Welcome and Introductions Overview of the Study to Date Community Involvement Intersection Improvement Concepts Bike-Ped Recommendations ITS Recommendations Transit Recommendations Next Steps
Inventoried and Analyzed Existing Conditions Traffic, Transit, Bicycle and Pedestrian Compiled Land Use & Zoning documents Held four Steering Advisory Meetings Held one Public Open House Met with NJDOT to discuss potential improvements along the Corridor
Conducted and summarized the Employer and Commuter Surveys Prepared Technical Memorandums of Existing Conditions Created Environmental Constraints Maps Developed the Community Design Handbook
Held four Steering Advisory Committee Meetings April 17, 2008 May 23, 2008 January 27, 2009 April 7, 2009 Held one Public Open House June 25, 2008 Conducted Employer and Commuter Surveys
Held in the Hunterdon County Complex Building on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Six stations were set up, including: Project Mission Statement, Corridor Traffic Volumes/Crash Data, Traffic Analysis, Transit Facilities, Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities, and Land Use & Zoning Maps Common discussion topics: Need for transit facilities that will connect the northern and southern ends of the corridor Concerns about the conceptual South Branch Parkway s impacts on Route 202 if the Parkway is built Actual conditions at the intersection of Route 202 with Old York Road compared to the traffic model
1,065 commuters shared information about their travel through an online survey 33.5% felt that express transit services would influence their travel behavior Would prefer walking if better pedestrian access existed Some commented that they would be interested in bus service between local train stations and employment
Unreasonable congestion encountered Over 90% experience unreasonable congestion at least once a week Over 90% drive alone to work
Community Involvement Bicycle & Pedestrian Assessment Existing Transit Facilities Traffic & Operational Analysis Socioeconomic Baseline & Environmental Mapping Smart Growth Audit Transit Friendly Checklist Community Design Handbook
Conducted a corridor assessment Bicycle Travel Demand and Roadway Suitability Assessment Pedestrian Travel Demand and Suitability Assessment Performed a field assessment of the subject intersections Evaluated the corridor and intersections, and recommended improvements for the study area
NJ Transit Rail Service Bus Service Public Public & Private service Service Service throughout the Corridor Service Service to/from as far as PA & NYC Park-and and-ride Five Five Locations in the Study Area
Socioeconomic Established current demographic, economic, and travel trends Significant growth betwen from 2000 2007; the population grew by 10.2% in Somerset; and 9.7% in Hunterdon Counties Corridor workers reside largely in and around the study area Environmental Wetlands cross Route 202 at numerous points There are endangered species habitats adjacent to the corridor in some areas, particularly Readington Township
Conducted a Smart Growth Audit Commitment to smart growth is in place but limited implementation Developed a Community Handbook Create a vision for the corridor To promote transit-friendly development Focus on commercial nodes at key locations Prepared and assessed a Transit Friendly checklist
Conducted peak hour traffic counts at each study location Calculated 2008 & 2030 peak hour levels of service Noted operational deficiencies
Traffic and Roadway Immediate Term: Short Term: Medium Term: Long Term: Corridor Wide Recommendations Short Term Within 6 months to implementation 6 months to 2 years to implementation 2 years to 5 years to implementation Over 5 years to implementation Implement corridor wide traffic signal optimization / co-ordination ordination to maximize peak direction throughput. Medium to Long Term Provide consistent left turn treatments along corridor by eliminating median u and left turns in favor of jug handles.
Optimize traffic signals Install Overhead VMS on Route 202 North prior to the Somerville Circle to provide motorists with pertinent travel information for Routes 22, 28, 202, 206, I-287 I and I-78. I Install Overhead VMS on Route 202 South prior to the Flemington Circle (prior to Church Street) for motorists traveling to Routes 12, 29, 31, 202, and points of interest in Trenton. Install traffic cameras atcongested and accident prone of these intersections to help NJDOT and local police clear incidents more quickly.
Install high visibility crosswalks Make connections to existing sidewalks Install curb ramps Install pedestrian signal heads/count down timers Install R4-4, 4, Yield to Pedestrians signs Install pedestrian-scale scale lighting Reduce turning radii at the intersection to slow traffic, where appropriate Provide refuge areas wherever possible
Create new Park-and and-ride locations and/or shared parking with an existing commercial or private parking facilities Increase rail service between Raritan & High Bridge stations Advance concept of dual freight-passenger use of Norfolk Southern Lehigh Valley freight line (Flemington Rail Coalition Proposal) Study potential locations for new rail stations Study direct rail/bus service between Flemington & NYC Expand bus service to connect to rail stations in the study area Expand marketing for carpool and vanpool programs Provide incentives for carpool and vanpool use
Complete Final Study Report Develop Problem Statements Work with Implementation Agencies (ex. NJDOT, NJ Transit, Ridewise, HART, Counties and Municipalities, etc.) Planning and Design work for various improvements Establish a Bi-County Group to advance the study recommendations