The document summarizes research on connecting jobs and transit in New Jersey. It finds that while NJ has an extensive transit system, most job growth since 1980 has occurred in decentralized locations only accessible by car. This has led to increased traffic, longer commutes and emissions. The research identifies the top transit hubs in NJ and provides data on station characteristics and surrounding neighborhoods to help prioritize transit-oriented development investments that put jobs back near transit. The goal is to strengthen existing transit nodes and increase intra-state transit commuting beyond the current 5% rate.

1. Reconnecting Jobs to Transit
Tim Evans • New Jersey Future
Edward J. Bloustein School 20th Anniversary Symposium
April 26, 2012

2. New Jersey Future is a nonprofit, nonpartisan
organization that brings together concerned citizens
and leaders to promote responsible land-use policies.
The organization employs original research, analysis and
advocacy to build coalitions and drive land-use policies
that help revitalize cities and towns, protect natural
lands and farms, provide more transportation choices
beyond cars, expand access to safe and affordable
neighborhoods and fuel a prosperous economy.

4. Transit-Rich New Jersey
• NJ has one of the best and most extensive rail
transit systems in the country
• 11.2 percent transit commuting rate (2010) –
2nd-highest in US, after New York (27.8%)

5. Transit Ridership to the Big City
70.6 percent of NJ residents who work in Manhattan ride transit
to work (39.1 percent by rail or ferry and 31.5 percent by bus)
24 percent of NJ residents who work in Philadelphia ride transit
to work (20 percent by rail and 4 percent by bus)
Intra-New Jersey commuting only manages a 5
percent transit ridership rate – no better than the
national average. WHY?
NOTE: Destination-based commute mode shares are from 2000 Census

6. The Problem: Job Decentralization
• “Job sprawl” – the opposite of center-based
job growth
• Decentralization away from transit
• Job loss in transit-accessible job centers

7. Job losses near
transit; job
gains along the
highway
[traffic-maximizing strategy]
Data source: NJ Department of Labor
Spatial data sources: NJTransit (rail lines);
NJ Department of Environmental Protection
(county and municipal boundaries)

8. Decentralization Away from Transit
Most of New Jersey’s job growth since 1980 has
taken place in scattered suburban locations
accessible only by automobile
Result:
• More traffic
• Longer commutes [24.9 minutes in 1980 → 30.3
minutes in 2010]
• More greenhouse-gas emissions

9. Decentralization Away from Transit
Changing Commuting Characteristics Among Municipalities Comprising
Half of Total Statewide Private-Sector Employment
(Note: Commute mode shares are tabulated by municipality of employment, not residence.)
Data sources: NJ Department of Labor (employment); U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census (commute mode
shares), analyzed by NJ Transit; NJ Office of Smart Growth (residential density)

10. Job losses near transit;
job gains along the highway
Commuting Characteristics in Large Job-Losing and Job-Gaining
Municipalities (1980-2003), Tabulated by Municipality of Employment
Data sources: NJ Department of Labor (employment); U.S. Census Bureau,
2000 Census (commute mode shares)

11. The Solution:
Put jobs back near transit
88 percent of employed New Jerseyans work in NJ, but only 5 percent of
intra-state commuters ride transit…definitely room for improvement
Strengthen “home-grown” transit nodes as a way to
maintain transit ridership growth in wake of ARC Tunnel
cancellation
BONUS: Redevelop older, often distressed job centers

12. More Transit Hubs…But
Where?
[suggestions from Getting to Work]
Can we be systematic about
prioritizing candidates?

13. Prioritizing TOD Investments
Database of all 243 distinct transit stations in
New Jersey:
• 10 multi-modal stations
• 205 served only by rail
• 12 ferry terminals
• 16 major bus terminals not
served by any other modes

14. Prioritizing TOD Investments
• Operating characteristics of each station: current
ridership, number of lines/modes serving, parking
spaces available, transfers required to reach major
destinations
• Characteristics of station neighborhood [as defined by NJT]:
median HH income, vehicle ownership, population
density, vacant housing units – basically ANY data
published at Census tract level
• Characteristics of station’s host municipality: per-
capita property tax base, property tax rate, land
development (% built-out) – basically ANY data
published at muni level

15. Prioritizing TOD Investments
10 multi-modal transit stations:
• Hoboken Terminal: all 3 rail modes, bus terminal, ferry
• Newark – Penn Station: all 3 rail modes + bus terminal
• Trenton: commuter rail [NJT + SEPTA], LRT, bus terminal
• Walter Rand Transp. Ctr. (Camden): LRT (River Line), rapid transit (PATCO),
bus terminal
• Journal Square [Jersey City]: rapid transit (PATH) + bus terminal
• Exchange Place [Jersey City]: rapid transit (PATH) + ferry [HBLR station
also nearby]
• 4 have commuter rail and are bus terminals: Metropark, New Brunswick,
Asbury Park, Atlantic City

16. Prioritizing TOD Investments
Stations served by multiple rail lines:
• Hoboken Terminal: 9 [7 commuter rail lines + PATH + HBLR] (+ Raritan Valley)
• Secaucus Junction: 8 [all commuter rail] (+ Raritan Valley)
• Newark – Penn Station: 5 [3 commuter rail lines + PATH + Newark light rail]
• Newark - Broad St.: 4 [3 commuter rail lines + Newark light rail]
• Trenton: 3 [NJT Northeast Corridor + SEPTA + River Line]
• Camden - Walter Rand Transp. Ctr.: 2 [River Line + PATCO]
• Lindenwold: 2 [PATCO + Atlantic City commuter rail line]
• Newport/Pavonia (Jersey City): 2 [HBLR + PATH]
• Newark Airport, North Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Linden, Rahway: 2 [Northeast
Corridor and North Jersey Coast]
• 10 stations served by both Morristown and Gladstone branches of M&E
• Pennsauken Transit Center – to be located at crossing of River Line and Atlantic City
commuter rail line

17. Population density (2009) > 20,000 per
square mile in station area
• 9th St. (HBLR) [Hoboken]
• 2nd St. (HBLR) [Hoboken]
• Hoboken Terminal
• Harborside (HBLR) [Jersey City]
• Grove St. PATH [Jersey City]
• Lincoln Harbor (HBLR) [Weehawken]
• Bloomfield Ave (Newark Subway) [Newark]
• Journal Square [Jersey City]
• Harsimus (HBLR) [Jersey City]
• Park Ave (Newark Subway) [Newark]
• Orange St. (Newark Subway) [Newark]
• Elizabeth

18. > 15% vacant housing units in station area
(excluding shore towns)
• Entertainment Center (River Line) [Camden]
• Asbury Park
• Aquarium (River Line) [Camden]
• Walter Rand Transp. Ctr. [Camden]
• Cooper St. (River Line) [Camden]
• City Hall PATCO [Camden]
• Trenton
• Hamilton Ave (River Line) [Trenton]
• East Orange
• Atlantic City
• Park Ave (Newark Subway) [Newark]
• Garfield Ave (HBLR) [Jersey City]

19. > 45% of households in station area having
zero vehicles available
• Warren St. (Newark Subway) [Newark]
• Washington St. (Newark Subway) [Newark]
• Newark Airport [Newark]
• Norfolk St. (Newark Subway) [Newark]
• Military Park (Newark Subway) [Newark]
• Journal Square [Jersey City]
• Paterson
• Newport / Pavonia [Jersey City]
• Newark – Penn Station

20. Prioritizing TOD Investments
Can we be systematic about
prioritizing candidates?
YES

21. Thank you!
Tim Evans
Director of Research
timevans@njfuture.org
New Jersey Future
137 W. Hanover St.
Trenton, N.J. 08618
609-393-0008 ext. 103
http://www.njfuture.org