NJ TRANSIT-Amtrak partnership yields result (left); Gateway Project makes waves; ‘City of Yes’ moves forward; Honolulu TOD underway; Paris plants trees in parking lots (right top-to-bottom)
Article of the Week
Massive Amtrak, NJ Transit Repairs Are Paying Off: Gov. Murphy
Eric Kiefer, Patch | November 19, 2024
Recent collaborations between NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak to address the delays that plagued the spring and summer of 2024 received praise from Governor Phil Murphy. The agencies collaborated on transit improvements, such as extensive track and equipment inspections and rail infrastructure modernization. A recently announced $444 million federal grant from the Federal Railroad Administration for the Northeast Corridor Program will support future projects in the Northeast Corridor Program.
NJ TOD News
400-Foot-Long Bridge Arch Floats Through N.J. River. This Is Where It’s Headed.
Larry Higgs, NJ.com | November 20, 2024
Three drawbridges in Jersey City opened simultaneously to allow a 2,500-ton steel arch section of the new Portal North Bridge to pass beneath. The bridge, part of the $1.6 billion Gateway project, will replace a 114-year-old swing bridge and improve rail service for Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT commuters. Work on the bridge is expected to be completed by 2027, with the first track potentially opening in 2026.
IRVINGTON—The Woman Behind Irvington, NJ’s $100 Million Affordable Housing Project
Mike Hayes, Gothamist | November 19, 2024
Nana Duncan, a high school counselor turned real estate developer, has redeveloped over 500,000 sq. ft. of blighted property and recently broke ground on a $100 million affordable housing project in Irvington, NJ. The project will provide 240 low- and medium-income units on a site vacant for decades. Having witnessed the toll that housing insecurity took on students, Duncan shifted careers to address the problem through real estate development.
Cautious Optimism: Developers, Advocates Say New DCA Guidance Brings Much-Needed Structure to Affordable Housing Debate
Joshua Burd, Real Estate NJ | November 18, 2024
New Jersey’s updated affordable housing guidelines have sparked cautious optimism among developers and officials despite financial, legal, and political challenges. Stakeholders emphasize collaboration and point to state and federal programs that support affordable housing projects. While municipal legal challenges threaten delays, many believe the guidelines could foster a more rational approach to housing affordability.
These U.S. Cities Have the Best Public Transportation
Evie Carrick, Travel and Leisure | November 13, 2024
Walk Score, a subsidiary of Redfin, ranked New York City first, and Jersey City and Newark, fourth and seventh, respectively, in its recent analysis of public transportation in 130 U.S. cities. Using 2021 data, Walk Score ranked cities and their transit systems on factors such as affordability, capacity, route frequency, stop distances, and transit modes, giving more weight to trains than buses.
Transit and Equity News
NEW YORK—N.Y.C. Housing Plan Moves Forward With an Unexpected $5 Billion Boost
Emma Fitzsimmons and Mihir Zaveri, New York Times | November 21, 2024
The NYC City Council’s Land Use Committee approved the “City of Yes” plan in an 8-2 vote, with changes including $5 billion for infrastructure, tenant protections, and a housing capital fund. Additionally, the plan now retains parking mandates in some parts of the city and removes TOD density requirements in single-family zones . The full Council will vote on December 5th.
Planning for True Transportation Affordability: Beyond Common Misconceptions
Todd Litman, Planetizen | November 21, 2024
Todd Litman’s report, Evaluating Transportation Affordability, highlights the burden of high transportation costs on low-income households, which restricts access to essential services. It critiques measures like reducing fuel taxes or tolls for offering minimal savings. Instead, Litman calls for policies that promote affordable, multimodal transport and compact housing, emphasizing reduced automobile dependence and efficient alternatives as keys to true affordability.
NEW YORK—An Affordable Housing Project Faced a Huge Backlash. It Won Anyway.
Mihir Zaveri, New York Times | November 19, 2024
At West 108th Street in Manhattan, a 200-unit low-income housing complex for the formerly homeless replaced a city-owned parking garage. Despite a well-funded opposition that claimed that the project would increase traffic and disturb a local middle school, the project succeeded. Key to its success—public subsidies, wide community support, and importantly, a nonprofit developer with a local track record.
CALIFORNIA—Affordable Housing Community Opens in East L.A. Along Metro E Line
Travis Schlepp, KTLA | November 15, 2024 Los Angeles officials and community leaders celebrated the opening of the 64-unit Los Lirios affordable housing complex in Boyle Heights. Developed through a partnership between LA Metro and Bridge Housing, Los Lirios offers residents easy access to the adjacent LA Metro E Line Soto Station. The complex comprises 43 units reserved for families earning between 30 and 50 percent AMI, 21 units designated as supportive housing for previously homeless individuals, and 2,400 sq. ft. of ground floor commercial space.
Regional and National TOD News
COLORADO—Governor Polis Announces Vision to Reduce GHG Emissions From the Transportation Sector by 2035, Expanding Transportation Options to Save Coloradans Time and Money
Press Release, Office of the Governor | November 19, 2024
Governor Jared Polis introduced the Colorado Transportation Vision: 2035, a plan to reduce transportation-induced air pollution, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and increase affordability. The plan emphasizes expanding transit options, adding bike lanes, and building more transit-oriented development. Key goals include doubling non-auto transportation trips, increasing transit service miles by 83 percent, and locating 52 percent of new housing in transit-oriented areas.
NEW YORK—Car-Free Streets Are Good for Business, Yet Another Report Shows
Sophia Lebowitz, Streetsblog NYC | November 18, 2024
NYC Planning’s new report, Storefront Activity in NYC Neighborhoods, shows that car-free designs boost local businesses, with open streets having lower storefront vacancy rates than car-filled areas. In residential neighborhoods with high remote work rates, open streets can revitalize communities by serving as hubs for professionals working from home. Advocates urge continued City support for pedestrian-focused spaces, citing their economic and social benefits.
NEW YORK—New York’s Transit Agency Approves $9 Congestion Toll
Michelle Kaske, Bloomberg | November 18, 2024
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) approved Governor Kathy Hochul’s updated NYC congestion pricing plan. Starting January 2025, cars entering below 60th Street in Manhattan will face a $9 toll, increasing to $12 in 2028 and $15 in 2031. Officials project the toll will generate $15 billion for transit infrastructure upgrades. The plan awaits Federal Highway Administration approval and faces opposition from President-Elect Donald Trump and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.
1 in 10 Americans Rarely or Never Drive a Car
Katherine Schaeffer, Pew Research Center | November 14, 2024
A new Pew Research Center survey found that 10 percent of U.S. adults are non-drivers, influenced by factors like location, income, and race. Remote work contributes to this trend, with 14 percent of Americans working from home, according to the 2023 American Community Survey. New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey have the highest rates of non-car commuters among states.
HAWAII—City Receives $2 Million Federal Transit Grant to Advance Transit-Oriented Development and Affordable Housing Planning in Iwilei-Kapālama Corridor
Scott Humber, City and County of Honolulu | November 14, 2024
The City and County of Honolulu secured a $2 million Federal Transit Administration grant to advance transit-oriented development (TOD) around Skyline stations. Opened in 2023, Skyline, Hawaii’s first passenger rail system, offers rapid transit in Honolulu. The funding will support TOD plans, including affordable housing and efforts to preserve Iwilei-Kapālama, a historically underserved community facing economic and environmental challenges.
PENNSYLVANIA—SEPTA Advances Trolley Modernization Project with Federal Funding
Kristin Hunt, PhillyVoice | October 31, 2024
SEPTA secured a $460,000 federal grant to advance its trolley modernization project, focusing on replacing aging cars and enhancing accessibility along the Route 10 line. The grant will fund a study on transit-oriented development and potential line expansion to support affordable housing and equitable growth in West Philadelphia. However, with a $240 million deficit, SEPTA will seek additional federal funding to sustain the project.
International TOD News
FRANCE—Paris to Replace Parking Spaces with Trees
Feargus O’Sullivan, Bloomberg | November 18, 2024
The 2024-2030 Climate Plan for Paris aims to remove 60,000 parking spaces by 2030, replacing them with trees and green spaces to combat climate change and enhance urban resilience. The plan calls for expanding green areas, creating pedestrian zones, and addressing extreme heat with cooling centers and reflective roofs. It also seeks to reduce car traffic by establishing a car-free core and dedicating lanes to public transit.
MALAYSIA—TSLAW Land Unveils Latest Transit-Oriented Project in Jalan Ampang, KL
Chin Wai Lun, The Edge Malaysia | November 18, 2024
TSLAW Land unveiled its Skyline Embassy project in Kuala Lumpur, featuring 1,296 units across three towers. Tenants will have access to the nearby Ampang Park LRT and MRT stations, as well as commercial and healthcare facilities. TSLAW Land also plans future TOD projects, including a 25-acre mixed-use development next to the Kuchai MRT station.
GHANA—Why Ghana’s Public Transportation System Is an Absolute Mess
Abubakari Sadiq Samari, Modern Ghana | November 15, 2024
Ghanaian automotive journalist Sadiq Samari critiques the nation’s reliance on overcrowded minibuses and an aging rail system, with only 13 percent of tracks operational. He highlights the insufficient road network for the growing population and calls for rigorous vehicle inspections, improved driver training, and rail network redevelopment to address these challenges.