01321764

Monograph

http://onlinepubs.trb.org...rp2/SHRP2_CS_C01_NJ-31.pdf

Hunterdon County, because of its proximity to both the New York and Philadelphia metropolitan areas, attracts commuters and has experienced both residential and commercial development. New Jersey Route 31 (NJ-31), which bisects the county, is one of the few north-south connections in that part of the state and thus serves an important role in regional and interstate travel. NJ-31 passes through Flemington Borough and Raritan Township, both of which are politically independent. Congestion along NJ-31 in these communities has been a concern for decades. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) recommended a grade-separated, multilane bypass running east of Flemington through Raritan Township as the preferred solution to the congestion. Concerns about this project led the NJDOT to embark on one of its first efforts to integrate land use and transportation planning. The project team had to overcome the community's initial distrust of and anger toward NJDOT, as well as skepticism that the smart growth alternative could accommodate the increasing levels of traffic projected for the area. In November 2006, NJDOT initiated a revised draft Environmental Impact Statement process for the South Branch Parkway, the primary road construction project that resulted from the integrated planning process. Raritan Township and Flemington Borough continue to work on implementing the land use component of the plan. This case study is discussed under the following headings: Background; Major Project Issues; Institutional Framework for Decision Making; Decision-Making Process; and Lessons Learned.

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English

16p

2010

Print

Figures (1) ; Maps (3) ; Photos (1) ; References (7) ; Tables (1)

Bypasses; Case studies; Decision making; Environmental impact statements; Highway capacity; Institutional issues; Land use planning; Lessons learned; Planning methods; Smart growth; State highways; Traffic congestion; Transportation planning

Capacity expansion projects; Integrated planning; Project development process

Hunterdon County (New Jersey); New Jersey; Raritan (New Jersey)

Design; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I15: Environment; I20: Design and Planning of Transport Infrastructure

TRIS, TRB

Dec 1 2010 3:30PM