What is corridor planning?
A critical element of the NJTPA’s regional transportation planning is identifying and advancing accessibility and mobility improvements in major travel corridors and subareas. Local concerns about heavily congested streets and highways, air quality, noise, and land use development are carefully incorporated into any recommended improvements, while addressing travel that extends beyond the jurisdiction of any one town or county. Corridor studies can involve highway travel, as well as transit and bicycle and pedestrian travel.
Background 
Years ago, corridor studies mainly consisted of a highly technical evaluation of highway performance, focusing on issues such as traffic signal timing and spacing, lane widths and weaving patterns. Little thought was given to other modes that share the road, such as transit vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists, or to how local land use decisions were creating or exacerbating congestion and mobility problems.
All this changed in recent years with the passage of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) by Congress in 1991, and the wider realization that “we can’t build our way out of congestion,” particularly in the urbanized northeast.
NJTPA Corridor Stud
ies
NJTPA corridor studies address a variety of mobility, accessibility and safety needs. Studies often will analyze improvement options that take into account the entire transportation system within a study area, including multiple roadways, rail and bus service, park and rides facilities and bicycle/pedestrian linkages.
Increasingly, corridor studies incorporate land use considerations and "smart growth" planning, taking legislation such as the Highlands Preservation Act into consideration. Corridor studies also take into account local land use policies and plans and stakeholder input from agencies, local officials and the public.
The outcomes are well defined multi-modal solutions that can be "handed off" to implementing agencies such as the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), NJ Transit or county or local engineers. The recommendations may be directed at various state and local agencies and can address not only traffic congestion, but also regional and local needs for better transit, park & rides and non-motorized transportation modes.
NJTPA also plays an advisory role in numerous transportation planning studies led by other agencies where recommended corridor scale improvements will have regional implications.
Corridor and sub-area studies currently underway in the region:
NJTPA led corridor studies
- I-78 Corridor Transit Study - This NJDOT-funded study 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. NJDOT, NJ Transit, the Delaware River Joint Bridge & Toll Commission, study area counties and others have been active partners in this multi-modal planning effort.
- Northwest New Jersey Bus Study - This study is a joint effort between NJTPA and NJ TRANSIT. It will analyze opportunities for greater access to jobs and other destinations via buses, shuttles and carpools. It will focus on improving bus service and intermodal connections, and will produce recommendations for more commuting options for individuals who reside or work in the northwestern New Jersey counties of Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Warren. This effort will be completed in mid-2009.
- NJTPA sub-regional studies - NJTPA funds numerous county-led studies on a bi-yearly basis. These studies address local issues that have regional impacts. Examples of recently completed sub-regional studies include the
Jersey City Waterfront Access and Circulation Study and the
Route 202 Corridor Assessment & Multi-Modal Mobility Plan in
Somerset and Hunterdon Counties.
Studies led by other agencies
- Newark-Elizabeth Comprehensive Bus Study (with NJ Transit) -This three-year study aims to improve bus and light rail services in the greater Newark area.
- Greater New Brunswick Bus Rapid Transit Study (with NJ Transit) - NJ Transit is studying the development of a Bus Rapid Transit system for the New Brunswick area in Middlesex County.
- 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. An Executive Summary for the BRT Study was released in March 2006 and is available via the study's Website.
- Various additional studies are under way under the lead of NJDOT, NJ Transit and county and municipal agencies within the NJTPA region.
Resources for communities who want to do a corridor study