Welcome
and Opening Remarks
The
meeting was called to order by Chairman Jim Sinclair
at 9:42 a.m.
Chairman
Sinclair opened the meeting with remarks about the short-term
and long-term commuter impacts after the events of September
11, 2001. He stated there will be a tremendous long-term
impact on North Jersey and its economy and drivers.
Effects will be felt not only by commuters to New York,
but by people within New Jersey, due to office relocations
here.
A
discussion ensued. General comments by Task Force members
included the following:
-
Tighter
security getting into the city
-
Transportation
professionals, and this task force, have an "opportunity"
to advance plans and recommendations. This is a
chance to encourage teleworking, flexible hours
works and other transportation options. A member
felt that "CBTF's ideas will go through".
Pippa
Woods stated that our transportation systems still have
to move people, but have to do it differently. The PATH
line will be out for at least two years; the displacement
of its 60,000 daily riders is a major disruption. The
PATH linked to other parts of lower Manhattan, not just
the World Trade Center. The Holland Tunnel carried up
to 90,000 people a day; it remains to be seen how traffic
will be impacted upon its reopening. Pippa reported
that 120,000 jobs are no longer in lower Manhattan.
There was 22 million square feet of office space available
in northern New Jersey and 13 million sq. feet available
in mid-town.
Bill
Beetle, NJDOT Director of Planning stated NJDOT's immediate
response was to keep things moving. The State's long-term
response will be "evolving." He said efficiently
handling relocations to New Jersey could be tricky since
businesses make private decisions. NJDOT is working
to quantify relocation data and system effects into
a single picture.
Martin
Robins said in light of recent events, NJ Transit's
recently released Strategic Plan has not been getting
much notice, since the focus has shifted to more immediate
concerns. Martin noted two important points from the
plan:
-
Northeast
Corridor is the "spine railroad line"
of NJT. It is extremely overcrowded and even more
since September 11.
-
NJT
is in fiscal distress. Its ability to do what we
want of it is impossible with current funding. It
will take political leadership and courage to secure
funding for Transit's existing operations as well
as for construction and system expansions.
Gerry
Keenan mentioned an opportunity exists to take a regional
approach to transportation issues. He invited the task
force members to a meeting on Monday November 19, 9:00
a.m. at the offices of NJTPA, Newark, NJ. He said this
will be a high level meeting with the NJ Governor-elect,
Commissioner Weinstein, Jeffrey Warsh, NY DOT officials,
members of Congress etc. Agenda items include the new
rail tunnel into New York.
Jim
Redecker mentioned it will be at least 8 to 10 years
before a new rail tunnel into Manhattan is built. The
tunnel may include extensions to Grand Central Station
and will cost between $3 to $6 billion. In the interim,
significant capacity improvements are doable, but not
inexpensive.
In
regards specifically to Trans-Hudson crossings, there
are 30,000 fewer trips into Manhattan, but systems are
strained because destinations have changed.
-
Peak
Period ridership on the Northeast corridor has grown
significantly.
-
Reverse
commuting (out of New York) has grown by 45%.
-
NJ
Transit has already surpassed the volume anticipated
for 2010.
-
Rolling
stock is being put into use before routine maintenance
is done.
-
Amtrak
is honoring NJ Transit tickets and given the use
of their tracks (probably temporary).
-
While
ridership has increased on rail, no significant
changes have been noted on bus and carpooling.
-
People
have shifted their driving time to pre-SOV restricted
hours rather than carpool into New York.
Old
Business:
Pippa
Woods stated that the Parkway Congestion Relief Plan
as submitted in response to executive order, recommends
$800 million in capital improvements to enhance safety
and reduce congestion. Legislation has not been sponsored,
but this is still an issue. Chairman Sinclair suggested
that Parkway pricing, and pricing in general, is something
the Task Force should look at.
The
CBTF website has been posted on the NJDOT site. Members
reported that the site looked visually appealing and
they found the links useful. The "Contact Us"
selection goes directly to a CBTF mailbox. At each meeting,
the number of hits and summary of the comments will
be provided. New material will be placed periodically
on the site.
New
Business:
Bill
Beetle, Director of Transportation Systems Planning,
NJDOT, made a presentation on the New Jersey Long-Range
Transportation Plan. Highlights included:
-
A
recent public opinion survey listed congestion as
a major transportation problem facing New Jersey.
-
Summary
of population and growth trends.
-
Simulation
models of the state's three MPOs were woven together
to develop a statewide travel demand analysis.
-
Combined
strategy of aggressive TDM and transit programs,
use of ITS and limited new highway capacity would
have the best results to maintain level of service
at its current condition, while accommodating future
population and employment growth.
-
Compact
growth, advocated by the State Development and Redevelopment
Plan, reduces the demand on our highway system.
-
Summary
of capital costs needed to implement the plan.
Mike
Reeves, SJTPO, made a short presentation on the congestion
performance measures used by his organization.
-
Volume/capacity
(V/C), the primary method used, can be applied in
a variety of ways (i.e. peak period, seasonal etc.)
-
Another
measurement is duration of over-capacity traffic
at a given location
-
Subjective
identification of problem areas by residents and
government leaders and planners provides a useful
prospective that would otherwise be excluded if
relying solely on objective, analytical measures.
Members
mentioned several topics that the Task Force should
learn more about:
-
park-and-ride
lots, why some work and some don't.
-
rail
park-and-ride are not funded, perhaps money should
go there.
-
ITS
- people want this information - 5 million hits
on website after Sept. 11th attacks.
-
mobility
report update.
-
Bus
Rapid Transit and identify corridors for BRT in
NJ.
-
psychology
of people; why is rail preferred over bus.
Organizational
Items:
The
Subcommittee Formation group presented a list of possible
CBTF subcommittees. Members approved the recommendations,
but suggested that a legislative committee be added
to the list of subcommittees. It was noted that Demand
Management includes many strategies; it might have to
be broken down into smaller subsets.
-
Pippa
Woods stated that the Task Force would likely include
legislative proposals as part of their recommendations.
Mike Egenton offered to serve on the Legislative
Committee.
-
Jack
Claffey stated it would be a good idea to have staff
from NJDOT, the MPOs and NJ Transit provide professional
support to the subcommittees.
-
Janine
Bauer said the underlying framework of each subcommittee's
final product should include what operational systems,
policy, legislation and capital are needed to implement
each project or recommendation.
All
members will serve on the Congestion Committee and the
Marketing and Public Education Committee. Remaining
committees are:
Chairman
Sinclair asked the members to review the list, and within
a week notify the Task Force secretary of one or two
committees they would like to serve on.
The
Task Force's final product was briefly discussed. Some
suggestions from members:
-
Reach
out to major employers, such as casinos and pharmaceutical
companies, to see if the Task Force's recommendations
are useful, practical and doable.
-
Conduct
a low cost survey of employers on congestion related
issues.
Future
meeting dates:
-
Tuesday,
November 13th, 9:30 a.m. at Delaware River Port
Authority, Camden
-
Tuesday,
December 11th, 1:00 p.m. at NJDOT Multi-Purpose
Room, Ewing, NJ
The
meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m.
Attendees:
Task
Force Members (or Delegates):
Chairman Jim Sinclair, NJBIA
Asst. Commissioner Pippa Woods
Janine Bauer, TSTC
Sandra Brillhart, Greater Mercer TMA
Jack Claffey, DVRPC
Dotty Drinkwater, CSNJ
Mike Egenton, NJ Chamber of Commerce
Jerry Keenan, NJAFA
Stephanie Kudrowitz, Edwards & Kelcey
Hamou Megdir, NJTPA
Anita Perez, RideWise TMA
Bill Ragozine, Cross County Connection TMA
James Redecker, NJ Transit
Mike Reeves, SJTPO
Martin Robins, Rutgers - TPI
Judy Schleicher
Invited
Guests:
Jon
Carnegie, Rutgers - TPI
Brian Fineman, NJTPA
DOT
Staff:
William
Beetle
Adnew Tessema
Ray Andrejcik
Bob Miller
Talvin Davis
Mark Stout
Debra Firman
