While NJ Gov. Corzine’s asset monetization plan, which includes $3 billion to widen the state’s toll roads, has dominated the press, towns and state agencies have continued to work towards walkable and transit-friendly communities.

Transit Villages and a Transit Hub

Interest in NJ Transit and NJDOT’s Transit Village program has mounted as more municipalities come to realize the benefits of transit-oriented development. In January, Neptune and Woodbridge held their first public “visioning” sessions as part of the process to eventually gain a Transit Village designation. North Brunswick held its tenth public meeting and is moving into a new phase of community visioning according to a project spokesperson. A developer in Edison announced that it would hold a series of public meetings on development options around the train station in March.

Established in 1999, the Transit Village program gives aid to municipalities that have demonstrated a commitment to revitalizing and redeveloping the area around transit into a compact, mixed-use neighborhood with a strong residential component. There are currently 19 Transit Village municipalities.

Morristown, one of the first municipalities to receive the special designation, broke ground earlier this month on the largest component of its transit village. The Highlands at Morristown (rendering at right) will be a multi-use facility incorporating ground-level retail and office space, 217 residential units and a 722-space parking garage. The structure is replacing a surface-level parking lot and is set for completion in about 3 years.

Last month NJ Transit unveiled the new Mount Arlington Station, which will offer commuters along the busy I-80 corridor convenient access to rail service. On January 21, trains on the Montclair-Boonton Line and the Morristown Line began serving the intermodal facility, which is also served by private carrier buses. The new station sits between Lake Hopatcong and Dover in western Morris County.

NJDOT Pushes Bikeways and Placemaking

For its part, NJDOT last week awarded $3 million in Bikeways grants to 13 towns, and $3 million in Centers of Place grants to 12 towns.

As part of a statewide initiative to create 1,000 miles of dedicated bikeways in New Jersey (see MTR #s 276, 420), the Bikeways program awards grants to municipalities to help increase the number of bicycle trips and improve bicycle safety. NJDOT provides funds for local projects that will result in the creation of new, independent bicycle facilities with special emphasis on projects that are physically separated from vehicular traffic by open space or barrier. New Jersey’s bicycle and transportation community was excited to hear of the grants, as it seems Bikeways money has not been awarded since fiscal year 2005.

Centers of Place grants go to non-traditional transportation projects advancing development in municipalities designated by the State Planning Commission as “urban, regional, town or village centers” under the State Development and Redevelopment Plan. Eligible projects include landscaping and beautification of transportation facilities, restoration and aesthetic improvements to historic transportation structures.