in our + Road Condition: Roadway conditions improve since 1990 long range plan. With careful planning, +/– Reliability of Public Transit: On time performance of public transit varies among systems tomorrow’s Delaware Valley can be a HOUSING sustainable region that boasts a strong + Housing Affordability: Earnings increases exceed rate of housing cost increases economy, utilizes a seamless transportation +/– Housing Prices: Regional average housing price now less than national average system and preserves the region’s precious natural environment. 3 REFOCUSING OUR REGIONAL PRIORITIES ew initiatives from a Fall 2000 economic development, inter-municipal 100 community groups throughout the visioning workshop have cooperation and open space. region, posted the draft Planning Work brought DVRPC’s FY 2002 Workshop participants broke into six Program on the DVRPC web page for NPlanning Work Program groups for in-depth discussions of the high- public comment, and reviewed the docu- into sharper focus, lending more impor- lighted issues. Attendees were charged not ment with all DVRPC committees.