Final Report January 16, 2015 “The work that provided the basis for this report was supported by funding under an award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development with additional funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The authors of the report are solely responsible for the accuracy of the data, statements and interpretations contained in this document. Such statements and interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Together North Jersey Steering Committee or its individual members or any other agency or instrumentality of Government.” Monmouth County BRT Opportunities Final Report January 2015 Contents I. Executive Summary ............................................................................................................... 1 II. Study Overview ...................................................................................................................... 3 1. Project Background ............................................................................................................ 3 2. Study Process .................................................................................................................... 3 3. Study Goals ........................................................................................................................ 4 4. Review of Past Studies ...................................................................................................... 5 III. Existing Conditions Analysis .............................................................................................. 6 1. Existing Transit Service ...................................................................................................... 6 2. Ridership Information ....................................................................................................... 14 IV. Trip Generators ................................................................................................................ 20 1. Redevelopment ................................................................................................................ 25 2. Traffic Counts ................................................................................................................... 26 3. Park-Ride ......................................................................................................................... 28 4. Bicycle and Pedestrian Connections ................................................................................ 31 V. Overview of Potential Features and Strategies ................................................................... 33 1. BRT Features ................................................................................................................... 33 2. BRT Strategies ................................................................................................................. 38 VI. SWOT Analysis ................................................................................................................. 41 1. Strengths .......................................................................................................................... 44 2. Weaknesses ..................................................................................................................... 46 3. Opportunities .................................................................................................................... 50 4. Threats ............................................................................................................................. 51 VII. Bus Transit Improvement Recommendations .................................................................. 53 1. Investing in Bus Transit .................................................................................................... 53 2. Enhance Local Bus Service ............................................................................................. 54 3. Add BRT Features System-Wide ..................................................................................... 59 4. Develop Future Bus Transit Nodes .................................................................................. 62 5. Integrate Bus Transit improvements into County Master Plan ......................................... 69 VIII. Regional Connections, Implementation, and Next Steps ................................................. 70 1. Types of Recommendations ............................................................................................ 70 2. Factors Affecting Recommendations ............................................................................... 70 3. Traditionally Under-Represented Communities ............................................................... 70 4. RPSD and Regional Context ............................................................................................ 71 IX. Appendix A – Public Opinion Survey Results Summary ................................................. A-1 i Monmouth County BRT Opportunities Final Report January 2015 Figures Figure 1: NJ TRANSIT Bus and Rail Routes in Monmouth County .............................................. 7 Figure 2: Monmouth County Daily Bus Trips by Route ................................................................. 9 Figure 3: Monmouth County Bus Headways by Route ................................................................. 9 Figure 4: Academy Bus Service Map .......................................................................................... 10 Figure 5: Sandy Hook Shuttle Bus .............................................................................................. 12 Figure 6: Map of Transit Stops within Monmouth County ........................................................... 13 Figure 7: Average Daily Boardings for NJ TRANSIT Monmouth County Routes (April 2014) .... 14 Figure 8: Route 817 Weekday Boardings (average 416 per day) ............................................... 15 Figure 9: Route 830 Weekday Boardings (average 458 per day) ............................................... 15 Figure 10: Route 831 Weekday Boardings (average 503 per day) ............................................. 16 Figure 11: Route 832 Weekday Boardings (average 911 per day) ............................................. 16 Figure 12: Route 833 Weekday Boardings (average 332 per day) ............................................. 17 Figure 13: Route 834 Weekday Boardings (average 364 per day) ............................................. 17 Figure 14: Route 835 Weekday Boardings (average 160 per day) ............................................. 18 Figure 15: Route 836 Weekday Boardings (average 584 per day) ............................................. 18 Figure 16: Route 837 Weekday Boardings (average 546 per day) ............................................. 19 Figure 17: Monmouth County Job Density (US Census LEHD 2010) ........................................ 21 Figure 18: Monmouth County Population Density ...................................................................... 22 Figure 19: Monmouth County Zero Car Households .................................................................. 23 Figure 20: Monmouth County Redevelopment Areas ................................................................. 24 Figure 21: Monmouth County Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) from NJDOT (2011 to 2013) .................................................................................................................................................... 27 Figure 22: Monmouth Park-Ride Capacity and Utilization .......................................................... 30 Figure 23: Monmouth County Multi-Use Paths ........................................................................... 32 Figure 24: Station Stop Examples .............................................................................................. 34 Figure 25: Running Way Example .............................................................................................. 36 Figure 26: Vehicle Examples ...................................................................................................... 37 Figure 27: NJ TRANSIT #833 Bus at Red Bank Station ............................................................. 44 Figure 28: NJ TRANSIT Bus with Bike Rack .............................................................................. 45 Figure 29: Bus Stop with Limited Amenities for Transit Users .................................................... 47 Figure 30: Congestion on U.S. Route 9 Southbound .................................................................. 47 Figure 31: Monmouth County Land Use ..................................................................................... 49 Figure 32: Relationship between Investment and Monmouth County Bus Ridership ................. 54 Figure 33: Potential Long Branch-Freehold BRT Route ............................................................. 57 Figure 34: Potential Deficiencies in Pedestrian Infrastructure near Bus Stops ........................... 58 Figure 35: Potential Future BRT Nodes in Monmouth County .................................................... 67 Figure 36: Sample Station Area Improvements .......................................................................... 68 ii Monmouth County BRT Opportunities Final Report January 2015 Tables Table 1: NJ TRANSIT Bus Routes in Monmouth County ............................................................