Richard G. Bickel, AICP Director, Division of Planning 215-238-2830 / [email protected] [email protected] Cooperative Planning for BRT, PM 2.5 & TOD Mid-Atlantic.

Richard G. Bickel, AICP Director, Division of Planning215-238-2830 / [email protected]

Cooperative Planning for BRT, PM2.5 & TODMid-Atlantic Regional Roundtable – III for the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Super-Region

December 8, 2006 / Baltimore Metropolitan Council

Purpose

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) for the Princeton / Route 1 Corridor in New Jersey

PM2.5 Air Quality Improvement for the Multi-State region from Maryland to Connecticut

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in PA and NJ

Summarize DVRPC’s involvement in Inter-Regional and Statewide planning and implementation activities related to…

DVRPC Region

Nine-County Philadelphia-CamdenTrenton Region

- 3833 sq. miles- 353 townships,

boroughs & citiesIn 2000…

- 5.4 million pop.- 2.7 million jobs

Destination 2030- 6.1 million pop.- 3.2 million jobs

Route 1 corridor crosses two New Jersey MPOs (NJTPA & DVRPC) and many jurisdictions

Forum has been holding well-attended meetings 3 to 4 times a year since 1999 to improve coordination, provide education and initiate projects

Goal: Improved and more integrated regional land use and transportation planning

Major Initiative: Enhanced Corridor Accessibility

Central Jersey Transportation Forum

Forum Area

Forum Members Includes 21municipalities from four counties (Mercer, Somerset, Middlesex, Huntingdon); two MPOs; and various state agencies

Core Service Concept 36 miles of guideway, mostly parallel to Route 1; 22 stations; 7 park and ride lots; shuttle services; retains the 2.8 mile Dinky rail line

BRT would serve approximately 44,000 riders per weekday

BRT would cost $600-$700 million to implement at one time, but is expected to occur in phases, often integrated with other public / private projects

Route 1 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

BRT Core Service Concept

BRT to proceed in stages starting with integration in area projects and protecting right-of-way

Included in NJDOT Route 1 Regional Growth Strategy and DVRPC / NJTPA Long Range Plans

Forum is working on next transportation and land use steps

More Information www.dvrpc.org/transportation/longrange/cjtf/brt.htm

Status and Next Steps

This large, voluntary group needs a sense that it is accomplishing something real. The action plan includes big projects (such as the BRT), medium-scale efforts and small projects which allow for some early “wins” along the way

Attributes that have helped the Forum are: Leadership from several organizations Participation by high level decision-makers Getting relevant, important speakers Initiating projects and recognizing accomplishments Filling a regional need

Lessons Learned

What is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)?

PM2.5 Multi-Jurisdictional Non-Attainment Areas

Purpose: Achieving Multi-Region and State Cooperation to Accomplish Improved Air Quality

Mixture of microscopic solids and liquid droplets suspended in the air Elevated exposure to PM2.5 is associated with premature death Designated as a criteria air pollutant in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in 2005 Part of the federally mandated transportation conformity process

Joint Conformity Demonstration Process New PM2.5 designation tied 11 MPOs in 5 states together temporarily,until development of State Implementation Plans (SIPs) and Budgets Coordinated all planning assumptions, quantitative analysis methodology, interagency coordination, public participation, MPO adoptions and federal approvals Held 24+ meetings / conference calls from Feb 2005 to March 2006

Collaborative Effort / Shared Outcome Required All pass or all fail (i.e. conformity lapse) Non-negotiable deadline: federal approval required by April 5, 2006 Forced MPOs to think beyond own boundaries, processes and timeline Worked together to resolve technical differences, accommodate procedural steps and meet deadlines

PM2.5 Multi-Jurisdictional Non-Attainment Areas

PM2.5 Multi-Jurisdictional Non-Attainment Areas

Issues and Lessons Learned Start the process early and be inclusive Document all discussions and agreements reached Designate single agency as clearinghouse / lead Assign and delegate clear tasks; give firm deadlines Above all, apply common sense

Status / Next Steps Prompt state action (State Implementation Plan in NJ) changed the initial multi-region linkage DVRPC currently linked only with WILMAPCO EPA’s revised daily PM2.5 standards, to become effective in 2010, may trigger another need for broader, multi-state cooperation and implementation

PM2.5 Multi-Jurisdictional Non-Attainment Areas

Regional Vision Strong Respected Institutions High Quality Transit Service Regional Growth Station Areas with Development Potential Long-Term Focus Transit-Supportive Culture Regional and Local Policies to Support TOD

TOD Report Card for Greater Philadelphia Region

Burlington City’s

Metropolitan Inn, now senior

apartments

Proposed Mixed use at Marcus Hook station

Proposed TOD, Delanco

Promoting TOD: broker, facilitator, funding, advocate, educator

Long-range planning policies TOD implementation brochure

for municipalities Great Places With Transit

newsletter Case Studies research and site

planning TCDI grant program

DVRPC’s Role in TOD

TOD Inventory Study:Opportunity Sites

17 designated transit villages Grants, technical assistance and priority funding from state agencies Supported by cooperative and engaged transit agencies

Gaslight Commons, South Orange

LumberYard Condos, Collingswood

NJDOT Transit Village Initiative

NJ Transit’s Transit-Friendly Communities Program DRPA TOD planning studies for PATCO stations

New enabling legislation (December 2004) Administered by PA DCED with PennDOT Not mandatory, but offers prospect of state support for planning and implementation funding ($75,000 max. grant; 25% local match) Offers municipal officials & development community an approach to plan for and implement TOD; support local economic development

Offers transit agencies the opportunity to: Partner with local government and developers Increase transit ridership Share in real estate tax revenues to support capital projects and maintenance in TRID areasBenefit and Innovation of TRID is partnerships and value capture

PA Transit Revitalization Investment Districts (TRID)

Provides funding to support local redevelopment and planning efforts in DVRPC region’s core cities and older suburbs (208 eligible communities; also CDCs and non-profits in Philadelphia) Current grant maximum of $100,000; requires 20% local match Of the 99 grants awarded to date, 11 have supported creation of new TOD plans and several others have funded projects with TOD component

Transportation and Community Development Initiative (TCDI)

In PA: Bristol, Doylestown, Downingtown, Conshohocken, Bryn Mawr, Ardmore, North Wales, Lansdale, Cheltenham, Yeadon, Upper Darby, Marcus Hook, Philadelphia (West Market Street, Frankford TC, Mt. Airy) In NJ: Riverside, Bordentown, Beverly, Burlington City, Trenton

Lessons Learned / DVRPC Roles

Roles Applicable to Other Regions Partner (formal and informal) Technical Analyst Honest Broker Advocate Grantmaker

Next Steps Continue current programs and projects Strive for a more permanent (legally binding) cooperative

agreement for air quality conformity Replicate NJ Forum approach in other venues as opportunities

arise Maintain TCDI grant program; FY 2007 TOD Status Report in

process

For More Information…

NJ Forum / BRTZoe Neaderland215.238.2839 [email protected]

Air QualityMichael Boyer215.238.2848 [email protected]

TOD / TRIDKarin [email protected]