NJ Future Forum 2012 Investing Strategically in TOD Baker

1 NJ Future Redev Forum March 2012

Investing Strategically in Transit Oriented Development in NJ:

NJ TRANSIT’S EXPERIENCE


Presentation Overview

Overview of NJ TRANSIT’s “Transit Friendly Planning, Land Use and

Development” program

Highlight how NJT has assisted TOD projects examples and the Transit Village

Program

Highlight how and why partnerships between and amongst state agencies, policymakers, Counties and MPOs, local leaders, the private sector, community

development corporations and the public at large are crucial for TOD to be

successful in NJ (overview of the Northern NJ Sustainable Communities Grant)


• Third largest

commuter transit

system in the country

• Commuter Rail,

Light Rail, Express

Bus, Intra-state Bus,

Private Bus Carriers,

Bus Rapid Transit

“Lite” & Community

Transit (by private

carriers and/or

counties)

• Connecting NJ to

Center City

Philadelphia, Atlantic

City, Newark, Jersey

City and Lower and

Midtown Manhattan

NJ Transit’s Multimodal Network


NJ’s Light Rail Network

3 different lines (Newark, River LINE, Hudson-Bergen)

60 stations in 21 NJ communities


75% of New Jersey’s residents live within 5 miles of a transit station

1 in 4 New Jersey communities hosts a rail station

30% of New Jersey residents live within walking distance of rail stations, and

10% of New Jersey residents use mass transit for work trips

NJ’s Integrated Transit Network Enables TOD


TRANSIT FRIENDLY PLANNING & TOD!!

Engaging community leaders,

advocates, residents and

businesses

Providing technical assistance and on-call

consultant expertise

Collaborating with local, county,

regional and state partners

Building consensus

Creating market-worthy plans

Executing good projects to create

sustainable local economic

opportunity around transit

(Transit-Oriented Development)

How does NJ TRANSIT assist communities so that they take advantage of NJ’s

multi-modal, interconnected transit network to ensure a sustainable land

use/transportation connection


NJ Transit’s Approach

EDUCATE communities

Create a VISION for TOD, engaging numerous, varied partners &

stakeholders

Work with municipality so they adopt redevelopment PLAN or new

zoning ORDINANCE to memorialize vision; creation of local,

sustainable development entitlements is essential

IMPLEMENT (build something!)

If NJT-owned property involved:

RFP process

Development and/or conveyance agreements


Successful Transit Oriented Development …A

Collaboration

The Highlands at Morristown Station (2009)

217 Residential Units

10,400 sf Retail

736 space garage

Cranford Crossing (2007)

50 Residential Units

22,000 sf Retail

310 space garage

Hamilton Transit Center (1999)

2,066 space garage

Montclair Residences at Bay Street

Station (2009)

165-unit studio, one and two BR Rental

Residential Units

New garage shared by residents,

commuters and visitors

Jersey City Waterfront (ongoing

investment since early 1980’s)

1000’s of housing units, millions of s.f.

of office and retail, significant open

space

PATH, HBLR, buses, ferries


• Effort led by NJ DOT and NJ

TRANSIT (started in 1999)

• State agencies partner to recognize TOD in

designated communities

• 23 transit communities designated, to date

• Designation criteria include municipal

adoption of transit oriented development by

Master Plan (vision document), AND Zoning

Code and/or Redevelopment Plan, creation

and implementation of TOD-friendly,

sustainable design guidelines.

• Program re-tooled in 2008…“rolling”

designations, address affordable housing

NJ’s Transit Village Initiative


“Next Generation”

of NJ TRANSIT’s Transit

Friendly Planning Program

1. Technical Assistance

2. Partnerships

3. Public Education/Outreach

4.TOD Database


“Next Generation” Connections betwn Land Use and Transit…

• Regional Corridor Approach

• Bus/BRT TOD Opportunities

• Reconnecting Jobs to Transit

• Expand partnerships to leverage ALL available funds

• Develop understanding of sustainable benefits of TOD

(GHG reduction, green land use, brown/greyfield reuse,

walkable environments = healthier lifestyles) and

environmental impacts

• Understand and exploit trends…increasing senior

population, increasing demand by Gen Y and “Millennials”

for gadgets and proximity to jobs rather than cars,

smaller households = significant increase in demand

for housing within walking distance of transit

• Engage more not-for-profit developers and community

development finance institutions (CFDIs) in TOD

PHOTO: BRAZIL’S BRT REPORT IMAGE: NEW JERSEY FUTURE 2009


Program Overview


TFP Technical Assistance


Technical Assistance - Screening Process


Inner Morris & Essex Line Project • Strategic Rail Corridor for NJ

TRANSIT – one seat ride to

midtown Manhattan and

connection to PATH in

Hoboken

• Development around Brick

Church Station (EO) and in

Valley Arts District (Orange)

demonstrated established

market

• Established urban fabric,

infrastructure and municipal

and CBO willing partners to

build upon

• Strategic regional location

and high level of service with

access to Route I-280, GSP

and transit – bus and rail

Best New Investment/TOD

Opportunities:

East Orange, Brick

Church station areas

• Best Neighborhood

Infill/ Adaptive Reuse

Opps:

Orange, Highland Ave

stations & environs


Key Findings…Where Residents Work


Key Findings…Linked Issues & Opportunities

Unique approach for

NJT TFP Program –

engage both City of

Orange Twp & City of

East Orange municipal

staff, key community

stakeholders and the

not-for-profit sector;

collaborative analysis

of common issues and

mutual goals for

neighborhood

revitalization,

community

empowerment and

“new” real estate

investment (TOD)

around shared rail and

bus network


Union County Sustainability Corridor • Dedicated Right of Way (old

Conrail track bed)

• Runs from Garwood Rail Station

to Jersey Gardens Mall/Newark

Liberty Airport

• Connects NE Corridor to Port of

Newark & jobs (at Jersey Gardens

Mall)

• Envisioned as a “Sustainability

Corridor” with BUS RAPID TRANSIT

bike paths, trails sharing the

dedicated ROW

• Up front collaboration with

communities to evaluate and, where

appropriate, change land use codes to

allow TOD; ID and market potential TOD

sites; secure gov’t, not-for-profit and

private sector support for community

vision


TFP Partnerships


Alternate Funding Sources to Support NJT’s TFP

Multi-pronged approach to supporting transit friendly

planning and TOD in NJ…looking ahead…non

traditional funding and partnerships:

1. Focus on identifying funding options from

sources such as HUD, EPA, DOT (Livable

Communities Initiative)

2. Concentrate on securing outside funding from

foundations and other collaborative sources for

TFP Program activities

3. Fall 2011 = North Jersey Sustainable

Communities Consortium awarded $5 million

grant from USHUD to create “a regional plan for

sustainable, equitable transit oriented

development in the region;” 13 counties + 5 cities

= key players, but many more stakeholders need

to be engaged.






Transit must be welcomed by the community

Stable local political environment

Seek a local champion

Open, transparent, engagement of local officials and community as a whole

Active management of the effort; professional guidance and expertise must be offered (many communities don’t have it readily available)

Partnerships are KEY! (engagement and funding between and amongst state agencies, MPOs, Counties, Municipalities, not-for-profits, private sector, etc.)

Target effort to create platform for community to take further action (e.g., rezoning, redevelopment, etc.)

Key TOD Success Factors


TOD is an economic empowering strategy that improves access to transit

TOD can be a win-win for a community if the correct, helpful approach is taken

Education and partnerships are central to success

TOD cannot be mandated or pushed on communities – push back will occur in the

form of anti-growth policies and actions

Transit providers need TOD to succeed in order to survive…we have to build our

constituent base…

What better way than to foster infill and/or new development within closer walking and biking distances to transit stops

Providing environments where walking and biking are attractive access alternatives to cars

Encouraging communities to deploy effective shuttle bus and van systems to connect transit riders living further out

Thoughtfully locating parking around our systems where we can reach a comfortable accommodation with host communities

TOD “Lessons Learned”


Vivian E. Baker

Assistant Director

Transit Friendly Planning, Land Use & Development

(973) 491-7822

[email protected]

Thank you!

mailto:[email protected]

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NJ Future Forum 2012 Investing Strategically in TOD Baker