New Jersey Transit, in partnership with Old Bridge, received a $470,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration to develop a transit-oriented development 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,” NJ Transit CEO and President Kevin Corbett said. “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.”
The TOD study is for the proposed Route 9 Bus Rapid Transit from the NJ Transit Old Bridge Park and Ride in Old Bridge Township (Middlesex County) to the Aldrich Park and Ride in Howell Township (Monmouth County).
“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,” Old Bridge Mayor Owen Henry said.
Henry stated that a development along the Route 9 corridor will not only provide the surrounding community with increased access to different modes of public transportation, but will make travel more accessible and affordable to an array of income groups.
“This grant is good news for our region,” North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority Executive Director Mary Ameen said. “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 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 10 NJ Transit bus routes that serve approximately 80 bus stops with approximately 6,539 weekday boardings in 2019.
The plan complements robust bus rapid transit 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 corridorwide planning principals: increasing transit access, multimodal connectivity and mixed-use development.
