Transit Oriented Development Strategic Plan Adopted by the City of Trenton Planning Board December 23, 2019 Prepared for: The City of Trenton Prepared by: Local Planning Services, NJDCA ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Prepared for: Mayor and City Council Planning Board Mayor W. Reed Gusciora, Esq. Armondo Alfonso Kathy McBride, City Council President Randy Baum Jerell Blakeley Dan Fatton Marge Caldwell-Wilson Jeff R. Halpern, PhD Joseph Harrison Joseph Harrison George Muschal John McBride Santiago Rodriquez Patricia Ni’ma-Mohammed Robin M. Vaughn Anthony Santora Wanda Swiggett, PhD City of Trenton Staff Benjamin Delisle, Director of Housing and Peter Yull Economic Development Planning Board Attorney Jeffrey Wilkerson, PP/AICP George McGill, Esq. Planning Board Secretary Cherry Oakley Prepared by: Local Planning Services Team Other Contributors Sean Thompson, LPS Director John Hatch - Clark Caton Hintz (CCH) Jef Buehler, MPA Stephen Doyle - CCH Maria G. Connolly, PP/AICP George Sowa - Greater Trenton Geoffrey Gray-Cornelius, Planner Peter Kasabach - New Jersey Future Amy Heath, DCA Graphic Designer Focus Group Venue Coordination Ramond Joseph, PP/AICP Shoshanna Page - The John S. Watson Terry Kizer, Formatting Institute for Public Policy of Thomas Edison Tom J. Stanuikynas, PP/AICP State University Robert J. Tessier, PP/AICP _________________________________________ Robert J. Tessier, PP License Number 00225800 The original of this document is on file in the City of Trenton. This document has been appropriately signed and sealed in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 45:14A-12 by Robert J. Tessier PP, AICP, who is a New Jersey licensed Professional Planner and the Local Planning Services team leader for the preparation of this report. ii Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................................... ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 9 METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................................................... 11 TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT AREA CHARACTERISTICS ............................................... 12 Regional Context ................................................................................................................................ 12 TOD Area Description ........................................................................................................................ 14 Demographics ..................................................................................................................................... 18 City of Trenton Population Characteristics ......................................................................................... 18 Market Analysis .................................................................................................................................. 20 REVIEW OF ADOPTED PUBLIC PLANS .............................................................................................. 22 Current Redevelopment Plans............................................................................................................. 22 Current Planning Projects ................................................................................................................... 26 MULTI-MODAL OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................. 30 BARRIERS TO TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT ..................................................................... 34 Barrier: TOD Area Safety and Security ............................................................................................. 34 Barrier: TOD Area Sense of Place and Cleanliness ........................................................................... 34 Barrier: Vacant and Abandoned Properties ....................................................................................... 35 Barrier: Transportation Connections and Circulation ........................................................................ 35 Barrier: Property Redevelopment ...................................................................................................... 36 REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES .................................................................................................. 37 PRIORITIZED ACTIONS TO IMPLEMENT THIS PLAN ...................................................................... 41 TRENTON TRANSIT CENTER PRIORITY AREA CONCEPT PLAN .................................................. 48 HAMILTON AVENUE AND CASS STREET PRIORTY AREA CONCEPT PLAN ............................. 52 ACTION CARDS ....................................................................................................................................... 57 IN PROGRESS ACTION CARDS ............................................................................................................. 59 LOCAL PUBLIC AGENCY CERTIFICATION BY NJDOT ........................................................... 60 INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS: TRENTON TRANSIT CENTER REDESIGN AND REALIGNMENT ........................................................................................................................... 62 TRENTON TRANSIT CENTER PLACEMAKING ......................................................................... 66 LONG-TERM BICYCLE PARKING AT TRENTON TRANSIT CENTER .................................... 74 SMART KIOSKS AND PARKING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS .................................................. 77 TRENTON TRANSIT CENTER OUTREACH FOR STATION VAGRANCY .............................. 80 iii IMPLEMENT OPEN STREETS INITIATIVE .................................................................................. 83 PRIORITIZE/CONSOLIDATE VACANT AND ABANDONED PROPERTIES PROPOSED PROGRAMS FROM TRENTON250 PLAN ................................................................................ 86 ROUTE 29 TUNNEL BAN PETITION AND TRUCK ROUTING THROUGH THE TOD AREA 89 UTILIZE VACANT PROPERTY REGISTRATION ORDINANCE FUND .................................... 92 SHORT-TERM ACTION CARDS ............................................................................................................. 94 TRENTON TRANSIT CENTER REDEVELOPMENT DESIGNATION AND PLAN ................... 95 ARENA REDEVELOPMENT DESIGNATION AND PLAN ........................................................ 104 CASS STREET STATION REDEVELOPMENT DESIGNATION AND PLAN .......................... 111 ROEBLING CENTER REDEVELOPMENT DESIGNATION AND PLAN ................................. 117 PUBLISH ABANDONED PROPERTY LIST ................................................................................. 123 TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT WAYFINDING PROJECT ......................................... 128 EXISTING BUS SHELTERS PROGRAM ...................................................................................... 132 IMPLEMENT BIKE SHARE SYSTEM .......................................................................................... 136 MEDIUM-TERM ACTION CARDS ....................................................................................................... 138 MERCER CEMETERY HERITAGE TRAIL .................................................................................. 139 WALLENBERG AVENUE CORRIDOR PROJECT - REALIGNMENT AND EXTENSION ..... 141 GREAT CONNECTOR GREENWAY GATEWAY/TRAILHEAD AND PARK CAP PROJECT143 INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS: PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AT NJ 129 AND HAMILTON AVENUE ..................................................................................................................................... 145 SOBRO (South Broad) – ARENA DISTRICT PLACEMAKING ................................................... 147 LONG-TERM ACTION CARDS ............................................................................................................. 151 REACTIVATE OLD EAGLE TAVERN RESTAURANT .............................................................. 152 NORTHEAST CORRIDOR PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AND CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS ..... 154 TRENTON COOKS! (FOOD TRUCK/CART BUSINESS INCENTIVE PROGRAM) ................ 156 SHORT-TERM BICYCLE PARKING AT PUBLIC ACTIVITY CENTERS INSTALLATION .. 159 APPENDIX I - DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY PARCEL INFORMATION: TRENTON TRANSIT CENTER APPENDIX II - DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY PARCEL INFORMATION: HAMILTON AVE. STATION AREA APPENDIX III - FOCUS GROUP MEETING SUMMARY APPENDIX IV - DEVELOPER INTERVIEWS APPENDIX V - SWOC ANALYSIS iv APPENDIX VI - OPEN HOUSE RESULTS APPENDIX VII – STATE AND OTHER FUNDING APPENDIX VIII – ACTION CARD IMPLEMENTATION MATRIX v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Transit Oriented Development Strategic Plan (TOD Plan) has been prepared for the City of Trenton (the City) by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Local Planning Services (LPS) as an amendment and supplement to the 2017 the Trenton250 Plan and the over 400 Action Cards that are designed to implement the plan. The Trenton250 Plan recommends that a TOD Plan be completed. This plan will help implement Transit Oriented Development within the City of Trenton. The goal of this TOD Plan is to coordinate public investment and encourage private sector investment, compact mixed-use development, multi-modal linkages and equitable access