The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) is accepting public comments for the 2022-2025 New Jersey Transportation Improvement Program (NJ TIP). The Draft NJ TIP is currently open for public review and comment until August 23, 2021, at 5:00 PM (EST). Please take a few minutes to read about how you can ask the DVRPC to strengthen the NJ TIP to accelerate the pace of Circuit Trails development and safe roadways.
The NJTIP is the agreed upon list of specific priority infrastructure projects for the four NJ counties that are part of the DVRPC region. The TIP lists all projects for which federal funds are anticipated, along with non-federally funded projects that are regionally significant.
We are asking you to encourage DVRPC’s board members (who consist of elected officials from each county in our region) to push at least five Trail projects along at a faster clip. Our comments are only suggestions, feel free to use your own words.
We encourage you to make the following comments in your letter to the DVPRC by clicking here. You are of course welcome to edit the letter and use your own words.
1 – Thank the DVRPC Board for funding $5 Million dollars for the Circuit Trails through the Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) program. I would like to see this regular investment continue during 2022-2025.
2 – Encourage the DVRPC Board to make a stronger commitment in the TIP that the four New Jersey counties will make every effort to build 60 new miles of trails over the next four construction seasons in order for the region to reach the short-term goal of 500 Circuit Trail miles by 2025.
3 – Ask New Jersey to update its standard for “bicycle compatible” shoulders. It is based on the 1998 State Bicycle Plan and conflicts with DVRPC’s Level of Traffic Stress Analysis data.
4 – Oppose intersection lane expansion projects in urbanized areas that do not include pedestrian facility upgrades such as pedestrian refuge islands
5 – Improve the rate of including bike/facilities during road maintenance. New Jersey has an excellent Complete Streets and Green Streets Policy. However, state roads continue to be resurfaced, rehabilitated and re-striped without safe places to walk or bike, such as narrower travel lanes, bike lanes, sidepaths and pedestrian refuge islands. Commercial developers rarely required to install sidewalks along state roads.
Finally, express support for the DVRPC ‘s inclusion of these four Circuit Trails projects listed in the Draft TIP and ask that the DVRPC ensure that they get completed by 2025.
1. Rancocas Creek: Laurel Run
2. Dinosaur Trail: College Drive
3. Glassboro Elk Trail
4. D&R Greenway Connector
Additionally:
The Fossil Park Roadway offers an opportunity to build another piece of the Dinosaur Trail.
Take Action Today! Click here to submit a comment to the DVPRC