NJ DCA launches NJHOMES for middle housing (right); NJDOT State Aid grant period opens; Austin streamlines density bonus program; Transit funding crisis; Parisian ecodistricts (left top-to-bottom)
Article of the Week
NJ Launches NJHOMES to Help Towns Design Equity Based Affordable Housing That Fits Local Character
Staff, Shore News Network | April 30, 2025
The NJ Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has launched NJHOMES, an initiative designed to help municipalities plan and implement affordable housing development that aligns with local character and community needs. Through NJHOMES, towns will receive training, technical assistance, and financial resources to explore a range of housing options, including duplexes and small apartment buildings.
NJ TOD News
As Strike Looms, N.J. Transit Riders Are Warned to Prepare for ‘Chaos’
Patrick McGeehan, The New York Times | April 30, 2025
NJ TRANSIT has advised riders to prepare for major disruptions as early as May 16 due to a potential strike by railroad engineers. The strike threat follows the union’s rejection of a proposed contract and ongoing disputes over wage increases. NJ TRANSIT CEO Kris Kolluri noted that expanded bus service could only absorb a small portion of train riders and urged commuters to make remote work arrangements where possible.
NEWARK—Newark Postpones 51-Story, 1,000-Unit Mulberry Street Project Amid Objections, Scheduling Conflicts
Nicole Zanchelli, TAPinto Newark | April 30, 2025
The Newark Planning Board has postponed its vote on the 51-story Mulberry Pointe development for a third time, citing ongoing legal objections and scheduling conflicts. The proposed project includes 1,008 residential units—more than 200 of them affordable—as well as ground-floor retail space. Located near Newark Penn Station and several NJ TRANSIT bus routes, the project’s next hearing is scheduled for May 13.
JERSEY CITY—Renderings Revealed for Second Phase of West Side Square in Jersey City
Chris Fry, Jersey Digs | April 28, 2025
Developers of Jersey City’s 477-unit West Side Square have released plans for a second phase that would add 357 units through the adaptive reuse a vacant factory building. The full project would bring the total to 834 units and include a new pedestrian plaza adjacent to the PATH rail line—which may create opportunities for a future PATH station.
Municipal Aid Applications Being Accepted for $150 Million in FY26 Grants
Staff, TheLinkNews | April 27, 2025
The Murphy Administration opened the FY2026 NJDOT State Aid grant application period for Municipal Aid, Transit Village, Bikeway, and Safe Streets to Transit programs, with $150 million available across all initiatives. Municipalities can apply through July 1, with awards expected in November.
NEW PROVIDENCE—Garden Communities: Pre-Leasing Underway at Providence Place in New Providence
Sandy Crisafulli, TAPinto New Providence | April 23, 2025
Garden Communities launched pre-leasing at Providence Place, a 192-unit housing development in New Providence. The development is located a half mile from NJ TRANSIT’s Murray Hill Station, which offers service on the Gladstone Branch of the Morris and Essex Lines.
Transit and Equity News
TEXAS—Density Bonus Programs Under Review to Address Affordability Needs, Market Conditions
Chad Swiatecki, Austin Monitor | May 2, 2025
The Austin Planning Department is revising density bonus programs to streamline affordable housing development. Revisions are already in progress for the University Neighborhood Overlay (UNO), East Riverside, and Downtown areas, with broader changes tied to the eTOD overlay expansion. These reforms aim to align zoning incentives with current development and transit goals.
CALIFORNIA—Race Is on to Shape Affordable Housing Near 17th Street/SMC Metro Station
Scott Snowden, Santa Monica Daily Press | April 30, 2025
LA Metro has received four proposals to transform land near the 17th Street/SMC Station in Santa Monica into affordable housing, with plans ranging from 180 to 347 units. A developer will be selected later this year, and construction is expected to begin by 2027.
CALIFORNIA and TEXAS—Housing More Than Twice as Expensive to Build in California as in Texas
Mary Salmonsen, Smart Cities Dive | April 25, 2025
A new RAND report finds that multifamily housing in California costs 2.3 times more to build than in Texas, driven by lengthy timelines, high development fees, and complex regulations. Projects in California average 49 months and $29,000 per unit in fees, compared to 27 months and less than $1,000 in Texas. RAND recommends streamlined approvals, reduced timelines, and regulatory reform to lower costs.
MONTANA—Montana’s Housing Miracle Strikes Twice
Danny Tenenbaum, Sightline | April 25, 2025
Montana has enacted a second major housing reform package aimed at increasing supply and affordability. The new laws eliminate parking minimums for most multifamily housing, ease zoning and building restrictions, limit impact fees, allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) statewide, and legalize single-stair buildings up to six stories.
Regional and National TOD News
MISSOURI—Riding the Rail of Change | KC Streetcar Extension’s Impact on Berkley Riverfront Neighborhood
Daniela Leon, KSHB | April 30, 2025
Kansas City’s 0.7-mile streetcar extension to Berkley Riverfront is set to open by early 2026, enhancing transit access to a rapidly growing neighborhood. The new line has already catalyzed investment, including new housing, retail, and a professional soccer stadium. Residents and planners view the extension as a pivotal moment for the city’s urban growth.
NEW YORK—The M.T.A. Gets $68 Billion in the State Budget. What Will Riders Get?
Stefanos Chen, The New York Times | April 29, 2025
The MTA will receive $68 billion over the next five years through the New York State budget to modernize aging infrastructure. However, $14 billion in federal funding—critical to several planned projects—is now in jeopardy due to opposition to Manhattan’s congestion pricing plan. Projects at risk include subway signal upgrades, accessibility improvements, and procurement of new train cars.
The Last Thing US Transit Agencies Should Do Now
David Zipper, Bloomberg | April 28, 2025
Transit agencies across the U.S. face steep service cuts as federal pandemic aid runs dry and operating costs rise. Experts warn that these reductions could push riders toward car ownership, undermining long-term ridership and increasing congestion. Advocates emphasize that service cuts should be a last resort, as reversing their effects is often difficult.
Transit Programs Approved by Voters Are Drawing Lawsuits
Robbie Sequeira, Stateline | April 23, 2025
Despite strong voter support, transit projects in Nashville, Phoenix, and Austin face legal challenges and zoning restrictions that are delaying or blocking implementation. Courts have questioned funding mechanisms, while land use constraints limit the reach and effectiveness of new transit investments. Experts call for better alignment between transit and land use policy to ensure project success.
International TOD News
MEXICO—Debate: Va y Ven Buses Are Wonderful, and in the Red
Lee Steele, Yucatán Magazine | May 1, 2025
Mérida’s Va y Ven transit system is at the center of political debate after posting a nearly $100 million deficit in 2024. Supporters, like disability advocate Charlie Lopez, argue the system delivers essential long-term benefits—including accessibility and lower pollution—while critics call for fare increases and service cuts to improve financial performance.
FRANCE—Fifteen Minute Cities from the Ground Up
Benjamin Schneider, The Urban Condition | April 29, 2025
Paris’s new Clichy-Batignolles neighborhood showcases the “15-minute city” concept through its car-free design, sustainable infrastructure, and mixed-income housing. Architect Michael Eliason contrasts this ecodistrict with U.S. transit-oriented developments, which he says often lack social and environmental ambition. His new book urges U.S. planners to adopt similar models.
MOROCCO—A Newly Extended High-Speed Rail Line Will Link Three of Morocco’s Most Spectacular Cities
Liv Kelly, Time Out Travel | April 28, 2025
Morocco is extending its Al Boraq high-speed rail line by 267 miles, connecting Tangier and Marrakech in under three hours—cutting travel time by two hours. Part of a $9.5 billion national rail plan, the expansion includes 168 new trains and an urban transit network. The project aims to improve connectivity, reduce pollution, and stimulate economic growth.