Prepared for: Somerset County Planning Board, New Jersey Middlesex County Planning Board, New Jersey Prepared by: In association with: Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center (Rutgers University) Nelson/Nygaard Consulting Associates Looney Ricks Kiss QualQuan Insights, Inc. June 16, 2005 The preparation of this study has been financed in part through funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, under the Federal Highway Act of 1956, as amended. This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, of the State of New Jersey. This study does not constitute a standard, specification or regulation. I-287 Mobility Plan page i TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..........................................................................................................1 1.1 OVERVIEW .............................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT .............................................................................................................. 1 1.3 ISSUES AND STRATEGIES.......................................................................................................... 2 1.3.1 Transit Services............................................................................................................. 2 1.3.2 Travel Demand Management ........................................................................................ 3 1.3.3 Smart Growth Land Use and Transit Friendly Design ................................................... 4 1.3.4 Pedestrian and Bicycle.................................................................................................. 5 1.3.5 Wayfinding Signage.......................................................................................................6 1.3.6 Intelligent Transportation Systems ................................................................................ 7 2.0 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................... 8 2.1 BACKGROUND ......................................................................................................................... 8 2.2 STUDY AREA ........................................................................................................................... 8 2.3 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT .............................................................................................................. 9 2.4 GOAL AND OBJECTIVES...........................................................................................................10 3.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS AND ANALYSIS ............................................................................12 3.1 TRAFFIC CONDITIONS..............................................................................................................12 3.2 JOURNEY TO WORK ANALYSIS .................................................................................................13 3.3 COMMUNITY SURVEYS .............................................................................................................21 3.3.1 Resident Survey ...........................................................................................................21 3.3.2 Worker Survey..............................................................................................................26 3.3.3 Employer Survey ..........................................................................................................33 4.0 TRAVEL DEMAND MANAGEMENT .......................................................................................36 4.1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................36 4.2 TYPICAL TDM STRATEGIES AND PROGRAMS.............................................................................36 4.2.1 Alternatives to Driving Alone.........................................................................................36 4.2.2 Alternative Work Arrangements....................................................................................38 4.2.3 Financial Incentives......................................................................................................38 4.2.4 Parking Management Programs...................................................................................39 4.2.5 Land Use Initiatives ......................................................................................................39 4.2.6 Supporting Programs....................................................................................................40 4.3 COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS................................................................................................42 4.4 EXPANDING THE USE OF TDM IN THE STUDY AREA ...................................................................44 4.5 STRATEGIES...........................................................................................................................45 5.0 TRANSIT CONDITIONS AND STRATEGIES..........................................................................48 5.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................48 5.2 EXISTING CONDITIONS ............................................................................................................48 5.2.1 Transit Services............................................................................................................48 5.2.2 Land Use......................................................................................................................54 5.2.3 Unserved Trip Generators............................................................................................57 5.3 ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS ........................................................................................................58 I-287 Mobility Plan page i 5.4 CONCLUSIONS........................................................................................................................63 5.5 STRATEGIES...........................................................................................................................65 6.0 SMART GROWTH LAND USE AND TRANSIT-FRIENDLY DESIGN.....................................74 6.1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................74 6.2 EXISTING CONDITIONS ............................................................................................................75 6.2.1 Transportation Systems................................................................................................75 6.2.2 Land Use......................................................................................................................75 6.3 SMART GROWTH PLANNING AUDIT ...........................................................................................78 6.3.1 Piscataway Township...................................................................................................78 6.3.2 Franklin Township ........................................................................................................80 6.4 COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS................................................................................................82 6.5 STRATEGIES...........................................................................................................................85 7.0 PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE FACILITIES ............................................................................99 7.1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................99 7.2 EXISTING CONDITIONS ............................................................................................................99 7.2.1 Existing Pedestrian Facilities........................................................................................99 7.2.2 Existing Bicycle Facilities............................................................................................101 7.2.3 Easton Avenue ...........................................................................................................103 7.2.4 Pedestrian and Bicycle Activity...................................................................................103 7.2.5 Land Development Ordinances ..................................................................................104 7.2.6 Selection of Roadways for Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities......................................104 7.2.7 Delaware-Raritan Canal .............................................................................................106 7.3 STRATEGIES.........................................................................................................................107 8.0 WAYFINDING SIGNAGE.......................................................................................................120 8.1 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................120 8.2 EXISTING CONDITIONS ..........................................................................................................120