Morris County Master Plan Circulation Element ____________________________________________________________________ Morris County Master Plan Circulation Element Prepared By: Morris County Department of Public Works Division of Engineering and Transportation In Conjunction with: Morris County Planning Board ADOPTED: October 18, 2018 I hereby certify that this document is a true copy of the Circulation Element adopted by the Morris County Planning Board at its regular meeting on October 18, 2018. Christine G. Marion, PP, AICP Planning Director ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders Douglas R. Cabana, Director Christine Myers, Deputy Director John Cesaro Heather Darling Kathryn A. DeFillippo Thomas J. Mastrangelo Deborah Smith County Administration John Bonanni, County Administrator Deena Leary, Assistant County Administrator Morris County Planning Board Morris County Board of Transportation Steve Rattner, Chairman Joe Wells, Chairman Isobel W. Olcott, Vice Chair Frank T. Reilly, Vice Chairman Ted Eppel, Secretary Kathryn A. DeFillippo, Freeholder Annabel Pierce John Cesaro, Freeholder Everton Scott Melverne E. Cooke Stephen D. Jones Stephen Antonelli Nita Galate Ilene Dorf Manahan Christian Francioli, Alternate#1 Manuela Schuster Christopher J. Vitz, County Engineer John Wetzel Roslyn Khurdan, County Engineer Alt. Leonard Resto, Alternate #1 Christine Myers, Freeholder Liaison Jigar Shah, Alternate #2 Deborah Smith, Freeholder Alternate W. Randall Bush, Esq. County Counsel Morris County Department of Public Works, Morris County Office of Division of Engineering and Planning and Preservation Transportation (Staff members involved in the (Staff members involved in the development of this Element) development of this Element) Christine Marion, Planning Director Christopher J. Vitz, Director of Public Works / County Engineer Gene Cass, Supervising Cartographer Gerald Rohsler, Transportation Director Greg Perry, Supervising Planner Debra A. Dellagiacoma, Principal Traffic Engineer Barbara Murray, Principal Planner John J. Hayes, Principal Planner Anthony Soriano, Supervising Planner Joseph A. Russo, Senior Planner Project funding assistance provided by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority Table of Contents Chapter 1: Goals, Objectives, and Strategies A. The Need for a Plan ...............................................................................................................................1-1 B. Plan Development Process ....................................................................................................................1-1 C. Goals and Objectives .............................................................................................................................1-3 D. Strategies ...............................................................................................................................................1-4 E. Morris County Street Design Guidelines ..............................................................................................1-20 Chapter 2: Planning Context and Background A. Partners in Transportation ..................................................................................................................2-1 B. Transportation Planning Activities Since 1992 ....................................................................................2-3 C. Important Transportation and Land Use Changes Since 1992 ............................................................2-8 D. Plans and Programs Affecting Transportation ....................................................................................2-13 Chapter 3: Demographics A. Population .............................................................................................................................................3-1 B. Housing .................................................................................................................................................3-9 C. Income and Employment ......................................................................................................................3-13 Chapter 4: The Transportation Network A. Roads and Bridges ................................................................................................................................4-1 B. Public Transportation ..........................................................................................................................4-10 C. Bicycle and Pedestrian Network ...........................................................................................................4-16 D. Freight Transportation ........................................................................................................................4-18 E. Aviation .................................................................................................................................................4-24 F. Commuting Patterns .............................................................................................................................4-25 Chapter 5: Infrastructure, Development, and Technology Trends A. Infrastructure Trends ...........................................................................................................................5-1 B. Development Trends .............................................................................................................................5-3 C. Technology Trends ................................................................................................................................5-7 Glossary that accommodates all users, advances overall CHAPTER 1: mobility, and supports the efficient movement of people and goods that is necessary to maintain, Goals, Objectives, and improve, and enhance local and regional economic growth and quality of life. It presents information Strategies that may be used by local governments to inform their transportation planning and decision-making and will be used to help coordinate local, county, and state transportation policy and actions in Morris County. This new Circulation Element will serve as a guiding document for transportation planning and investment in Morris County for the next 25 years. Over this period, substantial changes to the trans- portation environment are anticipated. Examples include increased traffic associated with continued growth, increasing demand on public transit/ specialized transportation, and the challenges and opportunities associated with new technologies, such as autonomous vehicles, drones, and alterna- tive fueling infrastructure. Plan Structure The Circulation Element is divided into five chap- ters. Chapter One describes the process used to create this document and presents the essential pol- icy and action elements of the Circulation Element, i.e., the goals, objectives, strategies, and guidelines that will help direct the County’s transportation polices and decisions. Chapters two through five document the context in which this Circulation Ele- A. The Need for a Plan ment was developed, demographic conditions, the existing transportation network, and future trends. he Morris County Master Plan is composed of various elements that address issues affecting county residents, businesses, municipalities, B. Plan Development Process and the region. The last Circulation Element Tof the Morris County Master Plan was adopted in The Circulation Element was developed through 1992. Since then, Morris County has gained approxi- a comprehensive planning process. This process mately 80,000 residents reaching a total population included input from the public and a variety of of about 500,000 persons. Over the last quarter cen- stakeholders, identification of current County tury, major transportation, land use, demographic, transportation system conditions, analysis of demo- and regulatory changes have occurred, accompanied graphic trends and economic issues, and review of by shifting traffic patterns, increased traffic volumes, municipal transportation plans and initiatives. The congestion, and demand for transportation services. information gathered was used to help develop the Morris County and other agencies have continued goals, objectives, and strategies contained herein. to analyze and advance solutions to address these evolving challenges. The purpose of this new Circu- lation Element is to provide a comprehensive review Public Outreach of current conditions and transportation trends, and Input from local residents and the business com- to present strategies to respond to the transporta- munity played an important role in developing the tion issues and concerns identified during this plan’s Circulation Element. A robust public outreach effort development. was conducted to provide a variety of opportunities This Circulation Element promotes the County’s for public participation. This public outreach effort vision of a well-maintained transportation system included the following: 1-1 from representative members of relevant public agencies, advocacy groups, and transportation plan- ning partners of Morris County and the region. The TAC consisted of representatives from the following entities: zzzMorris County Department of Human Services zzzMorris County Park Commission zzzMorris County Office of Emergency Management zzzMorris County Tourism Bureau zzzMorris County Chamber of Commerce zzzMorris County Economic Development Corpora- tion (MCEDC) zzzPublic Workshops in Denville, Lincoln Park, Morris Township, and Roxbury zzzMorris