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NJ TRANSIT RECEIVES AWARD FOR TRANSIT-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES PROGRAM

Corporation and its Partners Honored by Downtown New Jersey

HOBOKEN, NJ, January 22, 2002 -- Downtown New Jersey -- a statewide, non-profit organization that works to revitalize New Jersey’s downtowns -- has honored NJ TRANSIT’s Transit-Friendly Communities (TFC) program with its "Best of the Best" award in the category of "Stimulating/Creating Public-Private Partnerships."

The award salutes NJ TRANSIT and its partners -- including Downtown New Jersey -- for working with towns to enhance areas around train stations and improve the quality of life in downtown districts.

"New Jersey is rich with towns that grew up around the railroad," said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Jeffrey A. Warsh. "Through the Transit-Friendly Communities program, towns are going back to the future by making train stations centers of activity. This effort enables NJ TRANSIT to work with towns that have visions of an economically successful, vibrant and pedestrian-friendly downtown."

NJ TRANSIT created the TFC program in response to the Federal Highway Administration's request for proposals under the "Transportation and Community and System Preservation Pilot Program" (TCSP). Created as part of the federal government's Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), the TCSP program was designed to help states, local governments and metropolitan planning organizations:

  • Create and implement plans to improve transportation efficiency.
  • Reduce the need for costly future public infrastructure investments.
  • Give people better access to jobs, services and trade centers.
  • Examine urban development patterns to create new strategies that encourage private companies to incorporate these goals when designing new developments.

Eleven towns are participating in the TFC initial program, which received $810,000 535,000 from the federal government and an additional $25,000 from New Jersey’s Department of Community Affairs -- another program partner. NJ TRANSIT's other TFC partners are:

  • The New Jersey Office of State Planning
  • Project for Public Spaces, Inc.
  • Regional Plan Association
  • New Jersey Future
  • Rutgers University’s Transportation Policy Institute

A listing of the 11 participating towns and their goals is attached.

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing bus, rail and light rail services for 380,600 daily commuters on 238 bus routes, two light rail lines and 12 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 163 rail stations, 26 light rail stations and more than 17,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.

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List of Selected Communities and Demonstration Project Goals

1. Bayonne -- 34th and 45th Street Stations (HBLR)

  • Link the new light rail stations to the downtown shopping district
  • Explore economic development and revitalization opportunities
  • Enhance immediate connections to the stations from surrounding neighborhoods
  • Suggest development concepts and ideas for the Military Ocean Terminal

2. Hackensack -- Essex Street Station (PVL)

  • Create a station identity
  • Enhance linkages between the courthouse, station and hospital complex
  • Develop an economic development plan for the station area
  • Enhance parking and access to the station

3. Hillsdale -- Hillsdale Station (PVL)

  • Facilitate community forums
  • Obtain local input for station area improvements
  • Determine the highest and best use for existing station building

4. Hoboken -- 9th Street Station (HBLR)

  • Identify effective strategies to support the development of Monroe Center
  • Raise awareness in Hoboken and Jersey City about transit‑supportive development

5. Matawan -- Aberdeen/Matawan Station (NJCL)

  • Identify development opportunities for the station area
  • Ensure retention and expansion of commuter parking supply
  • Improve the attractiveness of the station area
  • Reduce traffic safety concerns in the vicinity of the station

6. Palmyra -- Palmyra Station (SNJLRTS)

  • Encourage economic revitalization of this community
  • Improve pedestrian connections to and from this station
  • Accomplish in concert with Riverton SNJLRT Station project

7. Plainfield -- North Avenue Station (RVL)

  • Develop a planning and redevelopment strategy for the station area
  • Improve the attractiveness of the station area, including streetscapes

8. Red Bank -- Red Bank Station (NJCL)

  • Integrating the station as a key community place
  • Strengthen local businesses and community economic development
  • Improve the pedestrian environment leading to the station

9. Riverton -- Riverton Station (SNJLRTS)

  • Encourage economic revitalization of this community
  • Improve pedestrian connections to and from this station
  • Accomplish in concert with Palmyra SNJLRT Station project

10. Rutherford -- Rutherford Station (BL)

  • Improve pedestrian access across Station Square
  • Enhance station access from both Rutherford and East Rutherford

11. Trenton -- Trenton Station (NEC)

  • Work with station architects to develop attractive and functional entrance plazas
  • Encourage improved pedestrian linkages into surrounding neighborhoods
  • Explore development potential of NJ TRANSIT owned parcels
  • Encourage linkages between pedestrians and variety of transportation modes, including buses, taxis, commuter rail, proposed SNJLRTS station at Clinton Avenue, etc.

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