NJDOT’s proposed fiscal year 2012 Capital Plan would eliminate all funding for two of New Jersey’s signature smart growth programs — Transit Villages and Centers of Place. Instead, NJDOT Commissioner Jim Simpson said during his testimony before the Assembly Budget Committee on March 31, the intended purpose of these two programs can be met under the federally funded Transportation Enhancements Program, NJ Transit’s budget and that municipalities are still encouraged to apply for grants under other competitive application processes.
Commissioner Simpson backed the decision to defund these programs with the justification that they weren’t funded enough to begin with. But even at their small size, these programs have helped multiple cities and towns. And if the state thinks the programs are underfunded, why not fund them properly?
Transit Villages
Last year, the Transit Village program received $1 million in funding; it had received up to $3 million in prior capital programs. The program was created in 1999 to provide incentives for municipalities to redevelop or revitalize the areas around transit stations using transit-oriented development (TOD) design standards. The state has 23 designated Transit Villages.
Centers of Place
The Centers of Place program assists municipalities that have participated in New Jersey’s State Development and Redevelopment Plan, a statewide plan that includes land use, transportation, and open space. The program offers competitive grants for downtown improvements such as streetscaping, lighting, wayfinding, and pedestrian safety projects. This program, like Transit Villages, went from receiving $1 million last year to nothing this year.
Commissioner Simpson will testify before the Senate Budget Committee on April 13. Stay tuned for a more detailed analysis of the state capital plan in MTR.
Image: “Somerville Landfill and Station Area Redevelopment Plan,” via Somerville town website.
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