The following are the major transportation studies underway in the region with direct oversight or involvement by the NJTPA. The links provide access to further information elsewhere on this web site:
Evaluation of Next Generation Bus (BRT-type) Service in the NJTPA Region - The study will evaluate the potential for implementation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and BRT-like bus strategies along appropriate corridors in the NJTPA region
and will identify the elements needed for successful implementation of such services, such as the appropriate and supportive land use and infrastructure.
Flemington Transit Study - This effort will study the feasibility of a new transit service that would increase travel options for area residents and promote economic growth. During FY 2011, NJ TRANSIT, in partnership with the NJTPA, initiated an evaluation of existing
infrastructure and land use conditions including the physical and financial feasibility of reviving rail or other transit service to the Borough, land use changes recommended to support new transit service, capital and operational costs and financing options, and recommended next steps. This effort will coordinate with an ongoing study of the potential for extending the Raritan Valley Line towards Pennsylvania, as well as with other planning efforts in central Hunterdon County.
Rail Right of Way Inventory and Assessment - This study will identify currently abandoned, unused and underutilized rail rights-of-way, and possibly other relevant rights-of-way, in the NJTPA region that should be considered for preservation for future transit or other transportation uses. The aim is to designate specific rights-of-way as being important to the future transportation needs of the region, thereby aiding in preventing such rights-of-way from becoming lost to development or put to some other use that would effectively prevent or limit their future application for various transportation purposes.
Planning and Needs Assessment Studies - This activity will translate accessibility and mobility needs and issues identified in the Regional Transportation Plan and other planning studies and initiatives into project concepts that can be advanced into the “project development pipeline.” It may also include developing Project Development Work Program concepts as well as refining study recommendations and concepts emanating from transit studies.
Route 9 Corridor Study - This study will evaluate current and future traffic levels and operating issues between mileposts 94.8 in Toms River Township and 101.7 in Lakewood Township in a manner consistent with the federal Congestion Management Process. The study also will will seek to identify appropriate facility-based alternative improvements capable of reducing roadway congestion within the corridor. Opportunities for increasing transit vehicle speeds and improving safety and convenience for pedestrians and bicyclists will also be examined.
Morris/Warren County Rail Corridor Study -
This study will build upon the NJTPA-funded Subregional Study, “Morris
County Infrastructure and Land Use Analysis,” which recommended studying vertical height
clearance and weight constraints along the rail line.
In addition to a detailed inspection of the bridge on South Main Street, with a development of
alternatives and inspections of all overhead bridges and catenary structures from Phillipsburg,
Warren County to Morristown, Morris County, this study will also investigate the potential of
and limitations to increasing the rail car weight limit from 263,000 pounds to 286,000 pounds,
which is the national standard.
Rail Freight Capacity and Needs Assessment to Year 2040 - The primary focus of this study shall be the NJTPA Region’s major freight Corridor Lines as follows: CSX River Line, Conrail Northern Branch, P&H Branch, Conrail Lehigh Line, Norfolk Southern Lehigh Line, and CSX West Trenton Line. The freight mainlines along with connecting trackage owned or operated by the major Class I railroads or regional shortline railroads shall be examined as an integrated network under both current conditions and future operating scenarios determining its adequacy and identifying potential upgrades and improvements needed to enable the system to meet projected future freight and passenger demands. The project will take twelve months and is being conducted for NJTPA by a consultant team of HDR Engineering, Inc. with Cheng Solutions LLC, and Egan Consulting Group.
2040 Freight Industry Level Forecasts - The primary goal of this project is to develop a clear, accurate and comprehensive picture of regional freight activity, both current and future. The end product is to provide an accurate picture of where concentrations of goods movement activity can be expected to occur in the region in the future, the types of commodities that will be moving, and where strategic investments should be made. The project is being conducted for NJTPA by a consultant team of Cambridge Systematics, Inc. with Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB), A. Strauss-Wieder Inc., and the Rutgers University Center for Urban Policy Research (CUPR).
Planning for Emerging Centers:
Transportation, Community, and System Preservation (TCSP) Program -
With a grant from the federal TCSP Program for 2012, the NJTPA is supporting "Planning for Emerging Centers," a project to develop community-based visions for transit-oriented development (TOD) in two key emerging transit nodes in the NJTPA region – the City of Hackensack and the Union County Sustainability Corridor.
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. For more information see the Public Transit in the NJTPA Region web page.
2010/11 Regional Household Travel Survey - The NJTPA is partnering with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council on a Regional Household Travel Survey of the greater NY/NJ/CT metropolitan area. Since the last such survey in the late 1990’s, this region has undergone significant changes such as system expansion (e.g., Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, Secaucus Transfer), introduction of new fare structures (e.g., Metrocard), economic shifts and other changes that have affected travel behavior. The new survey will provide essential travel and socioeconomic statistics for transportation planning studies and data for updating regional transportation models. The survey is expected to be completed by fall 2011 with findings available in 2012. The study is being conducted by NuStats, LLC, a professional survey research firm.
Subregional Study Program - This is a competitive program that provides two-year grants to individual subregions -- the 13 counties and two major cities represented on the NJTPA Board –– or subregional teams. The program is designed to assist subregions in refining and developing transportation improvement strategies rooted in the NJTPA’s Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). Ultimately, the program aims to generate project concepts ready for further development or implementation consistent with the RTP and/or other transportation planning activities in the region
Project Development Work Program - Project related studies and planning activities are organized through the PDWP. It authorizes and schedules work to evaluate the need for proposed projects and develops alternative conceptual designs and routes. When development work on a project has been completed, it becomes eligible for inclusion in the TIP.
Studies by Other Transportation Agencies - The NJTPA Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) summarizes and guides the transportation planning activities of the NJTPA staff, its member agencies and other transportation agencies in the region. It covers two years and is updated annually. Volume VI of the UPWP summarizes Regional Transportation Initiatives of transportation agencies in the northern New Jersey region.
Recently Completed Studies (final reports completed or pending completion):
COMPLETED: Vulnerability and Risk Assessment of NJ Transportation Infrastructure to the Impacts of Climate Change - This study identified transportation infrastructure vulnerable to the impacts of climate change for select regions of New Jersey. The study prepared an inventory of important transportation assets utilizing available climate change models, and performed a vulnerability and risk assessment of select NJ transportation infrastructure. This study involved a partnership of the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), the three New Jersey MPOs (NJTPA, DVRPC, and SJTPO), NJ TRANSIT and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. This work will support other climate change efforts already occurring across NJ. For more information see the Climate Change Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Study web page.
COMPLETED: Pedestrian Safety at and Near Bus Stops Study - The study was a joint effort between the NJTPA, New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, and NJTRANSIT. The study sought to improve safety at and around bus stops within the NJTPA region. Its centerpiece was an education campaign plan to raise awareness about safety for both pedestrians and motorists. The study also made engineering, education, and enforcement recommendations through its Bus Stop Safety Toolbox and Bus Stop Field Audit Reports. Bus stop safety design suggestions included both long-term and short-term improvements with bus stop location, pedestrian signage/signals, pavement markings and area illumination considered at specific high pedestrian crash bus stop locations. The consultant for the study was Nelson/Nygaard.
COMPLETED: Region-wide Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Project - The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority conducted a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory and forecast (I&F) for the entire NJTPA region. Project goal were to develop a region-side inventory of GHG emissions for a base year; allocate GHG emissions down to the county and municipality level; forecast GHG emissions for calendar years 2020, 2035, and 2050; assist sub-regions in their greenhouse gas mitigation and adaptation efforts.
COMPLETED: Route 440 Hudson Bergen Light Rail Extension Study - This study led by NJ TRANSIT explored the feasibility of extending Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service farther west in Jersey City from its western terminus at West Side Avenue Station to a redevelopment zone near Route 440 along the Hackensack Riverfront. The Final Alternatives Analysis Report is available to review on the project web site.
COMPLETED: Elizabeth Midtown Multi-Modal Integration Study - The NJTPA, in partnership with NJ TRANSIT, Union County and the City of Elizabeth, has developed a conceptual station area plan for the "Midtown" Elizabeth station on NJ TRANSIT's Northeast Corridor rail line. The plan is designed to leverage proposed investments in the rail station and transit system, planned redevelopment, and various multi-modal circulation needs to improve a location long-envisioned by the City as a catalyst for downtown revitalization and by NJ TRANSIT as an important regional transit hub. The study was completed in September 2011.
COMPLETED: Hudson County Jitney Study - This study identified ways to better integrate and regulate jitney operations, and provide for a safer, more efficient transportation service in Hudson County. This analysis and the recommendations that resulted from the study will assist state, county and local policy makers in better integrating jitney services into the overall transportation system. This study built on an analysis completed in the Hudson County Bus Circulation and Infrastructure Study in 2007. This study undertook a more detailed analysis of jitney operations, including a review of interstate and intrastate operating authorities, and research into the legal options of regulating services operated by federally licensed interstate providers. For more information see the Hudson County Jitney webpage.
COMPLETED: Performance Results: Assessing the Impacts of Implemented Transportation Projects - To better understand the benefits produced by investments in the transportation system, the NJTPA conducted a Project Performance Results study. The study examined about a dozen northern New Jersey transportation projects implemented in recent years, including various roadway, public transit, pedestrian/bicycle, freight and other types of improvements.
Northeast New Jersey Metro Mobility Study (formerly the Bergen-Passaic Bus Study) – This comprehensive review of transit services in northeastern New Jersey will focus on improved bus routes, services and intermodal connections. Integration with new rail services and rail corridors will be examined, with special attention on access to new and improved rail service resulting from ARC. In addition, an investigation of buses using the George Washington Bridge to access Manhattan will look at mobility needs around the toll plaza. This study is jointly funded by NJTPA and NJ Transit.
COMPLETED: Greater Newark Bus System Study – This three-year study aims to improve bus and light rail services in the greater Newark area. 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. For more information see the Public Transit in the NJTPA Region web page.
COMPLETED: Northwest New Jersey Bus Study - In December, 2010 the NJTPA and NJ TRANSIT completed a comprehensive needs analysis of bus, shuttle and ridesharing options in a study area that includes large portions of Sussex and Morris Counties, northern Warren County, and western Passaic County. The study findings identify a need for improved service, facilities, and intermodal connectivity in order to provide better commuting options for individuals who live and/or work in the northwestern counties.
COMPLETED: Jersey City Bus Study – The Jersey City Bus Study, completed in November, 2009, evaluated current and future service needs in this growing and public transportation-dependent city. As part of the study, launched in the fall of 2008, public input and various data were analyzed to determine recommendations for bus services and capital improvements that will meet riders’ long-term needs.
COMPLETED: The NJTPA North Jersey Truck Stop Study Refinement - The purpose of this continuation of the original NJTPA Truck Rest Stop Study was to augment the initial findings, and make further recommendations with regard to providing additional parking capacity in the region, especially in those corridors with the greatest need. Continued coordination with our public and private partners (NJDOT, NYMTC, NJTA, NYSDOT, DVRPC, PennDOT, PA Turnpike Commission, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, ConnDOT) was a key component of this study effort.
COMPLETED: Regional Transportation Plan 2035 Update - The NJTPA adopted an update of its long range plan on August 24, 2009. It provides a vision and foundation for regional transportation investment through 2035.The federal government requires the NJTPA to adopt an updated long range plan every four years as a condition for the receipt of federal transportation funding.
COMPLETED: Freight Rail Grade Crossing Assessment Study -
Phase I of this study, completed in September of 2008, examined a total of 64 crossings on the Lehigh, West Trenton, Chemical Coast, Port Reading Secondary and River rail lines and developed problem statements for the top five grade crossings in most need of improvements. The problem statements contain potential solutions developed for each location and are the first step in developing projects that might become eligible for federal or state funding. The NJTPA Board of Trustees approved an extension of this work to develop problem statements for the next ten grade crossing locations prioritized in terms of needs in the original study. The additional work (Phase II) was completed in August of 2009.
COMPLETED: Regional Safety Priorities Update - The purpose of the Update is to build upon the results of the ”Development of Regional Safety Priorities” study completed in 2005, and further implement the principles of Safety Conscious Planning in the region. Over 75 percent of locations and needs identified in the first study have been or are being addressed through engineering, enforcement and/or educational strategies. The Local Safety Program has funded many regionally identified safety improvements in the past several years. As with the first study, the update will identify priority safety issues at locations around the region and recommend crucial strategies for addressing the needs of the traveling public in general and of particularly vulnerable populations (e.g., pedestrians, bicyclists, older drivers, etc.).
COMPLETED: I-78 Corridor Transit Study – This NJTPA completed a study assessing 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 addressed bus transit mobility needs through recommendations for bus service and shuttle enhancements, new park and ride locations, and bus priority treatments. A separate Phase II effort will provide a more extensive and detailed environmental and planning assessment of the possible extension of NJ Transit rail service to Phillipsburg, New Jersey. The second phase, called the Central New Jersey/Raritan Valley Transit Study, began in 2008.
COMPLETED: The NJTPA Truck Rest Stop Study - The need for the study stems from new rules that have been promulgated by the federal government regarding truck driving hours. The rules reduce total hours for drivers and expand mandatory rest periods that will mainly affect long and intermediate haul truckers. The region has inadequate rest stop facilities, especially accessible to the region's port. This raises safety and environmental concerns throughout the region as well as a potentially dangerous situation for the drivers themselves. The NJTPA, under guidance from its Freight Initiatives Committee, assessed the availability and adequacy of truck rest/service stops throughout its thirteen county area and explored new candidate sites or existing sites which can be expanded. The NJTPA truck rest stop study was part of a larger tri-state metropolitan NY-NJ-CT analysis of truck stop issues. Other studies were conducted by NYMTC and the Connecticut Department of Transportation. These studies will be compiled by NYMTC into a final comprehensive tri-state regional report.
COMPLETED: The Strategy Refinement study builds upon the work done in Strategy Evaluation, the NJTPA's assessment of how the region’s transportation system can best meet residents’ needs. Strategy Refinement identifies about 30 project concepts that can be advanced for more detailed study and project development.
COMPLETED: Strategy Evaluation Study- The NJTPA Strategy Evaluation is conducted periodically to assess how well the region’s transportation meets residents’ needs. The project also generates recommendations for specific strategies and programs to benefit particular areas. The NJTPA long-range transportation plan — Plan 2035 — reflects the results of the Strategy Evaluation conducted in 2006-2008.
Route 1 Bus Rapid Transit - The NJTPA 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. For more information see the Public Transit in the NJTPA Region web page.