TOD News Briefs

The Week in TOD News January 11-17, 2025

NJ’s congestion pricing blunder (left); NJ TRANSIT gets new CEO; NJ town’s pass affordability targets; LA fires show danger of sprawl; Upcoming transit projects in 2025 (right top-to-bottom) 

Article of the Week

NJ officials, including Phil Murphy and Josh Gottheimer, opposing the congestion tax at an event.
NJ officials opposing the congestion tax. Courtesy of the office of Josh Gottheimer

Did New Jersey Fumble Congestion Pricing Negotiations? 
Jon Campbell and Ramsey Khalifeh, Gothamist | January 10, 2025 
NJ Governor Phil Murphy’s legal effort to block Manhattan’s congestion pricing tolls failed, leaving New Jersey without concessions. Local leaders, including Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, criticized the approach, arguing that Murphy should have secured more support for the state’s transit systems. Murphy defended his position, asserting that New Jersey acted as the “reasonable” party throughout the dispute. 


NJ TOD News

Dunellen Station on the Raritan Valley Line.
Dunellen Station on the Raritan Valley Line. Adam Moss | Flickr

DUNELLEN—Dunellen Gaining Recognition for Efforts to Revitalize Its ‘Miracle Mile’ 
Mike Deak, MyCentralJersey | January 17, 2025 
Dunellen has recently gained recognition for its commitment to sustainable growth and community development. The borough received several honors, including a feature in Business View Magazine, a 2024 Smart Growth Award for The Nell at Dunellen Station, and the “Great Downtown” designation from NJ-APA. Local leaders and residents are credited with successfully balancing growth while preserving the community’s identity. 

NJ TRANSIT train at a station
Courtesy of the Office of Governor Phil Murphy

Transit Advocates Hope New NJ Transit Chief Will Improve Service 
Sophie Nieto-Munoz, New Jersey Monitor | January 16, 2025 
Kevin Corbett stepped down as NJ TRANSIT CEO on January 16, leaving behind a legacy of both accomplishments and ongoing challenges. His successor, Kris Kolluri, faces pressing issues, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a major budget deficit, and a potential rail worker strike. Transit advocates remain optimistic however, highlighting Kolluri’s significant experience in the industry. 

A conceptual rendering of the Beacon Building. It will be the tallest building in Camden, NJ.
A conceptual rendering of the Beacon Building. Courtesy of Camden County

CAMDEN—Camden Office Tower Would Be the Tallest Building in South Jersey. What to Know. 
Jim Walsh, Cherry Hill Courier-Post | January 14, 2025 
The proposed $250-million redevelopment of Camden’s Walter Rand Transportation Center includes a 25-story office tower, the Beacon Building, offering 500,000 sq. ft. of office space for potential tenants like Cooper University Health Care and the civil courts. Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen expects these projects to drive downtown development, though construction timelines remain unspecified. 

Rendering of 26 North Street
Rendering of 26 North Street. Courtesy of MHS Architecture

BAYONNE—Redesign Revealed for 26 North Street in Bayonne, New Jersey 
Michael Young and Matt Pruznick, New York Yimby | January 13, 2025 
MHS Architecture released a new rendering for 26 North Street in Bayonne, featuring a 14-story residential building with 500 rental units, 6,929 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail, and parking spaces for 455 vehicles and 266 bicycles. The site is located adjacent to the 8th Street Station on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail. A completion date for the project has yet to be announced. 

Rendering of Embark at the Crossings in East Orange, NJ
Rendering of Embark at the Crossings in East Orange. Courtesy of Embark Apartments

EAST ORANGE—East Orange Unveils Embark Apartments: A Game-Changer for Urban Living 
Brian D Agnew, TAPinto East Orange | January 9, 2025 
East Orange announced Embark at the Crossings, a mixed-use development slated for completion by summer 2025. The project includes 400 residential units—80 designated as affordable—and ground-floor retail with tenants such as ShopRite, Dunkin’, and others. Located within a 4-minute walk to the NJ TRANSIT Brick Church Station, residents will have access to a 25-minute direct route to Penn Station on the Morristown Line. 


Transit and Equity News

Different aspects of 15-minute cities including access to transit, schools, grocery stores, commercial districts, and hospitals.
Courtesy of the city of Fort Collins, CO

From 15-Minute Cities to Freedom Cities, Urban Planners Need to Consider Our Narratives 
Katie Mulkowsky, Next City | January 14, 2025 
Katie Mulkowsky, a London-based urban planner, advocates for bridging political divides through strategic narratives that connect with diverse communities and draw lessons from past failures. She underscores the need to address local concerns, foster collaboration, and remain flexible in planning. Mulkowsky stresses that incremental, community-driven solutions are essential for navigating polarized debates and building sustainable, inclusive cities. 

Rendering of HollywoodHUB
Rendering of HollywoodHUB.

OREGON—BRIDGE JV to Kick Off $155M Affordable Portland Project 
Claudiu Tiganescu, Multi-Housing News | January 14, 2025 
BRIDGE Housing, the Portland Housing Bureau, and TriMet broke ground on HollywoodHUB, a transit-oriented affordable housing project in Portland, Oregon, set for completion by 2027. The 12-story development will feature 224 affordable units, with two-thirds reserved for those who earn below 60 percent AMI and the rest for below 30 percent AMI. Located at the Hollywood Transit Center, currently under renovation, the project will provide easy access to light rail service on three TriMet lines. 

Aerial photo of East Brunswick depicting a street with single-family housing.
Aerial photo of East Brunswick, NJ. Ungvar |Adobe Stock 

NEW JERSEY—First New Jersey Towns Opt to Move Forward With Affordable Housing Plans 
Mike Hayes, Gothamist | January 13, 2025 
New Jersey municipalities have begun passing resolutions on their state-mandated affordable housing targets ahead of the January 31 deadline. Several municipalities, including Barnegat, Berlin, and Collingswood, have accepted their assigned numbers from the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), while East Brunswick submitted its proposal for lowering its target from 314 to 265 units. Fair Share Housing Center Director Adam Gordons views this as a positive sign that towns are motivated to comply with the housing law. 


Regional and National TOD News

Aerial photo of Pacific Palisades with a large multi-family development and winding streets.
Pacific Palisades, California. Graham Goldman | Adobe Stock

CALIFORNIA—In a City of Sprawl, Wildfire Evacuation Is Getting Harder 
Linda Poon and Fola Akinnibi, Bloomberg | January 16, 2025 
Recent wildfires in California underscore the urgent need to address evacuation challenges in fire-prone areas, where gridlocked traffic, limited road access, and sprawling development hinder escape. Experts call for improved evacuation planning, including enhanced street connectivity and public transit usage, to ease congestion during emergencies. Long-term solutions, such as redesigning neighborhoods for better access, modeled after efforts in Virginia, aim to prevent future disasters and save lives. 

Rendering of the Midtown Bus Terminal.
Rendering of the Midtown Bus Terminal. Courtesy of Foster + Partners

NEW YORK and NEW JERSEY—Feds Award $1.89 Billion Loan to Port Authority for New Manhattan Bus Terminal 
Colleen Wilson, northjersey.com| January 14, 2025 
USDOT awarded a $1.89 billion loan to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to fund a new $10 billion Midtown Manhattan bus terminal. The $10 billion project will replace the outdated terminal. The project will replace the aging facility and serve 250,000 daily commuters, including NJ TRANSIT bus riders. The loan will be repaid through Port Authority revenue, tolls, and payments from New York City developments. Phase one of construction starts soon. 

An MBTA train entering Lowell Station.
llia2011|Wikimedia Commons

MASSACHUSETTS—Massachusetts Unveils $8 Billion Funding Plan for Public Transit 
Sri Taylor, Bloomberg | January 14, 2025 
Governor Maura Healey unveiled an $8 billion plan to improve the state’s aging roads, bridges, and public transit over the next decade, addressing a projected $700 million deficit for the MBTA. The plan includes $1.4 billion for MBTA commuter rail and subway upgrades, $2.5 billion for road and bridge repairs, and funding for congestion relief projects. Healey aims to close the MBTA’s budget gap, advance the West-East Rail project, and enhance transportation infrastructure by using funds from the state’s new millionaire’s tax. 

Planned routes in the 2050 Vision Investment. The routes extend throughout most cities in California and out to Los Vegas.
Planned routes in the 2050 Vision Investment. Courtesy of the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

CALIFORNIA—California Unveils $310B Passenger Rail Plan 
Dan Zukowski, Smart Cities Dive | January 13, 2025 
Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a $310 billion plan to create a fully connected, zero-emission passenger rail network by 2050, aiming to shift 200 million daily passenger miles from highways to rail throughout the state. The plan includes high-speed rail, electrified tracks, and hydrogen and battery-electric trains to reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. While ambitious, experts caution that past investments in rail have not always led to strong results. 

A jogger crossing an empty Manhattan Street.
Anthony Quintano | Flickr

NEW YORK—Less Traffic, Faster Buses: Congestion Pricing’s First Week 
Ana Ley, Winnie Hu, Keith Collins, The New York Times | January 13, 2025 
New York City’s congestion pricing program reduced traffic during its first week, with 43,800 fewer vehicles entering the zone daily, according to MTA data. Travel times through key bridges and tunnels, such as the Holland Tunnel, improved significantly, with average crossing times dropping by 63 percent. Buses saw a 6 percent ridership increase and faster travel times. While early results are promising, it’s too soon to fully gauge the long-term impact on traffic and public transit ridership. 

A mostly empty large parking lot.
klikk | Adobe Stock

What Happens When There Are Fewer Spaces to Park? 
Martha C. White, The New York Times | January 12, 2025 
Many U.S. cities are reducing or eliminating parking minimums to ease financial and spatial barriers to housing development and to reduce car dependency. While these changes have led to more affordable housing in places like Seattle and Buffalo, they have also sparked concerns about parking shortages and increased congestion. Critics argue that reducing parking requirements worsens traffic and inconveniences residents, while proponents contend that parking minimums hinder development and waste valuable urban space. 


International TOD News

Hammarby Sjöstad in Stockholm, Sweden. Courtesy of VisitStockholm

Why Transit-Oriented Development Is the Answer to Global Urban Sprawl 
Dikshu C Kukreja, Hindustan Times | January 13, 2025 
Urban sprawl, fueled by car-centric development, is a growing global issue, leading to traffic congestion, pollution, and social isolation. Dikshu Kukreja, a New Delhi architect and urbanist, argues that transit-oriented development (TOD) can address this by focusing growth around transportation hubs and promoting cleaner mobility and development patterns. Successful TOD projects, such as Canary Wharf, Arlington County, and Hammarby Sjöstad, demonstrate how this approach can foster sustainable, livable, and well-connected urban environments. 

Chart that shows global metro expansions in 2024 by country. China significantly outpaces every other country.
Courtesy of Yonah Freemark 

Transit Project Openings in 2025: A Global Review 
Yonah Freemark, The Transport Politic | January 13, 2025 
Global metro expansions added 800 miles of new lines in 2024, with China contributing to over two-thirds of the new services. Significant development also occurred in cities like Riyadh, Sydney, and Paris, while the United States showed some growth. In 2025, nearly 1,600 miles of new metro lines are expected, with continued expansion in China and India, and major new projects in cities like Toronto, Mumbai, and Porto. 

Rail Baltica will connect the Baltic states to Poland, and from there to west Europe. Courtesy of Rail Baltica
Courtesy of Rail Baltica

EUROPE—Ambitious High-Speed Rail Plans Advance in the Baltic Region 
Feargus O’Sullivan, Bloomberg | January 9, 2025 
The Rail Baltica project aims to create a high-speed railway linking the Baltic states to Poland, offering enhanced connectivity and strategic benefits. A key initiative for European integration and security, it will halve Baltic travel times and reduce Russian influence in the region’s transportation sector. However, the project faces significant delays, with completion now expected by 2030, and costs have risen from $6 billion to $15.7 billion.