1. Richard G. Bickel, AICP Director, Division of Planning 215-238-2830 / rbickel@dvrpc.org rbickel@dvrpc.org Cooperative Planning for BRT, PM 2.5 & TOD Mid-Atlantic Regional Roundtable – III for the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Super-Region December 8, 2006 / Baltimore Metropolitan Council

2. Purpose  Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) for the Princeton / Route 1 Corridor in New Jersey  PM 2.5 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…

3. DVRPC Region Nine-County Philadelphia-Camden Trenton Region - 3833 sq. miles - 353 townships, boroughs & cities In 2000… - 5.4 million pop. - 2.7 million jobs Destination 2030 - 6.1 million pop. - 3.2 million jobs

4.  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

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

6.  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)

7. BRT Core Service Concept

8.  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

9.  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

10. What is Fine Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 )? PM 2.5 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 PM 2.5 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

11. Joint Conformity Demonstration Process  New PM 2.5 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 PM 2.5 Multi-Jurisdictional Non-Attainment Areas

13. 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 PM 2.5 standards, to become effective in 2010, may trigger another need for broader, multi-state cooperation and implementation PM 2.5 Multi-Jurisdictional Non-Attainment Areas

14.  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

15.  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

16. TOD Inventory Study: Opportunity Sites

17.  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

18.  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 areas Benefit and Innovation of TRID is partnerships and value capture PA Transit Revitalization Investment Districts (TRID)

19.  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

20. 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

21. For More Information… NJ Forum / BRT Zoe Neaderland 215.238.2839 zneaderland@dvrpc.org Air Quality Michael Boyer 215.238.2848 mboyer@dvrpc.org TOD / TRID Karin Morris 215.238.2858 kmorris@dvrpc.org