The NJTPA, in partnership with the Center for Community Planning and the American Planning Association New Jersey Chapter (APA-NJ), is soliciting proposals for a Transit Hub Planning Program.
Donor Name: North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority
State: New Jersey
County: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Program
Deadline: 12/15/2022
Details:
The Center for Community Planning, the American Planning Association-NJ Chapter (APA-NJ) and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) are co-sponsoring a Transit Hub Planning Program. The Program will provide technical planning support by a team of volunteer planners for up to two community groups or municipalities. The projects will be selected on a competitive basis by a committee made up of staff from the three organizations.
The teams of volunteer planners will develop strategic plans for the re-use, redevelopment, or improvement of a transit hub in the selected communities. For our purposes, a transit hub is an area surrounding a transit station, including bus, rail, light rail, or ferry. The goal is that the plan will result in strategies that improve access to the transit station, increase economic activity in the hub area, create improved public spaces and create a more vibrant and connected community.
Eligibility Criteria
Any municipality or community organization in New Jersey is eligible. Any projects that are selected in the NJTPA’s 13-county region – Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties – would be eligible for support from the NJTPA staff.
Proposal Requirements
Through an annual solicitation process, interested municipalities prepare a proposal recommending a specific transit hub location in their municipality for potential study. The proposal must include:
- The name and contact information for primary municipal staff person responsible for submitting the proposal and providing guidance and coordination throughout the project.
- A description and map of the proposed transit hub location, including the transit stop’s name and the surrounding community that would be included in the study area.
- A brief description of the existing conditions of the proposed transit station or stop and surrounding land uses in the area and how well they serve the needs of the community.
- A brief review of the community’s initial goals for the study.
- List of current and previous planning studies performed within the municipality involving the proposed study area (with availability of documents upon request).
- Brief explanation as to how the proposed study will help advance the regional policies, strategies and actions identified within the:
- NJTPA Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Plan 2050: Transportation. An official statement of support from elected officials in the municipality for conducting the study, and (if possible), designation of a senior or elected municipal official to serve as a project liaison or “champion” for the project.
- List of municipal agencies, officials, stakeholders, and organizations that would be expected to participate in the study.
Selection Criteria
- Locations will be selected by a committee of up to five individuals from the partnering organizations based on the following criteria:
- The potential of the location as a transit hub based upon the description in the proposal and a field visit if necessary.
- The potential for a successful mixed-use vision for the transit hub as described in the proposal.
- Demonstrated strong commitment to a community-driven planning process and mixeduse vision for the transit hub. The following will help make this case:
- A reference to the transit hub area in an earlier plan.
- Letter(s) of support from local officials and/or other organizations in the community.
- A resolution supporting the project by the municipal governing body or the nonprofit’s board of directors.
For more information, visit NJTPA.
