CAMDEN COUNTY TRANSIT EXPANSION FRAMEWORK STUDY January 2012 January 2012 The Delaware Valley Regional Planning The symbol in our logo is adapted from the official Commission is dedicated to uniting the region’s DVRPC seal and is designed as a stylized image of elected officials, planning professionals, and the Delaware Valley. The outer ring symbolizes the the public with a common vision of making a region as a whole, while the diagonal bar signifies the great region even greater. Shaping the way we Delaware River. The two adjoining crescents represent live, work, and play, DVRPC builds consensus on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of improving transportation, promoting smart growth, New Jersey. protecting the environment, and enhancing the economy. We serve a diverse region of nine DVRPC is funded by a variety of funding sources counties: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, including federal grants from the U.S. Department and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania; and Burlington, of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration Camden, Gloucester, and Mercer in New Jersey. (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DVRPC is the federally designated Metropolitan the Pennsylvania and New Jersey departments of Planning Organization for the Greater Philadelphia transportation, as well as by DVRPC’s state and local Region — leading the way to a better future. member governments. The authors, however, are solely responsible for the findings and conclusions herein, which may not represent the official views or policies of the funding agencies. DVRPC fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. DVRPC’s website (www. dvrpc.org) may be translated into multiple languages. Publications and other public documents can be made available in alternative languages and formats, if requested. For more information, please call (215) 238-2871. Acknowledgements DVRPC would like to acknowledge the following individuals for their contributions to this study. Uzo Ahiarakwe, City of Camden Clarence Bagwell, Antioch Development Vivian E. Baker, NJ Transit Bob Box, PATCO Howard Clark, Gloucester City Tony DeSantis, Delaware Valley Association of Rail Passengers Robin Johnson, City of Camden Andrew Levecchia, Camden County Improvement Authority Jack Lipsett, Gloucester City Sarah Marks, Coopers Ferry Development Association Helene Pierson, Heart of Camden Cheryl Spicer, PATCO Michael Stanton, Gloucester City Light Rail Steering Committee Aaron Truchil, CamConnect Ed Williams, City of Camden TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary................................................................................................................ 1 Section 1: Introduction..................................................................................................... 3 Introduction………………....................................................................................................... 4 Overview of Project Communities......................................................................................... 13 Summary of Regional, State & Other Planning Efforts......................................................... 17 Benefits of Transit-Oriented Development............................................................................ 20 Section 2: Station Area Profiles.................................................................................... 29 Walter Rand Transportation Center...................................................................................... 29 Cooper Hospital.................................................................................................................... 53 South Camden Atlantic Avenue............................................................................................ 77 South Camden Ferry Avenue...............................................................................................101 Gloucester City....................................................................................................................125 Appendix A Summary of Local Planning Documents……………………………….................................. A-1 Appendix B Station Area Units of Analysis.................………………………………................................. B-1 FIGURES AND TABLES Figure 1: Gloucester County Development Scenarios............................................................................... 5 Figure 2: Alternatives Analysis Study Area................................................................................................. 6 Figure 3: South Jersey Transit Alternatives................................................................................................ 7 Figure 4: Glassboro-Camden Corridor....................................................................................................... 9 Figure 5: Glassboro-Camden Line EIS Process....................................................................................... 12 Figure 6: Camden Population, 1840-2010................................................................................................ 13 Figure 7: Gloucester City Population, 1930-2010..................................................................................... 15 Figure 8: Walter Rand Transportation Center Station Overview............................................................... 31 Figure 9: Walter Rand Transportation Center Community Inventory........................................................ 35 Figure 10: Walter Rand Transportation Center Transportation Infrastructure........................................... 37 Figure 11: Walter Rand Transportation Center Station Area Age Composition.........................................39 Figure 12: Walter Rand Transportation Center Degrees of Disadvantage by Census Tract.................... 41 Figure 13: Walter Rand Transportation Center Land Use (2005)............................................................. 43 Figure 14: Walter Rand Transportation Center Zoning and Redevelopment Areas................................. 45 Figure 15: Walter Rand Transportation Center Historic Resources.......................................................... 47 Figure 16: Walter Rand Transportation Center Recent and Proposed Development............................... 49 Figure 17: Cooper Hospital Station Overview........................................................................................... 55 Figure 18: Cooper Hospital Community Inventory.................................................................................... 59 Figure 19: Cooper Hospital Transportation Infrastructure........................................................................ 61 Figure 20: Cooper Hospital Station Area Age Composition...................................................................... 63 Figure 21: Cooper Hospital Degrees of Disadvantage by Census Tract.................................................. 65 Figure 22: Cooper Hospital Land Use (2005)........................................................................................... 67 Figure 23: Cooper Hospital Zoning and Redevelopment Areas............................................................... 69 Figure 24: Cooper Hospital Historic Resources....................................................................................... 71 Figure 25: Cooper Hospital Recent and Proposed Development............................................................ 73 Figure 26: Atlantic Avenue Station Overview............................................................................................ 79 Figure 27: Atlantic Avenue Community Inventory..................................................................................... 83 Figure 28: Atlantic Avenue Transportation Infrastructure.......................................................................... 85 Figure 29: Atlantic Avenue Station Area Age Composition....................................................................... 87 Figure 30: Atlantic Avenue Degrees of Disadvantage by Census Tract................................................... 89 Figure 31: Atlantic Avenue Land Use (2005)............................................................................................ 91 Figure 32: Atlantic Avenue Zoning and Redevelopment Areas................................................................ 93 Figure 33: Atlantic Avenue Historic Resources........................................................................................ 95 Figure 34: Atlantic Avenue Recent and Proposed Development............................................................. 97 Figure 35: Ferry Avenue Station Overview............................................................................................. 103 Figure 36: Ferry Avenue Community Inventory...................................................................................... 107 Figure 37: Ferry Avenue Transportation Infrastructure........................................................................... 109 Figure 38: Ferry Avenue Station Area Age Composition........................................................................ 111 Figure 39: Ferry Avenue Degrees of Disadvantage by Census Tract..................................................... 113 Figure 40: Ferry Avenue Land Use (2005)............................................................................................. 115 Figure 41: Ferry Avenue Zoning and Redevelopment Areas................................................................