Last week, many submitted comments to the Delaware Valley Region Planning Commission (DVRPC) urging the DVRPC Board to make a commitment to advance the Circuit Trails network in New Jersey and submitted their support toward the completion of the Circuit Trails by 2040 through the region’s public comment periods held for the Draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for New Jersey and the Draft Update: Connections 2050 Plan for Greater Philadelphia.
Thanks to you taking action, nearly 200 letters were submitted requesting the DVRPC Board to include the recommendations suggested by the Circuit Trails Coalition to support the regions commitment to advance the development of the Circuit Trails network!
For context, the DVRPC had opened its public comment period for the Draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for New Jersey. The Draft TIP for New Jersey represents the region’s federally funded transportation priorities and is required by federal law in order for the Greater Philadelphia Region to receive and spend federal transportation funds. The TIP includes significant funding for a number of Circuit Trails, with $90.88 million allocated to advance the development of the Rancocas Creek Greenway, the Glassboro-Elk Trail, the Camden County LINK Trail, and the Johnson Trolley Trail in Southern New Jersey. When approved, this will prioritize funding for the development of 40.6 miles of future Circuit Trails projects.
Additionally, the DVRPC had seeked out public input on the Draft Update: Connections 2050 Plan for Greater Philadelphia. The region’s long-range plan that’s prepared every four years is a critically important document that lays out how the region will spend federal transportation funds, which in turn has a substantial impact on the region’s transportation infrastructure, including the Circuit Trails Network across the entire region. The DVRPC has prioritized and fully funded the Circuit Trails in their long-range plans for the Greater Philadelphia and southern New Jersey areas in their draft update to the Connections 2050 Plan for the region. This means funding the trails is a regional priority, ensuring the region’s commitment toward the completion of the network by 2040, and bringing everyone in the area access to safe, accessible ways to get to the places they need to – and want to – be.
As a reminder, here is a brief overview of what you recommended to DVRPC Board for the NJ TIP and Regional Long-Range Plan:
- The following comments were submitted on the Draft FYY2026 TIP for New Jersey:
- I would like to thank the DVRPC Board for programming the Camden County LINK Trail, Johnson Trolley Trail, and Rancocas Creek Greenway Trail, into the NJ TIP.
- I fully support the allocation of $90.88 million in funds for the following DB#s to advance the completion of 40.6 miles of Circuit Trails in the Southern New Jersey Counties:
- D2402 | Rancocas Creek Greenway Bridge and Trail Linkage
- D2207 | Rancocas Creek Greenway, Rainbow Meadow Park
- D2403 | Camden LINK Trail
- D1203 | Gloucester County Multi-Purpose Trail Extension – Glassboro Elk Trail
- 25381 | Johnson Trolley Pedestrian Bridge
- I fully support the following comments to achieve the completion of the Circuit Trails network by 2040:
- DB# X185: Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities/Accommodations | Strongly support; increase funding levels to support the Circuit Trails and the statewide regional trails network
- DB# 22355: CMAQ Initiatives, Statewide | Allocate a portion of the Statewide CMAQ Funds towards creating a statewide regional trails network
- DB# X065: Local CMAQ Initiatives | Allocate a portion of the Local CMAQ Initiative Funds to Circuit Trails Projects as was done in 2018 and 2021
- DB# X107: Transportation Alternatives Program | Strongly Support; redistribution of unobligated funds has been wisely spent on Regional Trail Projects (Regional TASA) and this practice should continue
- DB# 99409: Recreational Trails Program | Reestablish the competitive program, prioritizing maintenance projects on regional trails and shared-use paths
- Bikeway Grant Program | 1. The program appears to have been removed from the TIP, while companion competitive Local Aid programs are listed as TIP Items. 2. Please restore funding for Bikeways, Safe Streets to Transit and Transit Village to 2022 to 2025 levels. Bikeways example includes: 2021: $1 million awarded to 4 projects and in 2023: $8.4 million awarded to 17 projects.
- I ask the DVRPC Board to program the following 2 Circuit Trails projects into the TIP to ensure they receive the necessary funding to accelerate their development:
- Johnson Trolley Trail Corridor – as defined in the DVRPC-funded “Johnson Trolley Trail Corridor Study Feasibility & Concept Development Report” (https://www.mercercounty.org/home/showpublisheddocument/34578/638876533576030000) – which was recently added to the Circuit Trails Network
- Delaware River Heritage Trail – as defined by the Delaware River Greenway Partnership “State of the Trail Report” (https://www.delawarerivergreenwaypartnership.org/index.php/publications/heritage-trail/state-of-the-trail-report) – composed of multiple Circuit Trails segments, but to be studied as a single regional corridor connecting Trenton and Camden
- The following comments were submitted on the Draft Update Connections 2050 Plan for Greater Philadelphia:
- I would like to thank the DVRPC Financial Planning Subcommittee for including the Circuit Trails network (MRP IDs PAR078 and NJR005) as fully funded for completion in all counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey.
- I fully support the estimated allocation of 1.096 billion required over the life of the plan to complete the remaining 385 miles of Circuit Trails that are currently in progress, pipeline, or planned for completion by 2040.
- Additionally, I fully support the new investments that were fiscally constrained within the Plan’s funded list in order to advance the following MRP IDs for the Circuit Trails in Pennsylvania:
- PAR065 | State Road Reconstruction
- PAR066 | Philadelphia High-Quality Bike Network: Programmed
- PAR070 | Spring Garden Connector
- PAR071 | PA 291 / Second Street / Industrial Highway Bike/Ped Complete Streets
- PAR076 | Vision Zero Safety Improvements
- Please develop a solution to benchmark the allocation of Green Transportation funds designated to Circuit Trails projects in order to accurately track the full amount of funding that those projects comprise.
In order to keep the momentum going, the members of the Circuit Trails Coalition will attend DVRPC’s Public Board Meeting scheduled on September 25th at 10:00 AM for an opportunity to thank the DVRPC Board and to review the number of actions taken by supports like you in order to reach the completion of the network by 2040.
The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is a founding member of the Circuit Trails Coalition and leads the movement to make every bicycle ride safe, to empower youth and adults to ride, and to foster a ridership that reflects the diversity of the region. Join or renew to continue that advocacy and education work throughout the region. More info here.