Gov. Phil Murphy joined fellow public officials and stakeholders in December 2020 to announce a $190 million renovation and restoration of Newark Penn Station — Courtesy: Governor’s Office
By Joshua Burd
The city of Newark has become a state-designated Transit Village, making it eligible for additional funding and guidance from Trenton as part of its ongoing development efforts.
In a news release Friday, state officials said the designation would largely center on the regional bus hub at the intersection of Broad and Market streets, where the city aims to create a pedestrian-friendly, downtown environment that supports opportunities for mixed-use, residential, retail and commercial development. The district is home to academic institutions, entertainment venues, residential incubators and a cluster of corporate headquarters sites, making it ripe for the type of assistance available under the state’s Transit Village Initiative.
Newark is now the 34th municipality to be recognized as a Transit Village since the program began in 1999.
“Newark has been undergoing a renaissance for the past several years, and this designation is a recognition of the city’s continued growth, revitalization and success,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “Our administration stands as a ready and committed partner to the city of Newark, and this initiative will stand to assist the city in its efforts to continue groundbreaking and transformative development that is accessible to public transportation and some of our state’s greatest cultural treasures. None of this would be possible without the leadership of Mayor (Ras) Baraka and many other dedicated stakeholders.”
According to the state, the Transit Village Initiative connects designated municipalities with a task force of state agencies that help implement mixed-use development and so-called Complete Streets accommodations near transit facilities. Participating towns and cities can receive planning expertise and priority consideration for certain funding opportunities, provided their projects promote economic activity and the use of public transportation.
Most of Newark’s transit village district is covered by redevelopment plans, which aim to create more mixed-use construction, promote the restoration of historic assets, enhance the downtown’s cultural resources and reduce the dependence on automobiles by improving public transit, pedestrian and bicycle accommodations, the news release said. The district contains 63 bus stops, three light rail stations, and one commuter rail station — Newark Penn Station, which accommodates PATH, NJ Transit, Amtrak and private inter-city bus companies.
The state also noted that there are 17 bus routes that serve the intersection of Broad and Market streets, while some 80,000 passengers use some form of transit within the transit village district each weekday.
“On behalf of our residents and visitors, we thank Governor Murphy and the New Jersey Department of Transportation for designating the city of Newark as a Transit Village,” Baraka said. “It’s been important to my administration to enhance public transit, strengthen our economy and provide affordable and market-rate housing. With this recognition and support, we will continue our efforts to make even greater improvements for our community.”
Newark is looking to transform the intersection into the epicenter of a more equitable, empowered and collaborative transportation system, the news release said. In 2012, the city adopted a Complete Streets policy that ensures transportation projects are developed to safely accommodate users of all ages and abilities, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users, motorists and freight vehicles.
The city is also working on implementing bus lanes, level-boarding stations, off-board fare payment and all-door-boarding vehicles in the proposed Transit Village district.
“To receive a Transit Village designation, a municipality must develop a plan for redevelopment that promotes economic activity and public transportation,” DOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti said. “Newark has demonstrated a comprehensive approach to transforming the downtown of New Jersey’s largest city to make it vibrant, day and night, and accessible through any mode of transportation. Newark can expect priority consideration in funding and technical assistance from many of the participating agencies.”
As a Transit Village, Newark joins a roster that includes Pleasantville, Morristown, Rutherford, South Amboy, South Orange, Riverside, Rahway, Metuchen, Belmar, Collingswood, Bloomfield, Bound Brook, Cranford, Matawan, New Brunswick, Journal Square in Jersey City, Netcong, Elizabeth, Burlington City, Orange, Somerville, Montclair, Linden, West Windsor, East Orange, Dunellen, Summit, Plainfield, Park Ridge, Irvington, Hackensack, Long Branch and Asbury Park.
Murphy unveils $190 million renovation plan for Newark Penn Station