Official Site of The State of New Jersey

Planning, Multimodal & Grants Administration

Summary of the Division of Statewide Planning

The Division of Statewide Planning (DSWP) is the home for many of the Department’s transportation planning functions as well as the Department’s Bureau of Research.

The transportation planning functions include long-range and performance-based planning, safety planning & programs, asset management planning, congestion analysis, Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) coordination, bicycle and pedestrian planning, air quality planning, travel demand modeling, Department support to the State Planning Commission, and the Complete Streets, Transit Village, and Safe Routes to School non-infrastructure initiatives. DSWP staff perform these planning functions for a wide variety of internal and external customers, in support of the vision of an equitable, efficient, safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation network that serves all users.

The Division also manages the State Planning and Research (SPR) program, which is the source of federal funding for planning activities throughout the Department.

The following five core functions capture the majority of the Division’s activities:

• Engage in Performance-Based Planning and Asset Management
• Feed the Pipeline Efficiently and Strategically
• Serve as a Knowledge Resource for Smart Decision Making
• Work in partnership to develop innovative transportation solutions, enhance safety, mobility, reliability, and quality of life, and maximize travel choices
• Ensure sound financial management of State and MPO planning programs

The Division includes three bureaus:

• The Bureau of Research
• The Bureau of Safety, Bicycle & Pedestrian Programs; and
• The Bureau of Statewide Strategies.

Detailed information for each bureau is included on each bureau’s home page.

The Bureau of Safety, Bicycle & Pedestrian Programs (BSBPP) is made up of three primary units: Office of Safety Program Management, Office of Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning, and the Office of Complete Streets Implementation.

The Bureau is responsible for administering the federally funded Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) for all public roads - municipal, county and state - in New Jersey. HSIP funds are used for State Highway Improvements and Metropolitan Planning Organization locally driven roadway improvement projects, in support of the New Jersey’s Strategic Highway Safety Program (SHSP). New Jersey is typically allocated approximately $75 million annually and the funds are only to be used on projects with a documented safety need.

and the funds are only to be used on projects with a documented safety need.

The Bureau is also responsible for serving as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on the Department's Complete Streets policy, and for ensuring its implementation. This requires coordination with the Division of Project Management (DPM) and supervision of staff to thoroughly assess all NJDOT projects regarding bicycle, pedestrian, and Complete Streets accommodations in a timely manner.

The Bureau is also responsible for initiating safety related problem statements to address data driven safety concerns along state routes. To this extent, the Bureau is responsible for managing technical projects that identify, inventory, review and analyze safety concerns along state and non-state roads, with a goal of suggesting safety countermeasures.

Administer federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds to strategically reduce crashes, fatalities, and serious injuries on state and local roadways. Coordinate with FHWA and MPO partners to ensure successful implementation of the program.
Administer the federally funded Bicycle and Pedestrian Program
Maintain and enhance the Departments Complete Streets Initiative. Encourage the adoption of Complete Streets Policies and implementation of Complete Streets improvements on state and local roadways.
Develop and maintain the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). Implement the Infrastructure related action plans and coordinate with identified statewide stakeholders on all the other implementation action plans.
Encourage appropriate inclusion of safety improvements on all Department projects, consistent with the goals of the SHSP.
Oversee the work performed by the Bicycle & Pedestrian Resource Center and Safety Resource Center
Develop and implement programs of systemic safety improvements.
Complete annual reports as required, including the Annual Safety Report, updates of federal safety targets, and reports, as required, for the State Transportation Innovation Council (STIC) and the Every Day Counts (EDC) Initiative.
Administer the Safe Routes to School Non-Infrastructure Program.
Develop, maintain, and implement the NJ Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan.
Coordinate with internal and external partners through meetings, workshops, conferences, and peer exchanges.

The Bureau of Statewide Strategies performs an array of functions of which the following relate to the Capital Project Delivery Process. The Statewide Planning section of the Bureau conducts performance-based planning, which includes preparing the Statewide Long Range Transportation Plan (SLRTP), the Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP) and managing the Performance Center Intranet page of performance targets and inventory information. The section maintains and updates Appendix B of the New Jersey State Highway Access Management Code that identifies the Desirable Typical Section (DTS) and Access Level of all state highway segments. The DTS defines the Department's long-range vision of state highway configurations (number of through lanes for state highway segments). The Access Level defines the allowable turning movements between the state highway and a lot or site based on the access classification, which regulates access to all state highways. These elements shall be evaluated and considered for all of the Department's projects.

The Transportation and Livable Communities section ensures that the principles of livability, smart growth and consistency with New Jersey's State Development and Redevelopment Plan (SDRP) are integrated into the Department's regulations, plans, policies, programs and projects. Activities include designation of municipalities as Transit Villages, preparation of Access Management Plans under the State Highway Access Management Code and participation in the endorsement of county and municipal plans under SDRP by the State Planning Commission.

The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Liaison section serves as intermediary between the Department and New Jersey's three MPOs: the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO), the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA).

The Air Quality and Travel Demand Modeling section works with Department staff, the MPOs and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to ensure capital projects meet air quality conformity requirements and prepares an investment strategy for federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds.

The Mobility and Accessibility Planning section provides support to the Department's decision-making and project delivery process by providing congestion evaluation and congestion relief strategies.

Prepare the Department's Statewide Long Range Transportation Plan (SLRTP) and Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP).

Maintain the Performance Center Intranet web page with performance targets and inventory information.

Collaborate with external entities on planning studies to integrate land use development and transportation. Maintain and update Appendix B of the New Jersey State Highway Access Management Code (NJSHAMC) and administer the access classification process, including Desirable Typical Sections (DTS) and Access Levels. Coordinate with the State Planning Commission and the Office of Planning Advocacy. Provide reports from the Smart Growth Management System to quantify the smart growth consistency of a project.
Maintain and update Appendix B of the New Jersey State Highway Access Management Code (NJSHAMC) and administer the access classification process, including Desirable Typical Sections (DTS) and Access Levels.
Coordinate with the State Planning Commission and the Office of Planning Advocacy.
Provide reports from the Smart Growth Management System to quantify the smart growth consistency of a project.

Manage Statewide Strategies consultant Term Agreements.

Manage the Transit Village Initiative.

Coordinate the Department's Smart Growth Implementation Team.

Serve as intermediary between the Department and New Jersey's three Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs): the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO), the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), and manage the MPO grant program to ensure compliance with Department, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requirements.

Maintain the Department's statewide travel demand and air quality models in conformance with federal requirements to support the air quality conformity process.

Prepare an investment strategy for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds and maintain a database of CMAQ projects. Use the Division’s transportation modeling tools to develop future growth rates, upon request, for various capital projects.

Provide data requests from the New Jersey Congestion Management System (CMS-21). Develop targeted and effective Problem Statements for congestion relief projects. Collaborate with other Department units (e.g., Transportation Operations Systems and Support, Multimodal) and other agencies and organizations such as Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Federal Highway Administration, NJ TRANSIT, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and New Jersey Turnpike Authority in congestion relief efforts through the Complete Team. Develop System Performance targets to fulfill the federal requirements.

The Research Bureau works directly with institutes of higher education, Treasury-contracted consultants, and other research professionals to deliver customer focused, quality research in order to enhance the quality and cost effectiveness of the engineering policies, practices, standards and specifications that are used in planning, building and maintaining New Jersey's transportation infrastructure.

The Bureau conducts technology and knowledge transfer practices, such as training, education, demonstrations, an annual showcase, communications, marketing efforts, and local technical assistance, all of which are intended to help new technologies get implemented.

The Bureau is also home to the New Jersey State Transportation Innovation Council (STIC), whose mission is to identify, evaluate, and rapidly deploy new technologies and process improvements that will accelerate project delivery and improve the safety and quality of transportation in NJ. STIC members review innovative ideas, vet them, and make recommendations for development and implementation of those ideas.

The Bureau also provides library services to NJDOT and other state government employees and the general public. The NJDOT Research Library is a branch of the New Jersey State Library and is funded by FHWA State Planning and Research Program. The Research Library collects documents from a variety of sources, including the Transportation Research Board, FHWA, other State DOT's and NJDOT. It provides reference and referral services, an online catalog and lending materials on site or by an inter-library loan through another library, photocopying, literature searches and notification of new materials.

Administer New Jersey’s State Planning and Research Program

Solicit and assess the research needs of the Department on a regular basis.

Establish and maintain collaborative relationships among NJDOT, FHWA, NJ Transit, MVC, university professionals and consultants.

Facilitate transportation-related research for NJDOT, NJ Transit, Motor Vehicle Commission, and others.

Provide contract administration support for transportation research projects.

Performance and Risk Measurement/Management of transportation research projects from authorization to close-out.

Administer NJ STIC activities

Technology Transfer (Research Showcase, Tech Talks, newsletters, training, etc.)

AASHTO RAC participation

Bureau Manager is liaison to the National Academies Transportation Research Board (TRB)

Coordinate NCHRP activities

Pooled Fund Research Coordination

National Survey Coordination

Library Services

Keep abreast of the state of practice and conduct of research and implement regular program changes and improvements.

The The Division of Multimodal Services performs a range of functions which support public transportation, rail freight, ports and waterways, and aviation. Multimodal is responsible for the inspection and licensing of general aviation airports and other aviation facilities and is the home for the Unmanned Arial System/Drone Program which was implemented in 2017. We administer the State Channel Dredging and Emergency Response Program and Dredged Material Management Program. Multimodal is responsible for the identification and formulation of strategies to advance the multimodal movement of freight throughout New Jersey and development of the Statewide Freight Plan and the administration, inspection and oversight for all multimodal grant programs. The Division of Multimodal includes the administration of State Safety Oversight program which oversees the 5 light rails in New Jersey and the online oversize/overweight commercial vehicle permitting system. Multimodal is also responsible for the Highway Performance Monitoring System, collection of crash records, the administration of the Straight Line Diagram and Video Log and Traffic Monitoring System Program.

Provide SME across all modes of transportation: Marine, Maritime, Navigation Dredging, Dredged Material Management, Ferry, Freight, Freight Rail, State Safety Oversight Program/Fixed Guideway, Aeronautics, UAS/Drones, OS/OW Trucking, Federal and State Grant Management, Data Collection and Straight Line Diagram (SLD).
Provide and oversee Aviation, Rail, and Maritime, Ferry, Boating, Freight and CMAQ Grants.
Provide freight planning, data collection and project coordination.

Select grants.

Administer grant contracts.

The Division of Environmental Resources provides environmental support for projects initiated by Local Aid, Multimodal, and Operations and serves as the Department’s central point of contact for environmental policies and or procedures. The Division also provides environmental oversight of remedial activates at NJDOT owned facilities and rights of way. Finally the Division, in collaboration with Operations is responsible for maintaining a Storm Water Asset Management Program for the Department. NOTE – For matters related to Climate Change Resilience, the Director’s Office is the central point of contact – 609.963.2065

Provide environmental support for projects initiated by Local Aid projects, Multimodal, and Operations.

Responsible for environmental policy and planning.

Provide environmental oversight and remediation on New Jersey Department of Transportation-owned facilities.

Responsible for Storm Water Asset Management Program.