Statement of Qualification for Transit Village Designation
Revised November 2012

Introduction
Thank you for your interest in the Transit Village Initiative and Transit Village designation.  For a municipality to be considered for designation, all the criteria must be addressed and this form must be completed and returned to the NJ Department of Transportation (NJDOT). The Transit Village Task Force will determine if all the criteria have been satisfactorily addressed.  They are as follows: 

1.	   Attend a pre-application meeting  
2.	   Identify existing transit that serves the municipality 
3.	   Demonstrate municipal willingness to grow around the transit facility in a transit-supportive manner 
4.	   Adopt a transit-oriented development (TOD) redevelopment plan and/or   TOD zoning ordinance which includes a residential component
5.	   Identify individual sites where TOD real estate projects are anticipated
6.	   Identify bicycle and pedestrian improvements 
7.	   Identify “Placemaking” efforts near transit  
	
	For additional guidance in meeting the criteria, refer to the “Transit Village Criteria and Scoring Guide” at www.state.nj.us/transportation/community/village.

Note that designations are made at the discretion of the Transit Village Task Force and NJDOT Commissioner.  The number of designations may be limited by the capacity of the State of New Jersey to accommodate and financially support additional Transit Villages.  While the receipt of funding is not guaranteed, once designated, a municipality is eligible for technical assistance and priority consideration from many of the agencies that make up the Task Force.   

Directions
1.	To apply for Transit Village designation, a municipality must complete this “Statement of Qualification” and return it to NJDOT.  An electronic version of this application form is available at www.state.nj.us/transportation/community/village.

2.	There are three parts to this Statement of Qualification: A, B and C. Be sure to answer all questions and supply all required maps, resolutions and ordinances, etc.  
3.	In order to make answers easy to read, please bold answers or otherwise differentiate them from the questions.  
4.	Regarding maps, consider carefully how this information is presented and organized so it is easy to understand. Common online electronic maps (i.e., Google maps) may be used. Include a graphic scale whenever possible.  
5.	For adopted master plans and ordinances that are located on a municipal website, it is sufficient to provide a link to that document, providing that the application directs the reader to the appropriate section or page. 
6.	You may submit paper or electronic submissions; however, electronic submissions are preferred.  Email your electronic submission to Transit.Village@dot.state.nj.us .  If submitting paper applications or CDs, provide 10 copies and mail to:   
					
					Transit Village Coordinator
					NJDOT
					P.O.  Box 600
					1035 Parkway Avenue
					Trenton, NJ  08625 
     
7.	There is no deadline for submission. Applications will be accepted at any time.  
8.	Upon receipt of a complete submission, the Transit Village Coordinator will forward the application to the Transit Village Task Force for review and discussion. If the Task Force finds that the Transit Village Criteria have satisfactorily been met, a recommendation for designation will be forwarded to the NJDOT Commissioner.  If the application was found unsatisfactory, you will be notified.   
9.	If you have any other questions, contact the Transit Village Coordinator, at  Transit.Village@dot.state.nj.us or 609-530-2884. 

Municipal Contact Information:
Municipality / County:		

Person Responsible for Preparing this Form: 
Phone:
Email:

Primary Contact Person: 
Phone:
Email:

Municipal Planner:  
Phone:
Email:

PART A - Meeting the Transit Village Criteria

1.	ATTEND a  PRE-APPLICATION MEETING 
a. Before applying for Transit Village designation, a municipality must have had a pre-application with the NJDOT Transit Village Coordinator no more than six months prior to submitting this application.  Provide the date of the pre-application meeting.   
Answer  

2.	IDENTIFY EXISTING TRANSIT that SERVES the MUNICIPALITY 
a. List and describe modes of transit that currently serve the community and the transit village district. What steps has the municipality taken to integrate these modes in order to help transit riders easily transfer from one to another?     
Answer 

3.	DEMONSTRATE MUNICIPAL WILLINGNESS to GROW around a TRANSIT FACILITY in a TRANSIT-SUPPORTIVE MANNER  
a.	To be considered for designation, the governing body must demonstrate its commitment to growth in jobs, housing and population within the transit village district.  Provide a copy of an adopted Transit Village Resolution (See Appendix A at the back of this document for sample resolution.)
Answer 

b.	Describe and document the visioning process, with stakeholder engagement, for the transit village district. 
Answer  

c.	Identify or provide sections of the adopted master plan that articulate the municipal plan for growing around the transit facility in a transit-supportive manner.   
Answer 

d.	Provide a map indicating the proposed limits of the transit village district (no further than a half-mile radius from transit facility) .  Describe the rationale for the district limits.  
Answer 

e. Provide a current zoning map identifying all the current zones in the transit village district along with the applicable zoning codes and land development ordinances. 
Answer

4.	ADOPT a TOD REDEVELOPMENT PLAN and/or TOD ZONING ORDINANCE which includes a RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT

a.  List and describe all adopted TOD redevelopment plans and/or TOD zoning ordinances in the transit village district that call for compact, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly, transit-supportive development, with a residential component at a scale and intensity appropriate for the area. Provide copies of, or link to, the adopted documents.     
Answer
 
b. Provide a map clearly indicating the location and limits of any adopted TOD redevelopment plans and/or TOD zoning ordinances. 
Answer  
c. Provide copies of, or links to, the transit-supportive site design guidelines that have been enacted for the transit village district.   
Answer 
d. Provide copies of, or links to, the transit-supportive architectural design guidelines that have been enacted for the transit village district.  
Answer 

e. List and describe the transit-supportive parking measures enacted for the transit village district, such as a parking management system and/or parking requirements. Provide documentation.  
Answer

5.	IDENTIFY INDIVIDUAL SITES where TOD REAL ESTATE PROJECTS are ANTICIPATED 
a.	List each individual TOD real estate project that is anticipated or envisioned for the transit village district.  Describe each site and project  (block, lot, address, acreage, current use, ownership, existing zoning, proposed development, etc.) Provide an accompanying map with project locations.       
Answer 

b. From the list of potential projects [from (a) above], identify which have already been submitted to the planning/zoning board for approvals and, for all other sites, summarize the proactive steps taken by municipal representatives to help move the projects along.     
Answer 

c. List and describe the existing and proposed affordable housing efforts in the transit village district. Provide a map showing the locations. Describe the municipality’s history with the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and meeting its affordable housing obligation. In addition, the following statement must be added to the land development regulations for the transit village district. 

“All new development within the transit village district shall adhere to the affordable housing requirements of the State of New Jersey that are in place at the time the development receives municipal site plan approvals.” 
       
Answer 

6.	IDENTIFY BICYCLE and PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS 
a. What formal commitment has the municipality made to improve the general bicycle and pedestrian friendliness of the transit village district? Identify the adopted municipal documents (municipal policies, redevelopment objectives, bike-pedestrian master plan, complete streets policy, etc.) and submit copies for review.  
Answer 

b. What bicycle and/or pedestrian infrastructure projects has the municipality implemented in the transit village district?   
Answer 

c. What bicycle and/or pedestrian infrastructure projects has the municipality planned for the transit village district?  Provide plans, funding sources and timelines for completion.       
Answer

d. What type of amenities are currently available for bicycles, bicyclists and/or pedestrians at or near the transit facility? What physical barriers currently exist that make walking or biking to the transit facility from outlying neighborhoods difficult? What steps could the municipality take to increase the number of households that could walk or bike to the transit facility? 
Answer 

7.	IDENTIFY “PLACEMAKING” EFFORTS near TRANSIT  

Note:  A municipality must satisfy (a) and (b) below, and at least two from (c) through (f) below.  

a. List and describe existing and/or planned public amenities at the transit facility that were initiated by the municipality.  Examples are: park or plaza with seating, civic building, sculpture or statue, ornamental clock, fountain, memorial, information kiosk, wayfinding signage, etc. Provide photos. If an amenity is planned for the future, the municipality must provide plans, funding information, implementation details and timeline for completion.        
Answer 

b. Describe the management organization (such as chamber of commerce, Main Street organization, improvement district) or other form of organized stewardship that exists in the municipality.  Does it include all or part of the transit village district?  Provide a map showing the location/boundaries of the management district in relation to the location/boundaries of the transit village district. If the management organization is only in the planning stages, provide location map, budget, work plan and timeline for implementation.   

List and describe all organized efforts for prescribed or directed care, maintenance or beautification of the transit facility and the surrounding neighborhood. Describe what procedures the municipality has implemented to handle such things as garbage pick-up, litter and graffiti removal, cleaning, repairs, etc., around the transit facility.  

Describe community policing efforts established or planned for the district, as well as partnerships, proactive problem solving techniques, and/or community engagement efforts that address crime, fear of crime, and community issues.    
Answer                                                                                        

Note:  Meet at least two from (c) through (f) below.  

c. List and describe at least two regularly scheduled community events (such as a farmers market, street fair, memorial event, parade or similar) that are initiated by the municipality and take place within sight of the transit facility.  Provide documentation of the events and a location map showing where the events take place in relationship to the transit facility.   
Answer 
 
d. List and describe what steps the municipality has taken to maintain and enhance the historic character of the transit village district as development and/or 
redevelopment takes place.  Examples include: adopted historic design guidelines, an historic district or an architectural review board.  Provide documentation.     
Answer 

e. List and describe existing or planned performing arts centers, theaters, art galleries, museums, public art installations, programmable open space, cultural arts districts, arenas and other arts and cultural facilities and venues within the transit village district. Provide location map showing where they are situated in relationship to the transit facility. For anything currently in the planning stages, provide location map, description, budget, funding source, and timeline for completion.

List and describe any ongoing programmed arts, arts education, community arts activities or cultural events (such as concerts, poetry readings, dance classes, etc.) that take place in the transit village district.  Provide documentation for each. 
Answer

f. List and describe all the restaurants, shops, offices, etc., within sight of the transit facility that remain open beyond 5 pm and provide “eyes on the street.”   Provide photos and location map showing where the establishments are situated in relationship to the transit facility.  Include business hours.     
Answer 

PART B - Transit Village Statement
Directions: Explain how, when and why the municipality first became interested in the concept of becoming a designated Transit Village. Talk about when the idea was first discussed publicly by the mayor and/or governing body, what was the catalyst for exploring this new direction and how the designation could help transform the municipality.

Identify the community leader who was primarily responsible for championing the transit village concept. In addition, identify the person who will work to implement  the vision after designation is awarded.  
Answer 

PART C - State Assistance Needed
Directions:  Along with NJDOT and NJ TRANSIT, the Transit Village Task Force is made up of the Council on the Arts, the Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Economic Development Authority, the Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, the Office for Planning Advocacy, Main Street New Jersey and the Redevelopment Authority. In the space below, indicate which agencies you would like to meet with regarding issues in your Transit Village.  Be sure to specify the type of assistance you are seeking as well as your time frame.   
Answer 

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APPENDIX A 
Model Resolution

	WHEREAS, the NJ Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has created a Smart Growth community revitalization and redevelopment program known as the Transit Village Initiative; and 
	
	WHEREAS, the Transit Village Initiative supports Smart Growth, revitalization and redevelopment within walking distance of transit for the purpose of increasing transit ridership, reducing automobile congestion and improving air quality in the State of New Jersey; and  

	WHEREAS, the NJDOT along with NJ TRANSIT, the Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Redevelopment Authority, the Council on the Arts, Main Street New Jersey, the Economic Development Authority, the Office for Planning Advocacy and the Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency are partners in the Transit Village Initiative and make up the Transit Village Task Force; and     

	WHEREAS, the NJDOT may designate a Transit Village after the municipality has achieved  the Transit Village Criteria established by the Transit Village Task Force; and 

	WHEREAS, once a municipality has been deemed a Transit Village, the Transit Village Task Force will provide that municipality with (1) a contact person in each of the state agencies that make up the Transit Village Task Force; (2) technical assistance from each agency; (3) up-to-date information on grants, loans, programs or other opportunities; (4) priority funding where feasible; and (5) access to special information meetings, educational programs and research information; and    

	WHEREAS, the governing body of (municipality) desires to apply to the NJDOT for Transit Village designation. 

	NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the governing body of (municipality), in the county of (county), State of New Jersey, that (municipality) requests to be considered for Transit Village designation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governing body of (municipality) is committed to Smart Growth and is willing to accept meaningful growth in terms of jobs, housing and population within the transit village development district; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governing body of (municipality) hereby commits to the implementation of the compact, mixed-use, transit-supportive vision as represented in the Transit Village Statement of Qualification; and 

       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governing body of (municipality) has identified (municipal staff person), who is knowledgeable in municipal planning, development and/or economic issues, to be the primary contact person to the Transit Village Task Force; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if designated a Transit Village, the governing body of (municipality) will commit to submitting annual updates as required by the Transit Village Task Force; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if designated, the governing body of (municipality) will continuously strive to improve the quality of the transit village district; and   

	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in the event that the Transit Village Task Force determines that a designated Transit Village is no longer acting consistently with the Transit Village program goals, the Transit Village Task Force may suspend designation and/or withhold program benefits. 

DATE:	__________________________