Resources

Jeremy Coangelo-Bryan, Special Assistant to the Commissioner
Urban Coordinating Council Representative
1035 Parkway Avenue
P.O. Box 600
Trenton, NJ 08625-0600
Telephone: (609) 530-3855
Fax: (609) 530-4318

Internet Address: www.state.nj.us/transportation/

MISSION STATEMENT

"To provide reliable, environmentally and socially responsible transportation and motor vehicle services to support and improve the safety and mobility of people and goods in New Jersey."

The New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ TRANSIT) was created by the New Jersey Public Transportation Act of 1979 and is empowered with the authority to acquire, own, operate and contract for the operation of public transportation services. NJ TRANSIT receives operating assistance and capital funds from the State of New Jersey by legislative appropriation and the Federal Government by defined formula grants and discretionary funding of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA 21) of 1998, Public Law 105 - 178. The Commissioner of NJDOT serves as the chair of the New Jersey Transit Board of Directors.

NJ TRANSIT's mission statement is "To provide safe, reliable, convenient and cost effective transit service with a skilled team of employees, dedicated to our customer's needs and committed to exellence."

KEY PROGRAMS

I. FEDERAL AID

Metropolitan Planning Organization-reviewed Programs (MPOs): There are three regional Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) in the state that, each within its respective jurisdiction, review transportation improvements for which federal funds will be used. After review, the programs are consolidated in the NJDOT's State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). These projects are applied to the following categories: principal arterials, state highways, interstates, bridge, congestion management, or transit capital. Funding is partially derived from the Federal Surface Transportation Program (STP), which is a federal block grant program.

The contact at NJDOT is:
Jim Lewis, Acting Director of Transportation Systems Planning Voice 609-530-2866 Fax 609-530-5411

The contact at NJ TRANSIT is:
James P. Redeker, Assistant Executive Director Planning Voice 973-491-7750 Fax 973-491-7747

A municipality should contact its county planning agency to solicit support in submitting a transportation need to its regional MPO:

• South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization consists of these counties: Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem.
  
  
• Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission consists of these counties: Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Mercer.
  
  
• North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority consists of these counties: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren. Newark and Jersey City are also members of the Authority.

NJDOT/NJT Reviewed Programs

National Highway System (NHS) Program The NHS was defined by Congress in 1995. The NHS consists of State Highways, Interstates, Authority roads and facilities, major county and municipal streets that serve as urban principal arterials, which carry high volumes of traffic or provide significant commercial goods movements. Funds are available for many kinds of work on the system, except routine maintenance. To find out whether a particular street in your municipality is on the NHS or eligible for NHS designation and funding contact: Jim Carl, Manager, Roadway Systems Section of the Bureau of Transportation Data Development, 609-530-3510.

Interstate Program
Projects funded must be for rehabilitation, resurfacing, restoration, and reconstruction work on existing interstates.

Bridge Replacement/Reconstruction Program
Projects funded must be for bridges regularly maintained, replaced or reconstructed either by NJDOT or local government.

Bicycle Transportation and Pedestrian Walkways Program
Projects funded must be for construction of bikeways and walkways. This program is made available by NJDOT through the federal ISTEA Congestion Management and Air Quality (CMAQ) program. Information on bicycle and pedestrian promotion and route identification is also available through this program.

Rail Freight Improvements Program

1. CMAQ Funded: Projects for improvements to railroad rights of way as a part of a Congestion Management and Air Quality (CMAQ) strategy. The desired level of funding may be sought for construction by either NJDOT or local government.
   
   

2. Intermodal Funding Program: This program is for municipalities and others who identify a capital investment which will serve the intermodal movement of goods or passengers as envisioned in the 1991 federal Intermodal Surface Transportation and Efficiency Act. Examples of projects are bulk transfer facilities and public use "team tracks." Contact either William Beetle, Director of Transportation Systems Planning at 609-530-2866 or Ted Matthews, Executive Director, Aeronautics and Freight Systems at 609-530-2080.

Application may be made at any time a need, including the amount of funding needed, is identified by the municipality for local government construction.

NJ TRANSIT Capital Programs
Projects for capital improvements to be constructed or undertaken by NJ TRANSIT on its bus and rail transit systems. NJ TRANSIT receives capital funding through the state appropriations process as does the NJDOT. The appropriations when used in concert with federal and other funding sources, allows NJ TRANSIT to continue the renewal of its infrastructure, respond to growth on existing transportation systems, continue design and environmental work on new initiatives and allow initial implementation of those initiatives. Municipalities which seek input on the use of these funds should contact at NJ TRANSIT: James P. Redeker, Assistant Executive Director Planning: 973-491-7750.

A letter describing a particular problem area that might be addressed by a transit capital improvement should be sent by the municipality. NJ TRANSIT will assess the problem area and will evaluate possible capital improvements intended to address it. A municipality also should contact its county planning department to solicit support in submitting a transportation need to NJ TRANSIT.

Ridematching Program
This is a free program to help employers and employees find people with whom to share a ride to work. It may also aid municipalities that seek to find relief from downtown congestion for private businesses located within their borders. The Ridematching number at NJDOT is: 1-800-245-POOL.

Transportation Management Associations (TMA) Program
This program provides funding and technical support to TMA offices around the state which serve as a voice for business in local transportation decision making. TMA's are non-profit membership associations that are supported by and work directly with area employers, developers and the public sector to solve transportation and commuting problems. The contact at NJDOT: Noreen Cardinale, TMA Liaison, 609-530-5950.

Services include information on Park and Ride, ridesharing and transit, advice on local and corridor traffic, telecommuting advice, guaranteed rides home, networking sessions, and rideshare matching in conjunction with the program noted above.

Transportation Enhancement Program
Municipalities may seek funding for improvements that enhance the travel experience and quality of life for our customers. Notices are sent to each municipality annually, with application due date specified within the notice. Funding is partially derived from the Federal Surface Transportation Program (STP), which is a Federal Block Grant program. The contact at NJDOT is: James Snyder, Director, Division of Local Aid and Economic Development, 609-530-3640.

II. STATE AID

NJDOT Funded Programs Local Aid for Centers Program Municipalities which have become "Designated Centers of Place" under the State Development and Redevelopment Plan (SDRP) may seek funding for non-traditional transportation improvements. Also eligible are distressed communities according to the SDRP definition which have approved Strategic Revitalization Plans and Programs, or municipalities which are part of an Urban Complex endorsed by the State Planning Commission. Notices are sent to these municipalities in annually, with application due date specified within the notice. The contact at NJDOT is: James Snyder, Director, Division of Local Aid and Economic Development, 609-530-3640.

Applications are rated and grants are disbursed based on the extent to which the proposal advances municipal growth management objectives. Types of proposals include: landscaping or beautification of transportation/transit facilities, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, scenic or historic transportation programs, parking and circulation management that benefit downtown revitalization, adaptive re-use of abandoned railway corridors, and rehabilitation of transportation structures. Total funding available annually under the NJ Transportation Trust Fund, which was re-authorized in 2002, is $ 3 Million.

Goods Movement Capital Program
This program is available to municipalities, other government agencies and freight railroads, but most often companies that own railroad rights of way and who seek funding for improvements for the railroad tracks and other capital investments in support of goods movement. Application may be made at any time a need is identified. Total funding available annually is $3 Million. The contact at NJDOT is: Ted Matthews, Executive Director, Aeronautics and Freight Systems 609-530-2080.

Local Aid Programs
Local Aid Programs consist of three separately administered funding programs to provide for local roadway improvements. The contact at NJDOT is: James Snyder, Director, Division of Local Aid and Economic Development, 609-530-3640. For a map and current contact names for each of the four state DOT Local Aid Districts, and the most current information on the programs below this heading consult the NJDOT website at: http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/lgs.

1. Municipal Aid Program
   The provision of funding assistance to municipalities for local roadway improvements with state funds occurs annually. Notices are sent to each of the state's 566 municipalities annually, with application due dates specified within the notice.
   Applications are rated and grants are disbursed proportionately among communities by county, based on road miles and population. Municipalities compete for funds within their county. Total funding for 2002 is $ 67.5 Million. Funds are distributed after analysis by a screening committee of licensed engineers and others from around the state. The funds are made available by December, and allow partial up front funding at the time of construction contract award in order to save municipalities the costs of bonding.
   
   

2. Urban Aid Program
   In addition to funding available to the cities under the Municipal Aid Program, urban areas designated by the Department of Community Affairs as distressed may apply for assistance for local roadway improvements. Notice is the same as the one above, with the cities sending just the one same application they would use for the Municipal Aid Program. The funding is $5 Million annually. It is distributed in the same proportion as urban aid provided by the NJ Department of Community Affairs.

Discretionary Aid Program
In addition to funding available to municipalities under the Municipal Aid Program, all may apply for discretionary aid for local roadway improvements. Municipalities may send just the one same application they would use for the Municipal Aid Program for a project previously not approved or for a new one, and may do so at any time during the year. The funding is $15.0 Million annually, and is distributed at the discretion of the Commissioner based on critical needs.

ADDITIONAL LOCAL TRUST FUND PROGRAMS:

Bicycle Projects Local System: To promote alternate modes of transportation, NJDOT has provided $7 million to local governments to support projects that will result in either the creation of a new independent bicycle facility or in making an existing roadway bicycle compatible.

Pedestrian Projects Local System: To assist local governments in providing a safer environment for pedestrians, NJDOT has provided $5 million for locally initiated pedestrian projects.

Park and Rides: In an effort to promote alternate modes of transportation, NJDOT provides assistance to communities in identifying park and ride opportunities. This assistance may be in the form of technical assistance and or funding.

Access to Highways Program
This program provides municipalities and others a permit to occupy state highway right-of-way. This allows for the use of the state right-of-way for the construction of sidewalks, curbs and curb cuts, driveways, buildings, telephone booths, municipal bus shelters, benches, guide rail, landscaping, etc., or for temporary uses such as banners or detours. Application must be made at the time the work is identified. The contact at NJDOT is: F. Howard Zahn, Manager of Major Access Permits: 609-530-2882.

1-800-ADD-ACUT: This 800 number requires a computer modem which provides direct access to DOT for the application of a development proposal, receipt of traffic impacts for proposal development, type of permits necessary for proposals, fees for permits and time for the permit process.

Aviation Programs
This consists of programs which are designed to promote safety and preserve facilities at public use airports. The funding is approximately $10 Million annually, in these categories: airport preservation, improved air carrier service program to aid economic development, new global positioning system approaches, NJ Capital Improvements Program, NJ Aviation Business Loan Program, aviation promotion, airport pavement, obstruction removal, planning studies, and airport master planning. The contact at NJDOT is: Ted Matthews, Executive Director, Aeronautics and Freight Systems 609-530-2080.

NJ TRANSIT SERVICE PROGRAMS

The New Jersey Transit Corporation receives capital funding through the appropriations process along with the NJDOT. The appropriations when used in concert with federal and other funding sources, allows NJ TRANSIT to change and improve transit services, and respond to growth on existing transportation systems. Municipalities which seek input on the use of these funds should reach out to the contact at NJ TRANSIT: James P. Redeker, Assistant Executive Director for Planning, 973-491-7742.

Public Input Program
A letter describing a particular problem area which might be addressed by a change in transit service should be sent by the municipality to Mr. Harf at NJ TRANSIT Headquarters, One Penn Plaza East, Newark, NJ 07105-2246. NJ TRANSIT will assess the problem area and will evaluate possible changes intended to address it. A municipality also should contact its county planning department to solicit support in submitting a transportation need to NJ TRANSIT.

Handbook/Schedules Program
font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family: For free bus and rail schedules of NJ TRANSIT call: 1-800-772-2222. This number should also be called for a copy of "The Transit Friendly Handbook ...Planning for Transit-Friendly Land Use," which encourages local officials to use public transit as a way to make their communities better places to live.

Business Transit Alliance (BTA) Program
font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family: This program provides advice to employers about public transportation options. It promotes ridership on transit and works with employers to find commuting solutions in suburban and urban markets. WHEELS is marketed through direct mail, Transit Days at businesses, free ride promotions, and the Business Transit Alliance works with employers, chambers of commerce, planners and others to publicize how employees can enjoy the transit trip. Contact: Lou Capadona, Director of Sales, 973-491-7109.

Transit Check Program
Through this program, employers buy vouchers valued up to $60.00 per month per employee which are used as cash for mass transit and van pools. Employers provide them to employees for their work commutes, leading to a $60/month state and federal tax-free benefit. Contact: Lou Capadona, Director of Sales, 973-491-7109.
Student Discount Pass Program Special rates allow students to ride at 25-30 percent off regular fares. Contact: Customer Service at 1-800-772-3606.

Reduced Fare Program
Special rates allow seniors and people with disabilities to ride at up to 50% off regular fares during off-peak hours. Customers are required to show their Medicare or their NJ TRANSIT reduced fare card to purchase tickets. Applications are required to receive a reduced fare card and are available at banks, savings and loan associations and at their county offices on aging. Contact: Customer Service at 1-800-772-3606.

Special Services Programs
The NJ TRANSIT Office of Special Services was designated to take the lead in developing program guidelines, policies and procedures and overseeing daily administration of the program. Activities include reviewing applications for funding, monitoring existing programs and projects to ensure compliance with relevant state and federal laws and program guidelines, developing and implementing a bus and rail accessibility program and assisting the county special transportation programs through technical assistance and workshops. State law provides 7.5% of the Casino Tax Fund to be appropriated for transportation services for senior and disabled persons. The law provides 75% of these funds to be made available to the counties through NJ TRANSIT for capital, operating, and administrative expenses for the provision of locally coordinated para-transit services. The amount each county receives is determined by utilizing an allocation formula based on the number of residents 60 years of age and over as reflected in the most recent U.S. Census Report.

The Office of Special Services is made up of two units: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Unit: The ADA Unit oversees bus and rail accessibility issues and Americans with Disabilities Act policies and programs including Access Link, NJ TRANSIT's fixed route complementary para-transit service. Contact: David Rishel, Director, ADA Unit, 973-491-7554.

The Local Program Support Unit:font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family: This unit oversees the county portion of casino revenue funds, the federal-public participation related to the casino revenue guidelines. These guidelines require each of the 21 counties to form a citizen advisory committee to review all local programs and expenditures utilizing the funds including the annual county application to NJ TRANSIT. Each county is required to hold a public hearing prior to submission of the application.

The Section 16 program subsidizes the purchase of vehicles, which are then leased to organizations that provide transportation to seniors and persons with disabilities.
The Section 18 program funding is allocated for capital, administrative and operating assistance for transportation services in small urban and rural regions. These services are open to the public.

Contact: Robert Koska, Director, Local Program Support Unit, 973-941-7376.

Interdepartmental Workforce Transit Initiatives in New Jersey

NJ Department of Human Services
NJ Department of Labor
NJTRANSIT
State Employment and Training Commission

Summary
The lack of access to transportation services is one of the main challenges confronting people making the transition from welfare to work, other low-income individuals, and transit-dependent persons who are entering the workforce. Many available entry-level and service sector jobs are not located in areas where most welfare recipients and low-income individuals live. While the majority of these new entry-level jobs are in suburban locations that are not adequately served by existing transit routes, most low-income people live in rural or urban areas. In addition, many entry-level jobs are available during evening, early morning and weekend shifts; it is at these times that transit services are least frequent. There is a strong need for the development of appropriate transit services and other transportation solutions to provide individuals with the opportunity to reach employment and employment-related sites.

In order to address this need, the New Jersey Departments of Human Services (NJDHS), Labor (NJDOL), and Transportation (NJDOT), NJ Transit, and the State Employment and Training commission (SETC) have developed the Project Oversight Group (POG). The POG, comprised of representatives from NJDHS, NJDOL, NJ TRANSIT, and SETC, was established to facilitate inter-departmental planning and assist counties in the development of innovative solutions to local mobility issues.

The POG has supported and continues to support a variety of statewide transportation initiatives that are designed to serve low-income and transit-dependent individuals. These include the following:

New Jersey Community Transportation Coordination Planning
The POG provided financial and technical support to each of the 21 counties in New Jersey in the development and execution of local planning efforts. These efforts centered on forming local interagency steering committees to define local transportation gaps, developing strategies for addressing those gaps, and identifying opportunities for increased coordination of existing transit services. Each county developed a Community Transportation Plan that reflects these issues; each Plan provides a framework for the planning and development of new local programs to improve mobility for low-income individuals and other transit-dependent populations.

In September 2000, New Jersey's county-based interagency steering committees began the process of updating the transportation gaps and strategies identified in each county's Community Transportation Plan. The update will provide the steering committees with the opportunity to develop an inventory of new transportation services and programs not identified in the original Plan. The update process will also enable the steering committees to itemize new and/or previously unidentified transportation gaps. Inclusion of these gaps in the Plan update is an essential step to securing funding for their remedy.

Job Access and Reverse Commute Programfont-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family:
Administered by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Job Access and Reverse Commute Program (JARC) provides competitive grants to assist states and localities in developing flexible transportation services to connect welfare recipients and other low income persons to jobs and other employment-related services. The program also may provide transportation services for all populations to suburban employment centers from urban, rural, and other suburban locations. In all Job Access and Reverse Commute applications, applicants must identify non-US Department of Transportation funds to match JARC grants. These funds must be developed as to a 1-to-1 match.

JARC guidelines stipulate that coordinated, regional planning form the basis for funding requests. FTA has indicated that potential JARC projects are to be based in these planning efforts. In New Jersey, much of this required planning component had already been accomplished as a result of the development of Community Transportation Plans described above. This planning was critical to securing funding, in Fiscal Year 1999, for 12 county-based projects that were included in the consolidated grant application submitted by NJ TRANSIT. These projects totaled $1,661,698 in Federal funds.

JARC applications were evaluated according to the following criteria:

Coordinated human services/transportation planning process involving state or local agencies that administer the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and Welfare-to-Work (WtW) programs, community to be served, and other area stakeholders;

Unmet need for additional services and extent to which the service will meet that need;

Project financing, including sustainability of funding and financial commitments from human service providers and existing transportation providers;

Use of innovation approaches, employer-based strategies, linkages to other employment-related support services and other strategies that are effective in meeting program goals.

New Jersey received a $2 million earmark in JARC funds for Fiscal Year 2000. State matching funds were provided by NJDHS and NJDOL (see below). In FY 2000, 14 JARC projects were supported across the state.

As of July 2001, approximately 40,000 trips per quarter were being provided through JARC-funded transportation services.

NJ Transportation Innovation Fund

The NJ Transportation Innovation Fund (TIF) is a main source of matching funds for JARC. In Fiscal Year 1999, the TIF was composed of both state transportation funds and funds made available through the Governor's Discretionary Portion of New Jersey's US welfare recipients. The Fiscal Year 1999 TIF totaled $2 million.

In Fiscal Year 2000, the TIF was funded by a combination of US Department of Labor WtW funds, channeled through NJDOL, and NJDHS Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds. The TIF was once again funded at the $2 million level.

WorkPass Program

WorkPass is an innovative program developed by NJ TRANSIT in cooperation with NJDHS. The program provides participants with access to public transit by providing monthly commuter passes, as well as one-way tickets (good for one ride), for use in job-related activities. WorkPass enables participants to reach job training and education sites, employment opportunities, medical and childcare centers, and other destinations through the use of unlimited monthly pass. Discounted tickets are also available for children ages 5-11 years, while children under 4 years of age ride free, when accompanied by a fare-paying adult. Any government-sponsored agency, such as a Medicaid office, can also provide these benefits to their participants by enrolling in the WorkPass program.

As part of the WorkPass program, NJ TRANSIT offers public assistance caseworkers a transit-training program that enables caseworkers to determine the best NJ TRANSIT routes that address participants' needs. The training includes classroom instruction, and distribution of an instructional video on the use of public transit, extensive commuter travel information, a transit-training manual, and resource materials such as posters, timetables, and route maps.

Each month between January 2001 and July 2001, an average of 5,543 monthly passes and 11,419 one-way tickets were distributed around the state.

Get a Job. Get A Ride!

When participants are successful in finding employment, their participation in the WorkPass program ends. However, the transitional period immediately following job attainment is critical in determining a participant's success in the working world. To ease this transition, NJ TRANSIT offers additional transportation benefits through the Get A Job. Get a Ride! Program. This program provides a free monthly bus or rail pass to persons (registered with participating WorkPass agencies) who leave public assistance due to employment. Get a Job. Get a Ride! rewards participants for their efforts and supports their transition to full employment.

Extended WorkPass
font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family: The need to continue transportation benefits beyond the current allotment under WorkPass and Get a Job. Get a Ride! has been identified by a variety of public assistance offices, county transportation departments, and Workforce Investment Boards. The success of WorkPass has lead to the expansion of the program. NDHS and NJ TRANSIT worked together to develop a six-month extension of the current program. The first three months of the extended program include full contribution by NJDHS for the cost of passes, and an additional three months of contributions at 50% of transit pass cost. It is expected that individual clients will contribute the remaining 50%. Eligible individuals include those public assistance recipients who have left the TANF roles due to employment. For more information about WorkPass or Get a Job. Get a Ride! Please contact NJ TRANSIT at (973) 491-7110.

TANF Transportation Block Grantsfont-family:Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family:
NJDHS developed this program to assist county welfare agencies in providing transportation alternatives to participants that cannot be met through the issuance of a monthly bus or rail pass. The program provides funds to county agencies for use on alternative service delivery projects that are included in a county's Community Transportation Plan. Funds are developed based on the savings realized by NJDHS as a result of county participation in the WorkPass program. NJDHS, NJDOT, and NJ TRANSIT staff work cooperatively to review Bloc Grant plans. Total county allocations for FY 2000 reached approximately $8 million.

For more information please contact: