Official Site of The State of New Jersey

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), as a recipient of federal financial assistance, is committed to carrying forward an Environmental Justice strategy. In accordance with Executive Order 14096, Revitalizing our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All, Environmental Justice means the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of income, race, color, national origin, Tribal affiliation or disability, throughout agency decision-making processes and other activities that affect human health and the environment.

In accordance with EO 14096, people should be fully protected from disproportionate and adverse human health and environmental effects (including risks) and hazards, including those related to climate change, the cumulative impacts of environmental and other burdens, and the legacy of racism or other structural or system barriers.

Additionally, people should have equitable access to a healthy, sustainable, and resilient environment in which to live, play, work, learn, grow, worship, and engage in cultural and subsistence practices.

To comply with the federal laws and other authorities, NJDOT’s policies also uphold the mandates:

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, and
• Environmental Justice Executive Order 12898 (pdf), “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations” as part of its Title VI Assurances.

NJDOT’s EJ Program is an interdisciplinary effort to address the needs and concerns of low-income and minority populations in transportation planning and project development that parallels the intent of the Executive Orders on EJ. The Department recognizes the nondiscriminatory intent of Title VI by identifying, analyzing, and addressing disproportionate and adverse human health and environmental effects to ensure the just treatment of all people in agency decision-making.

In addition to managing the EJ program and coordinating Title VI compliance requirements for transportation programs, NJDOT promotes policies and strategies to implement meaningful public involvement in transportation decision-making processes, including with traditionally underserved populations such as low-income and minority persons. A designated Task Force advises and facilitates NJDOT external program areas in the implementation of Title VI/EJ activities. It also collects census data to identify low-income and minority populations in furtherance of the Department’s Environmental Justice strategy.

The results of NJDOT’s Title VI/EJ program include:

• improved transportation decisions to meet the needs of all people;
• redesigned transportation facilities to fit more harmoniously into communities;
• improved data collection, monitoring and analysis tools to assess the needs of and analyze the potential impacts on minority and low-income populations;
• collaboration with other public and private programs to leverage transportation agency resources to achieve a common vision for communities;
• avoidance of disproportionately high and adverse impacts with early identification of concerns in the planning process; and
• counterbalance initiatives and enhancement measures to benefit affected communities and neighborhoods.