Federal Grant will allow Agency to Promote Transit-Oriented Development along Route 9 Bus Corridor
NJ TRANSIT, in partnership with Old Bridge, has received a $470,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to develop a comprehensive Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) study in Middlesex and Monmouth counties.
“Transit-Oriented Development remains a high priority for NJ TRANSIT, and a key element within our 10-Year Strategic Plan (NJT2030),’’ said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin Corbett. “We are grateful to the Federal Transit Administration for this grant award, which will allow NJ TRANSIT to move forward in partnering with Middlesex and Monmouth County communities and developers along the Route 9 corridor to encourage TOD.”
“I am truly excited that FTA has awarded NJ TRANSIT with a grant that supports comprehensive planning efforts to improve access to public transportation along the Route 9 corridor,” said Old Bridge Mayor Owen Henry. “This will not only provide our community with increased access to different modes of public transportation but will also make travel more accessible and affordable to an array of income groups. Bus ridership along Route 9 is already one of the highest in the State. Comprehensive planning along a 21-mile section of proposed bus rapid transit service on Route 9 will enable the areas along the bus stations to be much more desirable as it will offer greater connectivity to New York City. This TOD planning initiative is consistent with Old Bridge Township and NJ TRANSIT’s shared objectives related to providing safe, reliable, convenient, and affordable transit service. These efforts will help further Old Bridge Township’s vision for the bus terminus area along with its overall planning and economic development objectives, and subsequently, will improve the quality of life for our residents and community members!”
“This grant is good news for our region,” said North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority Executive Director Mary D. Ameen. “Our long-range regional transportation plan calls for investments like this that will improve access to public transit, provide travelers with new transportation options and encourage smart land use.”
The TOD study is for the proposed Route 9 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) from the NJ TRANSIT Old Bridge Park and Ride in Old Bridge Township (Middlesex County) to the Aldrich Park and Ride in Howell Township in Monmouth County.
The proposed study area for this TOD planning project encompasses 21 linear miles of U.S. Route 9 in Middlesex and Monmouth counties. Planning will occur around several bus stops and stations included in the study area. Within the study area, there are ten NJ TRANSIT bus routes that serve approximately 80 bus stops with approximately 6,539 weekday boarding’s in 2019.
The plan complements robust BRT planning and will provide a cohesive vision for redeveloping aging strip malls into vibrant, equitable transit-friendly communities. The plan will also include community engagement to create context sensitive station area plans and incorporate corridor-wide planning principals: increasing transit access, multi-modal connectivity, and mixed-use development.
Facilitating the development of TODs is one of the five goals in NJ TRANSIT’s 10-Year Strategic Plan (NJT2030), through which the agency is promoting a more sustainable future for our planet through the development of walkable communities, engaging in adaptive reuse of property to maximize its value, and fostering a green economy by reducing emissions related to transportation.
More information on NJ TRANSIT’s development opportunities can be found at njtransitdevelopment.com.
NJ TRANSIT is the nation’s largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 253 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 166 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.
