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