Gov. Murphy’s tax plan boosts NJ TRANSIT with $800M yearly (left); Kean University revitalizes Trenton neighborhood; Colorado law pushes housing near transit and cuts parking needs; The Bronx set for 7,500 homes, 10,000 jobs near Metro-North; Pune, India: Local Area Plan promotes denser housing (right top-to-bottom)
Article of the Week
NJ Corporate Tax Approved, Which Could Give NJ Transit $800 million Amid Budget Woes
Colleen Wilson, North Jersey, June 28 2024
Governor Murphy’s new corporate tax proposal, set to provide NJ TRANSIT with $800 million annually for five years, has been approved by the state legislature. Unlike Gov. Murphy’s original plan, the negotiated deal includes a five-year expiration date for the 2.5 percent tax on corporations earning over $10 million, retroactively starting January 1, 2024. Transit advocates welcomed this funding for NJ Transit, which will help the agency recover from the financial impacts of COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are concerns that the date could lead to a future budget crisis, while business advocates argue the tax will hurt economic growth.
NJ TOD News
JERSEY CITY—Journal Square Resurgence Continues as Developers, Jersey City Officials Break Ground on Ambitious New Project
Al Sullivan, TAP into Jersey City, July 3 2024
Developer Nasser Freres has initiated an ambitious project near the Journal Square transit hub in Jersey City. The proposed development will feature a 28-story tower with 622 rental homes and commercial space. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop highlighted this as a key part of Journal Square’s resurgence, emphasizing the area’s transformation into a vibrant center for living, working, and playing.
TRENTON—Kean University Announces Federally Funded Trenton Neighborhood Revitalization Project
Staff Writer, InsiderNJ, July 1 2024
Kean University has announced a $750,000 federally funded project to revitalize the Coalport neighborhood, near the Trenton Transit Center. The two-year initiative, led by the John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research and the Michael Graves College School of Public Architecture, will focus on new housing, economic opportunities, and public spaces. U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, who secured the congressional appropriation, emphasized the project’s community-driven approach.
Transit and Equity News
COLORADO—Colorado Takes a New–And Likely More Effective – Approach to the Housing Crisis
Brian J. Connolly, The Conversation US, July 5 2024
To address the rising housing crisis, Colorado has enacted new legislation aimed at increasing housing affordability. Governor Jared Polis signed bills requiring more apartments and condominiums near transit stations and allowing accessory dwelling units in large cities. These measures, combined with the removal of minimum parking requirements and preempting local rules against living with roommates, aim to boost housing supply and reduce costs. This approach positions Colorado as a leader in addressing the nationwide housing shortage.
DELAWARE—Delaware Developers are Rehabbing Vacant Homes for the Middle Class
Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza, WHYY, July 1 2024
Developers like Charly Bass Davis are transforming Wilmington’s East Side neighborhood, by rehabbing vacant homes on Bennet Street, close to the city’s downtown. With support from the Delaware Catalyst Fund and construction loans from nonprofit Cinnaire, Bass Davis aims to complete and sell five affordable single-family homes to middle-class workers by the end
of the year. This initiative, as part of a larger statewide program
driven by COVID-19 relief funds, addresses the gap between
rehab costs and home values to rebuild communities facing displacement.
Car-centered Cities Add Stress to Care-centered Trips
Kea Wilson, Greater Greater Washington, July 1 2024
New research highlights the challenges that America’s car-centric cities impose on women who manage most care-related travel. The study, led by Kea Wilson from the University of Michigan, showcases how women disproportionately handle household-serving trips, increasing stress and reducing happiness. Wilson argues for a paradigm shift in transportation planning, aiming for less car-dependency, safety-first policies like Safe Routes to School, and improved public transit to ease caregivers’ burdens.
Regional and National TOD News
NEW YORK—Bronx Metro–North Station Rezoning Plan Approved by City Planning Commission
Aaron Ginsburg, 6sqft, July 2 2024
The City Planning Commission has approved the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan, aiming to create 7,500 new homes and 10,000 jobs around four new Metro-North stations in the East Bronx. The rezoning targets 46 blocks around stations planned for Co-op City, Hunts Point, Morris Park, and Parkchester/Van Nest, expected to be completed by 2027. The plan is now awaiting City Council approval this summer. This initiative is part of Mayor Eric Adams’ administration’s efforts to boost housing and job opportunities throughout the borough.
NORTH CAROLINA—GoTriangle Receives $25 million Federal Grant to Build New Transit Hub in RTP
Staff Writer, WTVD, June 30 2024
GoTriangle has secured a $25 million federal grant to enhance regional connectivity with the opening of a new multimodal transit center, the Triangle Mobility Hub. The $58.3 million project will be located at NC Highway 54 and the railroad corridor, aiming to provide efficient bus services, including electric bus-charging infrastructure and improved paratransit facilities. This initiative is expected to generate $270 million in economic returns over the next 30 years and reduce fossil fuel emissions by decreasing car travel on I-40. This new center will potentially serve up to 55,000 commuters.
CALIFORNIA—Costco’s Bold New Plan for the California Housing Crisis
Farley Elliott, SFGATE, June 26 2024
Costco is taking action to address California’s housing crisis with an innovative mixed-use development in South Los Angeles. Partnering with Thrive Living, Costco’s new project at 5035 Coliseum St, will feature 800 residential units, including 184 reserved units for low-income tenants. This bold move combines retail and housing, aiming to provide affordable living spaces in a transit-friendly location. If successful, this model could set a new standard for urban development.
International TOD News
INDIA—Pune Metro: PMC Preparing LAP for Areas Within 500 Metres of Four Stations
Siddharth Gadkari, Hindustan Times, July 4 2024
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is preparing a Local Area Plan (LAP) for areas within 500 meters of four metro stations to encourage commercial and residential activities. The plan includes offering incentives like additional Floor Space Index (FSI) and allowing changes from residential to commercial use to promote transit-oriented development. The PMC aims to complete this plan within a 10-month deadline, incorporating feedback from key stakeholders.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO—Kinshasa, a Megacity of Traffic Jams, Potholes, Transit Chaos
AFP, Tuko, July 2 2024
Kinsasha, with its 17 million inhabitants, faces daily traffic chaos due to the lack of a viable public transit system. Residents like Viviane Yuka endure long, unpredictable commutes, often squeezed into overcrowded minibuses known as the “Spirit of Death”. Although infrastructure projects such as a cable car, urban rail link, and ring road have been proposed, progress remains slow, and many initiatives have yet to start.
CANADA—New Zoning Bylaw Adopted by City of Vernon to Align with Provincial Legislation
Connor McDowell, Castanet, June 30 2024
The City of Vernon has adopted a new zoning bylaw to align with provincial legislation, requiring 10-story buildings in designated transit-oriented areas. Mainly focused within and around Village Green Centre Exchange and Downtown Exchange, local officials aim to address housing shortages and reimagine commercial and mixed-use developments. The city raced to comply with the provincial deadline, completing the work in just three months instead of the usual two years.