Christie Administration
designates
Summit as newest Transit
Village
Program promotes
mixed-use development and
Complete
Streets accommodations near transit
facilities
(Trenton) -
The Christie Administration today
announced that the City of Summit has
been accepted into the Transit Village
program which promotes mixed-use development
and Complete Streets accommodations
near transit facilities. With the designation,
Summit (Union County) becomes the 27
th municipality to be accepted into the
Transit Village program statewide.
The City of Summit is advancing a
detailed planning process that aims
to revitalize its central retail business
district through a master plan promoting
mixed-use development and full access
to their public transportation facilities.
The Transit Village initiative creates
safe, walkable and enjoyable communities
by accentuating and improving on existing
transportation assets, said NJDOT
Commissioner James Simpson. I commend
the City of Summit for applying the
ideals of smart growth and Complete
Streets to their future development.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation-administered
Transit Village program provides participating
towns with planning expertise and
grant opportunities to redevelop land
near train or other transit facilities
in a way that promotes economic activity
and the use of public transportation.
All Transit Village proposals must
include residential components.
We are extremely excited about the
Transit Village designation, said
Summit Mayor Ellen Dickson. It will
identify the city as a well-planned
transit- and pedestrian-friendly community
where smart development is encouraged,
creating a livelier downtown and bringing
many new residents into the surrounding
area.
The entire downtown area in Summit
was recently designated a historic
district. In addition to mixed-use
development, the Summit proposal includes
plans to promote all modes of transportation including
the use of bicycles consistent with
Complete Streets principles that encourage
the safe accommodation of all users
of streets and roads. The City is
planning to add bicycle racks in the
transit village area and bicycle lockers
at the train station and is planning
improvements to the Village Green,
which will redirect paths and enhance
lighting to improve access for pedestrians.
The City is also planning bump-outs,
signage, on-street parking, and striping
to calm traffic.
The goals of the zoning and development
regulations within Summit's master
plan encourage an urban form that
has pedestrian friendly goals and
supports transit-oriented development
in the existing central business district,
near the NJ TRANSIT Morristown/Gladstone
train station. Two regional bus lines
connect Summit with the Irvington
Bus Terminal and Newark Penn Station.
Transit Village designation provides:
- State of New Jersey commitment
to the municipality's redevelopment
vision
- Coordination among ten
State agencies that comprise
the Transit Village Task Force
and technical assistance from
state agencies
- Priority consideration
for certain funding opportunities
New Jersey's first Transit Village
was designated in 1999. The roster
now includes Pleasantville, Morristown,
Rutherford, South Amboy, South Orange,
Riverside, Rahway, Metuchen, Belmar,
Collingswood, Bloomfield, Bound Brook,
Cranford, Matawan, New Brunswick,
Journal Square/Jersey City, Netcong,
Elizabeth City, Burlington City, Orange,
Somerville, Montclair, Linden, West
Windsor, East Orange, Dunellen and
now Summit.
The Department has allocated a $1
million Line Item in the Fiscal Year
2014 Capital Program provide dedicated
f unding to local governments that
have been selected for inclusion in
the state Transit Village Program.
Applications are now being accepted
by NJDOT through September 20, 2013
for FY 14 grants. Last year, five
Transit Village municipalities shared
$1 million for improvement projects.
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