New Jersey Notes

We are pleased to report that two years into our New Jersey expansion, our work in the Garden State is growing strong. Here’s a brief update:

• Route 27 Corridor Safety Study, Union County – as subconsultant to The RBA Group, FHI completed a transit, travel demand management (TDM) and land use analysis for this seven-mile corridor from midtown Elizabeth, through the City of Linden, Borough of Roselle, and City of Rahway. FHI reviewed city and county land use regulations to determine how the form of existing development has contributed to traffic and circulation issues, and how shaping future development can play a role in enhancing safety and mobility along the seven-mile corridor. FHI will also be developing basic TDM and transit strategies as ways of reducing vehicle trips and promoting transit use.
  
  
• Central New Jersey/Raritan Valley Line Extension Feasibility Study – FHI concluded its environmental screening of the long-list and subsequent short-list of rail, bus and park-and-ride alternatives developed for this study to extend rail and/or bus services from High Bridge to Phillipsburg. Working as subconsultants to Systra, FHI also developed GIS mapping to highlight sensitive Highlands Region resources and coordinated with the New Jersey Highlands Council regarding permits that may be required for the short-listed alternatives. A second phase of this study, which will look at extending rail transit to Lehigh Valley International Airport near Allentown, Pennsylvania, is scheduled to begin soon.
  
  
• NJTPA Performance Assessment – working with Cambridge Systematics, FHI is conducting stakeholder outreach and interagency coordination for this cutting-edge project. The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) has tasked the project team to assess the effectiveness of 12 to 15 projects that have been implemented over the last several years through the use of performance measures.  Have these projects met their planning goals?  Currently, the study team is in the process of meeting with regional implementing agencies as well as elected officials and planning staff from various NJTPA sub-regions. FHI will also develop bicycle and pedestrian-related performance measures and will carry out the evaluation of the selected bicycle and pedestrian projects.
  
  
• Northeast New Jersey Metro Mobility Study –FHI will be providing community outreach services for this important regional study to examine the existing bus transit network and service, identify needs, and recommend options for improving transit in the greater Bergen-Passaic Study Area. Input will be sought from New Jersey Transit, private bus operators, bus commuters and non-riders, the business community, local and regional governments, advocacy groups, the general public, and traditionally underrepresented groups such as minorities, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. As part of our contribution to this study for the Jacobs study team, FHI has developed a project logo and brand identity for the project website and all future study outreach materials.

Maybe we’ve seen you?

Kristen
Ahlfeld

Kristen Ahlfeld and other FHI staff have been meeting with consultant and public agency staff to introduce FHI to new and potential business partners. Thank you to those individuals that we have met with – we appreciate your warm welcome, we are excited to be here, and we look forward to working with you!

If you would like to find out more about FHI and our work in New Jersey, please contact Kristen at kahlfeld@fhiplan.com.

Look for her at the New Jersey American Planning Association Conference in New Brunswick in November!