Introduction
Public transit is a crucial component of the transportation system in the NJTPA region. This page provides an overview of key issues, trends and studies underway related to public transit. Further infromation can be obtained in the NJTPA's 2035 Regional Transportation Plan. Appendix D of Plan 2035 is a Transit Investment Analysis (pdf - 118k)
More people have opted to use transit in recent years and demand will continue to grow in t
he future. Ridership grew 46 percent from 1990 to 2007. Over the last five years, NJ Transit rail ridership increased 23 percent, while bus ridership increased 10 percent during that time. Rising fuel prices, new services, stable fares and high employment levels all pushed transit ridership to record levels beginning in the last quarter of calendar year 2007. Records were achieved in average weekday passenger trips as well as weekend trips. This growth ended by late 2008 as fuel prices dropped, and the regional economy declined. NJ Transit ridership in January and February 2009 was down by about 3.5 percent from a year earlier. However, economic recovery is expected to resume the long term trend of increasing demand for transit services.
The transit system in the NJTPA region, which consists of commuter rail, light rail, heavy rail, bus and ferry services, provides a fast and reliable means of moving 860,000 travelers each weekday. NJ Transit is the nation's third largest provider of bus, rail and light rail transit, linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia on 236 bus routes, 11 rail lines and three light rail lines. Private carriers also comprise a significant portion of the State’s bus network providing local and express service to a variety of intra-state and inter-state destinations, including New York and Philadelphia. Numerous county and municipal transit services also operate to serve local work trips, connections to rail stations and other purposes (see NJTPA subregion page). Amtrak provides inter-city rail service in the Northeast Corridor linking New York, Newark, Trenton and points in between. The Port Authority of NY & NJ operates the PATH rail network, linking Newark, Harrison, Jersey City and Hoboken with Manhattan.
Investment in public transit remains a high priority in the NJTPA region, including strategic expansions t
o serve new markets. Every year, transit receives roughly half of the $2 billion annually allocated for transportation by the NJTPA. Most of this funding is used for maintenance and upkeep of existing transit vehicles, facilities and services. However, projects and programs to enhance and expand public transit have averaged 21 percent of total spending in recent years.
As the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Northern New Jersey, the NJTPA plays a critical role in funding, managing and participating in various transit improvement studies and activities to ensure planning is done in context with the needs of the region.
Ongoing Transit Studies Managed or Funded by NJTPA:
- Mass Transit Tunnel (MTT) – This improvement (formerly known as Access to the Regions Core or ARC) includes a track connection to the Northeast Corridor from the Main/Bergen/Pascack Valley lines, a new two-track rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River and a new rail station underneath 34th Street in midtown Manhattan. More information is available on the ARC Website.
- Lackawanna Cut-Off Passenger Rail Study – The objective of the Lackawanna Cutoff project is to reinstitute passenger rail service on the abandoned rail right of way of the Lackawanna Cutoff from Roxbury, NJ to just over the Delaware River and over existing freight right of way in Pennsylvania. The reinstituted rail line would provide service from Scranton, PA to Hoboken, or to New York Penn Station via transfer to MidTown Direct service, by connecting to the existing NJ TRANSIT Montclair-Boonton and Morris & Essex Lines. More information is available on the Lackawanna Cut-Off Website.
- Newark-Elizabeth Comprehensive Bus Study – This three-year study aims to improve bus and light rail services in the greater Newark area. Newark is served by 47 NJ TRANSIT bus routes and four Coach USA routes and is a multi-modal transfer hub for the entire region. The study area focuses on Newark, Elizabeth and urban Essex County, but bus service improvements in this core area will positively impact service in Union, Passaic, Bergen and Hudson counties as well. An early focus of the study will be recommendations for improving connectivity of NJ TRANSIT rail, light rail and bus service in core areas of Newark, including areas near Newark Penn Station, Newark Broad Street Station and the intersection of Market and Broad streets. Ultimately, the consultant will submit a comprehensive package of short, medium and long-term recommendations, including new service strategies, such as speedier bus service, to improve reliability and provide needed service to existing and potential new bus riding customers.
- Greater New Brunswick Bus Rapid Transit NJ Transit is studying the development of a Bus Rapid Transit system for the New Brunswick area in Middlesex County. This study will focus on two corridors along Route 18 and Route 27, crossing at the New Brunswick rail station. These corridors would connect residential areas with downtown New Brunswick, the Northeast Corridor rail line, the five Rutgers University, New Brunswick area campuses and other destinations, as well as to the proposed Route 1 BRT system to the south. A Phase I report has been completed and work on Phase II of the study is underway.
- Route 1 Bus Rapid Transit - The NJTPA has joined with NJDOT, NJ Transit and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission in funding a study of a Bus Rapid Transit System along the US Route 1 corridor in Middlesex, Somerset, and Mercer Counties. The BRT plan involves a combination of dedicated roadways, priority for buses on major roadways and at intersections and other features. These improvements are expected to expedite bus service in the area and provide an alternative mode of travel. The study is an outgrowth of the work of the Central New Jersey Transportation Forum. An Executive Summary for the BRT Study released in March 2006 can be found at on the Route 1 BRT Website
- I-78 Corridor Transit Study – Phase I of this study was completed in fall 2007 and a second phase was launched in 2008. Phase I assessed the need, impact and feasibility of various transit strategies along the I-78 corridor between Lehigh County, Pennsylvania to the west and Somerset County, New Jersey to the east. Phase I of the study aimed to address primarily bus transit mobility needs through recommendations for bus service and shuttle enhancements, new park and
ride locations, and bus priority treatments. The separate Phase II effort called the Central New Jersey/Raritan Valley Transit Study will provide a more extensive and detailed environmental and planning assessment of the possible extension of NJ Transit rail service to Phillipsburg, New Jersey. More information is available NJTPA’s I-78 Corridor Transit Study Webpage.
Subregions
The 13 counties and two major cities represented on the NJTPA Board – known as "subregions" – carry out transportation planning work that helps the NJTPA identify and address local and county-level transportation needs, including transit. More information on these studies is available on the NJTPA Subregions Page.