NJ gets creative with affordable housing (left); NJ TRANSIT plans additional service for FIFA World Cup; Transit agencies commit to equity despite budget woes; New Rochelle Transit Center undergoing redesign; Cable cars a success for Mexico City commuters (right: top-to-bottom)
Article of the Week
Can NJ Get Creative to Build More Affordable Housing?
Collean O’Dea, NJ Spotlight News, October 10 2024
In the latest installment of The Change Project, NJ Spotlight News senior writer Colleen O’Dea explores how California’s affordable housing model could serve as a valuable blueprint for addressing New Jersey’s critical shortage of affordable homes and low construction rates. New Jersey could draw inspiration from California’s plan to add 2.5 million homes over the next eight years by removing parking requirements near transit stations and permitting accessory dwelling units (ADUs) regardless of local zoning, supported by a new state office overseeing compliance with affordability quotas. O’Dea suggests that adopting a Statewide Housing Plan could help New Jersey guide its housing policy, similar to the initiatives that spurred California’s housing revival in 2022.
NJ TOD News
DUNELLEN—Taylor Architecture: Developer Lands Planning Board Approval for 62 Apartments in Dunellen
Joshua Burd, Real Estate NJ, October 15 2024
The Dunellen Planning Board approved a new mixed-use building at 431-441 North Avenue, a quarter mile from the town’s train station. The development comprises 62 apartments, with nine of the units reserved as affordable housing. Designed by Italo Teixeira of Taylor Architecture, it is the second Taylor Architecture mixed-use development approved for construction in the area within the past month. The previous project offered 50 residences, including seven affordable units.
LONG BRANCH—Big Changes Coming to Long Branch: Train Station Upgrades & Major Infrastructure Projects Ahead!
Staff, TAPinto Long Branch, October 15 2024
At their most recent council meeting, Long Branch outlined plans for transit and infrastructure improvements across various projects. Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. announced federal funding for the construction of a $26.4 million pedestrian tunnel connecting the east and west sides of the city. This project will also enhance the station’s commuter parking lot and add new bus platforms. Additionally, the city secured funding through the NJ TRANSIT Village program for improvements near the train station and passed an ordinance to allocate nearly $5 million to address critical
infrastructure needs.
NEWARK—Newark Mayor Baraka Announces New Jersey Future ‘Smart Growth Award’ for Innovative Mixed Affordable Housing, Health Care
Michael Ottone, Tapinto Newark, October 15 2024
Mayor Ras J. Baraka announced that 20 Littleton Avenue in Newark received a Smart Growth Award from New Jersey Future for sustainable growth and redevelopment. The mixed-use building, developed in partnership with University Hospital, features health care services on the first floor, 78 units of affordable housing, including for homeless individuals, and bus access to several lines. Baraka proposed that 20 Littleton Avenue serve as a model for affordable housing integrated with a health care facility that could be replicated across the state.
NJ Transit Takes Major Step Forward with Its Plans to Move Fans to the World Cup Finals
Larry Higgs, NJ.com, October 11 2024
NJ TRANSIT has approved construction of a 7-mile bus rapid transit system to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Transitway will connect Secaucus Junction Station to MetLife Stadium, with the capacity to transport up to 12,000 people per hour, complementing the existing rail line serving the Meadowlands sports complex. Funded by the Federal Transit Administration, this will be New Jersey’s first bus rapid transit system, slated for completion by Spring 2026.
Transit and Equity News
Transit Agencies Document Equity Efforts in APTA Report
Dan Zukowski, SmartCitiesDive, October 15 2024
Despite a decline in overall transit ridership since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, low-income communities and communities of color continue to rely heavily on transit services. A new APTA report highlights how various transit agencies are addressing equity even in the face of service cuts. For example, the Chicago Transit Authority hired a dedicated equity executive, and several municipalities have initiated transit-oriented housing development programs. The report recommends that transit providers strengthen equity by creating an equity mission statement, training staff to integrate equity into all planning processes, and implementing community-centered initiatives.
MINNESOTA—When You Know Better, Do Better
Erik Hansen, LinkedIn, October 12 2024
In this Linkedin post, Erik Hansen, Minneapolis’s Director of Community Planning and Economic Development, discusses how community development practices have evolved throughout his career. Development once followed a top-down approach, benefiting stakeholders such as developers, bankers, public funders, and accepted community leaders. However, this has shifted to a more inclusive, community-oriented approach. Recent initiatives, like the Peoples’ Way project at George Floyd Square, demonstrate this change by prioritizing community visioning and bottom-up decision-making over conventional development methods.
2025: An Inflection Point for the Multifamily Market
Lee Everett, Urban Land, October 2 2024
Lee Everett, head of research and strategy at Cortland, a multifamily development and management firm based in Atlanta, analyzes housing market trends and predicts that 2025 will be a pivotal year for the multifamily housing market as it rebounds from a post-COVID lull. He cites declining federal interest rates and high labor participation among Gen Z, enabling them to form households faster than previous generations, as key factors driving strong market projections for apartments and multifamily housing. Additionally, Moody’s forecasts indicate that 2024 will close out as the sixth-strongest year for multifamily housing demand since 2000, with 2025 expected to rank fourth.
Regional and National TOD News
MASSACHUSETTS—State v. Town of Milton as Mass. Top Court Hears Arguments in MBTA Zoning Fight
Avery Bleichfeld, The Bay State Banner, October 16 2024
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court heard arguments regarding the State’s ability to compel the Town of Milton to comply with the MBTA Communities Act, which mandates increased multifamily housing near public transit. Despite town voters rejecting a proposed zoning district, Attorney General Andrea Campbell asserted that the law’s directive of “shall” signifies a legal obligation. The court’s decision will impact the future zoning decisions of the 130 MBTA communities that have until the end of the year to adopt plans creating the required transit districts.
UTAH—Clearfield Station Development Progressing with Opening of Park; Mixed-Use Space Coming Soon
Rob Nielsen, Standard Examiner, October 16 2024
A mixed-use project, developed by Clearfield City and the Utah Transit Authority, is underway next to the Clearfield FrontRunner station. Mayor Mark Shepherd announced that the City proactively funded essential infrastructure, including roads and the completion of Tower Park, which features a play structure, pavilions, and public restrooms. The plans call for two mixed-use buildings with 213 residential units, a 1-acre public plaza, and 14,000 sq ft. of retail space. With the infrastructure in place, the project is now ready to move forward with building construction.
NEW YORK—Cost of Transportation in NYC Soaring… Because of Cars
Gersh Kuntzman, Streetsblog NYC, October 16 2024
Transportation costs for the average household in the NYC metropolitan area have increased by more than 39 percent since 2020, with a new report from New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli pointing to increased car ownership as the main factor. From 2019 to 2023, the cost of buying and fueling a car rose by 72 percent, while transit costs grew by only 28.7 percent. During this time, more households acquired at least one vehicle, and reliance on public transportation for commuting declined. Despite this, 48 percent of NYC households still use public transit for commuting, significantly higher than the national average of less than 4 percent.
CALIFORNIA—Muni Crosses Half-Million Monthly Rider Average for First Time Since 2020
James Salazar, San Francisco Examiner, October 12 2024
San Francisco’s Muni averaged 521,050 weekday riders in September, the highest since February 2020. SMFTA director Jeffrey Tumlin credits a “dramatic increase in noncommute ridership.” With commuter numbers still below pre-COVID levels due to work-from-home trends, Muni shifted its focus to promoting transit for social outings, shopping, and events. Tumlin says the next step to boost ridership is improving service reliability, which depends on an election day proposition to tax rideshare companies to fund Muni operations.
NEW YORK—New Rochelle Unveils Plans for Transit Centre Redesign
Staff, SmartCitiesWorld, October 11 2024
New Rochelle released a design concept for updating its transit center to align with the city’s downtown redevelopment strategy. Designed by FXCollaborative in consultation with Amtrak, Metro North Railroad, and Westchester County, the transit center will feature sustainable building practices, green public spaces, and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. This redesign is part of a broader zoning initiative enabling up to 12 million sq. ft. of new development, including 6,370 housing units and 1 million sq. ft. of retail. The New Rochelle Transit Center also anticipates increased ridership from the MTA Penn Station Access project, which will create a new connecting line from New Rochelle to Penn Station by 2027.
International TOD News
KENYA—Poor Ranking a Wake-Up Call for Urban Reform
Pauline Ongaji, Nation, October 15 2024
With no African cities making the top 20 on the Global Liveability Index 2024, Pauline Ongaji highlights the challenges faced by Nairobi, Kenya’s capital and economic hub. She explores the infrastructural and institutional obstacles that hinder its livability ranking, including an outdated sewage system strained by rapid urbanization, poorly maintained roads, and an underfunded, dysfunctional public transit system. Ongaji concludes that Nairobi must critically reassess its city planning and use the Global Liveability Index 2024 as a call to action for urgent reforms.
SOUTH AFRICA—Government Wants Cars OFF South African Roads in 2025
Ray Leathern, The South African, October 15 2024
South Africa is taking steps to address road congestion by enhancing public transportation and encouraging fewer commuters to rely on private vehicles. In Cape Town, 80 percent of commuters currently opt for private cars or minibus taxis, with only 7.9 percent using mass transit options like buses or passenger rail. This trend is evident in other major cities as well. Government officials hope that initiatives like the MyCiti Southeast corridor expansion of the Cape Town bus rapid transit system will expand the user base and alleviate road strain. Also see: Motorists urged to make a shift from private cars to public transport
MEXICO—The Cable Bus Transformed Commutes in Mexico City’s Populous Outskirts
Alex Vasquez, Bloomberg, October 10 2024
In 2021, Mexico City unveiled the Cablebus, a cable car transportation system made to traverse the steep terrain and narrow streets that traditional forms of mass transit find difficult. Since then, it has halved commute times for residents living in isolated neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city and produced infrastructural improvements and new development in areas near the stations. Last month, Mexico City inaugurated their third Cablebus line connecting the southwest of the city to the city center and has already pledged to start planning for a fourth line soon.