Monmouth Paths: Access For All Study

The Monmouth Paths: Access For All Study is a comprehensive transportation planning study that identified barriers to mobility across Monmouth County and was aimed to improve infrastructure, services, and policies to promote equitable access to employment, education, healthcare, services, and recreation for all county residents. The final report includes a tool kit that describes nine strategies and 64 tools that may be used to mitigate the barriers identified by the study team, which included Stantec, FHI Studio, and the Monmouth County Division of Planning.  The study was based in part on comments from the public received at three public meetings held in Asbury Park, Middletown and Freehold. The Monmouth County Planning Board voted unanimously at its September 2024 meeting to accept and publish the report and related study materials, which can be found at https://bit.ly/MonmouthPaths. The study will also soon be available through the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) PRIME library, which can be accessed by various state, county, and municipal agencies across the NJTPA region. The final materials are designed to be shared with agencies facing similar mobility challenges, allowing any organization to use the study’s recommended strategies from the toolkit to overcome these barriers.

Two Monmouth County Municipalities Awarded Safe Routes to School Funds

The Safe Routes to School program, administered by the NJDOT in partnership with the NJTPA, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization awarded 23 grants totaling $21.1 million. The program aims to partner with schools and communities to promote active travel by children to school while providing the funds needed to establish infrastructure conducive to a pedestrian safe environment. Two of the grants were awarded to Monmouth County municipalities Freehold Borough and Keyport for their respective Safe Routes efforts. Freehold was awarded $972,000 for their Freehold Safe Routes to School Project. Keyport was awarded $749,000 for their Maple Place, W 4^th Street, St. Peters Place, & St. George Place Safe Routes to School Improvements. Both projects will address sidewalk and crosswalk improvements, as well as on street bicycle safety.

Fair Haven PBA Offers Free Pizza Slice for Helmet-Wearing Bikers

This summer the Fair Haven Policemen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) had a tasty summer safety campaign: a free slice of pizza from Lupo Pizzeria for children wearing bicycle helmets. Fair Haven police handed out vouchers for the free slice to kids complying with the helmet safety laws. Fair Haven Police Chief Joseph McGovern noticed that during the summertime, the use of helmets became too sparse, and prompted his officers to come up with creative ideas to encourage kids to wear safety gear. The positive reinforcement program was inspired by a similar program conducted in Rumson, where kids wearing helmets while they bike were given vouchers for a free ice cream cone from Crazees. “It is a great opportunity for our officers to initiate positive dialogue with residents and kids while reinforcing the helmet law. It does seem to have an impact since officers can prove a point to a younger child who is not wearing a helmet with some positive reinforcement,” says Rumson Police Lieutenant Christopher Isherwood. 

Girls in Gear

Girls in Gear is a non-profit organization helping young women learn life skills through bike skills. The Freehold program is the first Girls in Gear program in Monmouth County! Volunteer coaches host courses and clinics that teach girls bike safety and competence, along with how to be their best selves. Girls in Gear states “Biking gives girls an entryway to lessons and conversations about tapping into our feelings, trying new things even when they're hard or scary (hello, biking up hills), and being the boldest version of ourselves we can be.” You can register girls in your care here for their Fall Freehold Eight-Week Program (the program began late September, but it is not too late to register! Email info@girlsingear.org for more information). 

If you would like to volunteer with Girls in Gear as a coach and help carry out their mission in Monmouth County, you can find the link to their website here.

“Chance For Change” Program Gives NJ TRANSIT Riders the Chance to Contribute to Essential Service Organizations

Photo Credit: NJTPublicInfo

In collaboration with the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey, and Volunteers of America Delaware Valley, NJ TRANSIT launched the “Chance for Change” program which connects riders with a digital platform to donate to essential service organizations. The program debuted at an event at the Red Bank train station on Aug. 26.

Riders will notice QR codes on posters and digital advertising screens at NJ TRANSIT facilities, as well as links to donate on the mobile app. With the link, riders will be presented with the opportunity to donate directly to organizations that provide direct assistance to people experiencing homelessness, substance abuse disorders, and other social service needs. All links are secure, and the donation goes directly to those in need. The goal of this new program is for those with means to donate to be able to do so with ease, while knowing the sites they visit are secure, and that the money will be funneled to those who need it most.

If you would like to donate to one of the many programs NJ TRANSIT has partnered with, visit http://www.njtransit.com/change.

Red Bank Residents Weigh-In on Train Station Redevelopment Area Plans

Red Bank Borough officials hosted an interactive workshop for residents on July 31, gathering feedback on the planned redevelopment of 13 acres encompassing the train station. Residents were able to leave notes on preferred land uses and indicate preferred aesthetics on different display boards showing conceptual site plans and exemplary architectural renderings. Currently, the land being discussed is primarily a surface parking lot utilized by NJ Transit. The redevelopment plan seeks to revitalize this area to align its use with the borough’s Transit Village designation through transit-oriented development (TOD) tools and strategies. Though many residents expressed a need for this long-planned redevelopment, concerns were raised about the loss of parking spots, influx of traffic, and the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreements associated with the plan. The project will create a new dynamic in downtown Red Bank, which will bring about new challenges and ideas.

To read more about the redevelopment plan and its integration with Red Bank’s 2023 Master Plan, visit Red Bank’s Redevelopment Planning page.

Upcoming Events

Monmouth County Transportation Council Meeting: October 8 at 7 p.m. to be held in person with a virtual option. Click here to find the meeting info. 

Transportation Fun Fact: The George Washington Bridge is the Busiest Bridge in the World

The George Washington Bridge is a double decked suspension bridge that crosses the Hudson River, connecting the population centers both to the east and west of the river. More than 100 million motorists cross the bridge annually, making it the busiest in the world. 

Construction of the bridge began in September 1927, just several weeks before the Holland Tunnel officially opened for traffic. The GW officially opened for traffic on Oct. 25, 1931. In 1962, the second level of the bridge was opened to traffic, increasing the bridge’s carrying capacity by 75%. The GW was once the longest suspension bridge in the world but is now the fourth longest in the U.S. and the 42^nd longest in the world. To learn more about the history of the George Washington Bridge, visit the American Society of Civil Engineers website.

A Small Electric SUV Produces 52% Fewer Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions than a Comparable Gasoline Vehicle

In the most recent iteration of Electric Vehicles, a small electric with a range of 300 miles will produce 52% fewer life cycle greenhouse gases (GHG) than a comparable non-electric vehicle. The majority of GHG emissions are produced by the tailpipe of gasoline vehicles, a feature that is not present in EVs. The majority of GHG emissions from EVs is attributed the production and distribution of electricity as well as the production of the vehicle’s battery. Even so, total emissions are considerably lower for an EV than a gasoline vehicle.

It's Football Season for NJ TRANSIT

On Sept. 8, NJ TRANSIT kicked off Football Season by offering train service on the BetMGM Meadowlands Rail Line, which will run to and from Secaucus Junction for every Jets or Giants home game. Fans hoping to take advantage of this service should purchase a round trip ticket from their originating station to Meadowlands Station, take the train to Secaucus Junction, and then transfer to the Bet MGM Meadowlands Line (Purchasing a ticket at Secaucus Junction for the Meadowlands Line will result in a $5 surcharge). Trains operate every 10-20 minutes and will drop riders off just steps from MetLife Stadium. For more information or a complete gameday rail schedule, visit NJ TRANSIT’s website.

Speaking of Football… NJ TRANSIT Continues Its Effort to Gear Up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

NJ TRANSIT has been taking steps to prepare for the massive influx of riders that the 2026 FIFA World Cup is bound to bring to New Jersey. In June, the transit organization hosted a workshop at Rutgers Newark and invited transit leaders and event-planning experts to share their expertise. The discussion intended to explore best practices from around the world so that NJ TRANSIT leadership could begin incorporating them into its World Cup planning. Topics of discussion included crowd management, security, mobility/transport management, travel information, and wayfinding.

New Jersey to Cash In Transportation Bonds for Infrastructure Upgrades

The New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority (NJTTFA) is expected to sell $2.4 billion of bonds in order to pay for infrastructure upgrades. Of the $2.4 billion, $1.3 billion will be transportation system bonds and $1.1 billion will be transportation program bonds. NJTTFA will use the funds to modernize statewide transportation infrastructure as well as provide additional funding to NJ TRANSIT. This influx of funding for NJ TRANSIT comes amidst anxiety about TRANSIT’s funding and ability to upkeep its public transit infrastructure. Additional funding is expected to be utilized to correct the issues that led to an excess of cancellations and delays over the past few months.

14th Annual STOP for Nikhil: A Race to End Traffic Deaths Across the State

In 2011, 11-year old Nikhil Badlani was killed in a car crash when a driver failed to stop at a stop sign in South Orange. 14 years later, his family and community continue to honor him by spreading an important message: pay attention when behind the wheel. Through various programs, events, scholarships, and other community engagement, the Nikhil Badlani Foundation aims to end unnecessary traffic deaths and injuries. On Sept. 22, the foundation held its 14^th Annual STOP for Nikhil Walk/Run/Bike event held at the West Orange High School. Over 800 participants attended the event, doing so in honor of their lost community member. All funds raised from the event go to the Badlani Foundation’s traffic safety programs, music lessons, and scholarships for students.

If you would like to donate to the Nikhil Badlani Foundation, take their Safety Pledge, or read more about their mission you can visit their website at nikhilbadlanifoundation.org

Monmouth County Bridge and Road Projects

Monmouth County is working hard to maintain and upgrade key roadway and bridge infrastructure throughout the County. Learn which projects are under construction, review, or consideration, as well as how to get involved, on the Monmouth County webpage.

Participate With The Council

If you have an interest in transportation, we invite you to contact the staff advisors to the Monmouth County Transportation Council at transportation@co.monmouth.nj.us and find out about ways you can participate or volunteer with us.