Projects

Leading
Externally, we celebrated planning by joining with more than 6,000 planning professionals from throughout the country to take part in the American Planning Association (APA) Conference, which was held in April 2007 in Philadelphia. DVRPC staff took the lead in organizing the conference, hosting mobile workshops, providing orientation tours, exhibiting materials and speaking on panels.

We also hosted a very successful Celebration of Regional Excellence Dinner, held on June 5, 2007, at the Four Seasons Hotel. More than 320 attended this annual event, which highlighted the achievements of a number of the region's public and private sector leaders and awarded Transportation and Community Development Initiative (TCDI) grants to communities.

We are proud of the changes that have occurred over the past fiscal year, and we will continue to play a strong leadership role in the region today and well into the future.

Interacting
DVRPC believes that effective public involvement is a dynamic and ongoing process that is essential to meeting the future transportation and land use needs of all those living and working in the region. With a long history of meaningful and inclusive public participation, DVRPC's public outreach effort promotes two-way communication between stakeholders and the Commission, and enhances public awareness of regional issues. In FY07, DVRPC conducted a variety of public meetings and outreach events throughout the Delaware Valley.

DVRPC is committed to making environmental justice and Title VI mandates a part of our planning process. Environmental justice promotes the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in the planning process, regardless of race, income, ethnicity or education level. Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act provides that no person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. In January 2007, DVRPC adopted Equity and Opportunity: Title VI Compliance Plan, which establishes a framework for the Commission's efforts to ensure compliance. A renewed commitment to environmental justice and Title VI continues to be a critical component of the Commission's activities.

One of the primary and continuous forms of public participation at DVRPC is the Regional Citizens Committee (RCC). The RCC meets monthly to review and comment on DVRPC programs and plans and to explore policy development in the regional and transportation planning fields. This open avenue of communication allows interested individuals to voice their concerns and ideas regarding issues that affect how the region's residents live, work and travel. During FY07, the RCC focused on diversity efforts and expanding membership.

Collaborating
DVRPC realizes that certain areas of the region face transportation challenges and need special attention. Each year, DVRPC conducts a number of transportation studies on specific roadways and offers recommendations on how to make them safer and more efficient for all users. In FY07, DVRPC managed a major traffic study in the Newtown-Yardley area of Bucks County. That study compiled key roadway and traffic data with traffic engineering, safety studies and public input to devise a comprehensive traffic planning and oversight report for seven participating municipalities. The study addressed such issues as trucks, speed of traffic, traffic safety and opportunities for traffic-calming measures. Traffic-calming is a tool used by transportation planners to create safe and attractive streets, while promoting pedestrian, bicycle and transit use. Roundabouts are a specific traffic-calming measure used to reduce travel speeds and can be a good alternative to installing traffic signals at intersections. In FY07, DVRPC implemented a new roundabout incentive program to fund the construction costs of a few low-cost, locally supported pilot roundabout projects. Two projects were selected for funding: one in Buckingham Township in Bucks County and one in Pocopson Township in Chester County.

Also last year, DVRPC completed a trafficcalming case study on Smithville Road (CR 684) in Burlington County, NJ. This particular road is adjacent to a public park that has seen increased traffic and bicycle and pedestrian activity in recent years. The study recommended several traffic-calming improvements that will raise the profile of the park, improve safety for its users, slow traffic and provide additional facilities for bicycling and walking.

Anticipating
DVRPC has always been a leader in shaping a comprehensive vision for the future of the Delaware Valley. Last year, DVRPC completed a revision of the Destination 2030 Long Range Plan that will make it compliant with new requirements mandated by the latest transportation funding authorization, SAFETEA-LU. New items included additional planning factors and public outreach requirements. The federal bill also mandated that additional activities, such as environmental mitigation, be addressed in the Plan. The biggest change, however, was the requirement to use year-of-expenditure dollars in developing a set of transportation investments. Previously, expenditures were shown in current dollars. DVRPC worked with planning partners to update project amounts and convert the costs into year-of-expenditure dollars.

As part of the long-range planning process, DVRPC also tracked a series of regional indicators to gauge progress toward long-range plan goals. The final report, titled Tracking Progress Toward 2030, includes time series data on a set of goals organized around the critical-issue areas identified in the Destination 2030 Plan. DVRPC staff also held several events at public places, such as malls and movie theaters, over the year to publicize the Plan and gather public feedback.

Prioritizing
In addition to having a long-term vision for the region, DVRPC funds short-term improvements that work toward achieving the goals of the Long Range Plan. The Commission, in close cooperation with its member cities, counties, transit operators and the PA and NJ Departments of Transportation, prioritizes a list of transportation projects that will receive federal and state funding. This list, called the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), is required for the allocation of federal funds for projects throughout the region. In FY07, the DVRPC Board adopted a new FY08 TIP for NJ. The FY08 TIP for NJ, combined with the existing FY07 TIP for PA, contains more than 700 projects and totals more than $5 billion.

Preserving
Working closely with local governments and community organizations, DVRPC planners are constantly developing strategies to preserve the region's natural resources. The Commission developed a website that identifies and prioritizes land for future open space preservation. The site (www.regionalgreenplan.org) features the Regional Green Plan, a study that prioritizes open space for three distinct purposes - agricultural preservation, conservation of ecological resources and natural resourcebased recreation. It provides helpful recommendations for officials, including the importance of establishing regional priorities.

DVRPC assists individual communities in developing local plans that will protect environmental resources, wildlife habitat, farmland, drinking water sources and identify recreational needs. Through the municipal services program, the Commission worked closely with municipal leaders in New Jersey to develop environmental resource inventories, open space plans, farmland preservation plans and more. The program has strengthened DVRPC's direct and long-term relationships with many municipalities in the region, with projects specifically in Lawrence, East Windsor, Mansfield, Lumberton, Moorestown, Mantua and Harrison townships in FY07.

As part of the TreeVitalize program, DVRPC worked in partnership with other environmental organizations to help communities integrate trees into their municipal plans, ordinances and projects. In FY07, over $100,000 in grants were awarded to 19 municipalities in southeastern PA. In addition to the grants, the program helped local officials understand the bigger picture of why their communities need trees, and it challenged them to treat trees as part of their community's infrastructure.

Accommodating
DVRPC advocates for a "Complete Streets" approach to transportation. This concept embodies the notion that streets and highways should be designed to accommodate all users, including bicyclists and pedestrians. Last year, staff assessed the accessibility of transit stations for pedestrians and bicyclists. Five transit stations in the region were analyzed using models that scored road segments based on their physical attributes and traffic volume. The final report recommended specific improvements and enhancements that would make each station more accessible to people on foot or bicycle.

Making the region's streets safe for pedestrians is one of DVRPC's top priorities. In FY07, the Commission analyzed a four-mile segment of North Broad Street in Philadelphia, where a total of 210 pedestrian-involved crashes occurred over five years. DVRPC staff further analyzed this information and found that most of the crashes involved a motorist failing to yield to the pedestrian. This data will serve as background information for a pedestrian road safety audit scheduled for FY08.

In an effort to better plan for the needs of our region's bicyclists, DVRPC conducted a Metropolitan Bicycle Travel Survey in the fall of 2005. This survey was the first of its kind and size in the United States. Staff interviewed hundreds of bicyclists about their trip lengths, destinations and their safety knowledge. In FY07, staff completed the analysis of the information collected from this survey and found that bicycle lanes are favored over any other facility type. In an effort to create more bicycle lanes, DVRPC has continued to work with PennDOT to increase bicycle lane mileage during its routine resurfacing projects.

Improving
DVRPC works to improve regional air quality through initiatives such as the Air Quality Partnership (AQP), a coalition of over 350 businesses, governments and environmental groups. The AQP notifies the public when ground-level ozone or particle pollution is forecasted to be at unhealthy levels. The program encourages citizens to take simple preventative measures to reduce these pollutants, like using public transit or carpooling.

Each May, DVRPC hosts an event to kick off the start of the ozone season and educate the public about air quality. During last year's event, environmental organizations joined together to celebrate efforts underway to improve air quality in the Delaware Valley, including alternative fuels, retrofit technology and air quality forecasts. DVRPC meets the requirements of the Clean Air Act by demonstrating that its Long Range Plan and Transportation Improvement Program conform to the air quality standards as set forth in the State Implementation Plans.

Progressing
DVRPC promotes smart growth in a number of studies and programs. Smart growth is an approach to development that discourages sprawl, while encouraging revitalization of urban areas, infill, mixed-use development and land conservation. The Commission guides municipalities in implementing these principles and last year released a report to help guide local officials in updating outdated zoning codes to promote smart growth. This report investigates the root flaws in conventional zoning codes and lays out a variety of adopted approaches for codifying smart growth principles.

In FY07, the Commission completed Volume II of a 24-month study of the US 322 corridor in Gloucester County that evaluated the area's growth potential. It promoted multimodal transportation and determined a policy rationale for future priority transportation improvements. The study also furthered the goals of coordinated land use and transportation between municipalities and encouraged smart growth principles for future development.

By encouraging development around rail and bus facilities, DVRPC helps to bring new investment into established communities while also promoting transit. This concept, called transit-oriented development (TOD), advocates for mixed-use development within an easy walk of a transit station. In FY07, the Commission completed a TOD plan for the pending reopening of the SEPTA Wawa rail station in Delaware County and a progress report on TOD efforts at 100 transit stations in the region.

Enhancing
DVRPC is committed to the revitalization and stabilization of the region's older suburbs and core cities. The Transportation and Community Development Initiative (TCDI) Grant Program is an opportunity for DVRPC to support local development and redevelopment in the individual Delaware Valley municipalities that implement municipal, county, state and regional planning objectives. Projects chosen for TCDI grants must enhance the existing transportation network and provide a market for redevelopment. In FY07, DVRPC awarded $3 million in grants through this program to 43 different projects in neighborhoods, municipalities and counties throughout the region.

DVRPC also manages over 90 projects for PennDOT, providing direction and guidance to project sponsors and consultants. Included in this list of projects are the Transportation Enhancements, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality, Hometown Streets, and Safe Routes to School Programs. These reimbursement programs not only revitalize downtown areas, but also enhance many aspects and modes of surface transportation throughout the Pennsylvania portion of our region. In addition to its project management role, DVRPC continues to enforce and support the criteria of these programs through its program management direction.

Preparing
The elderly are the fastest-growing segment of the region's population, and by the year 2030, almost one in five of the region's residents will be over 64 years of age. Housing and servicing these senior citizens is one of the most critical issues facing the region. In FY07, DVRPC staff took an in-depth look at this challenge in the report Aging of the Baby Boomers: Housing Seniors in the Delaware Valley.

The report found that the majority of growth will occur in the suburbs, as seniors prefer to remain in the communities where they raised their families. However, many of these areas are not currently served by public transit and do not offer affordable housing alternatives. DVRPC staff identified existing and future needs and recommended approaches to address those needs. Recommendations included expanding the stock of accessible, affordable housing units in the region's suburban municipalities; preserving existing housing stock; creating "elder-friendly" communities by improving transit and creating safer pedestrian environments; and promoting policies geared toward protecting the rights and enhancing the quality of life of the region's elderly.

In addition to the Aging of the Baby Boomers, DVRPC released a new Data Bulletin with detailed demographic information, including elderly population forecasts; and a Municipal Implementation Brochure, Aging in Place, featuring specific recommendations for local officials.

Securing
The Commission embraces transportation safety planning, which is a proactive approach for the prevention of crashes and unsafe roadway conditions. With the direction and assistance of the Regional Safety Task Force, DVRPC has completed the Regional Safety Action Plan. This document provides a road map for effective cooperation, collaboration and coordination among safety professionals and stakeholders throughout the region.

An excellent example of safety professionals working together is the I-76/I-476 Incident Management Task Force (IMTF). Comprised of incident responders from many disciplines, the Task Force works to improve the coordinated response to highway incidents in these very heavily traveled crossroads of two critically important regional expressways. This group has served as a model for the development of other IMTFs in the DVRPC region.

In FY07, DVRPC conducted safety studies on several corridors in the Delaware Valley that have recently experienced a high number of crashes. Of note are the PA 100 Safety Study in Chester County and the Roosevelt Boulevard (US 1) Study in Philadelphia. For both studies, planners and engineers took an in-depth look at the safety issues along the corridors while working closely with our planning partners and other safety stakeholders in their respective communities. The PA 100 Safety Action Plan resulted in a prioritized list of safety actions. The DVRPC Board has approved almost $1.5 million in federal funds as part of a comprehensive package to implement DVRPC's recommendations. The completed US 1 Roosevelt Boulevard Corridor Study identified constraints and opportunities, and made recommendations for its improvement as a travel corridor, with a focus on pedestrian safety and mobility. In addition, both corridors were designated as "Safety Corridors" by PennDOT, which means that fines will be doubled for certain traffic violations.

Appraising
DVRPC is a leading source of regional information, providing a wealth of demographic and economic data, traffic counts and aerial images to the public. As new census information becomes available, planners make the information accessible to the public through data bulletins, analytical data reports and the DVRPC website. New releases over the past year included regional, county and municipal population forecasts for 2005-2035.

The Commission also offers digital aerial photography as another service to the region. Aerial imagery is available for the nine-county region in five-year intervals from 1965 through 2005. Last year, reflights were completed in order to replace areas that DVRPC deemed as being of inferior image quality. In addition, DVRPC received five-foot interval elevation contour data derived from the 2005 orthoimagery. In addition, DVRPC collects traffic volume counts at over 2,500 locations per year. The data is used by transportation engineers and planners, developers, market analysts and the public, and is available as a public service at no cost on the DVRPC website. Beyond counting traffic, staff performed pedestrian counts for the office of Corridor Planning in FY07. New activities during the year included video logging and GPS travel-time surveys and an e-mail notification system to local governments when traffic counting is taking place in their municipalities.

Facilitating
DVRPC strives to help everyone in the region move efficiently and easily toward their destinations. For example, there are programs in place to make the commute easier, less stressful and less expensive. The region's commuter benefit program, TransitChek, rewards employers and employees with tax breaks for using public transportation for their commute to work. In FY07, the program generated more than $24 million in sales revenue and sold more than 760,000 vouchers to regional employers. Last year also marked the launch of the new TransitChek Select program, which allows employers to remove the administrative function of distributing vouchers to employees by sending vouchers directly to their homes. TCS also allows online ordering by employees if desired.

The Commission has also made it easier for those sharing their commute to work. In addition to the Share-A-Ride ride match program, the new Emergency Ride Home program offers a "safety net" for commuters who don't drive to work. A participant is provided a rental car if he or she has an emergency and doesn't have a car on-site. DVRPC works to enhance transportation services for seniors, the disabled and low-income residents through the Coordinated Human Services Transportation Program. Last year, DVRPC released a plan aimed at enhancing the services offered to those groups in Mercer County. Stakeholders helped identify gaps in the local human service transportation system, but also pointed out where consolidating duplicate services on similar routes could allocate scarce resources more efficiently.

Connecting
Maintaining a strong freight and aviation system is vital to the long-range health of the region. DVRPC is responsible for planning for the viability of our airports and freight system, while balancing the needs of our citizens.

DVRPC works with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Aviation (BOA) and the New Jersey Division of Aeronautics to preserve and improve our airport system. In PA, DVRPC and airport sponsors developed the Airport Capital Improvement Program (ACIP) - a project-priority-ranking activity in which DVRPC provided direction for distributing grants. Twelve eligible fixed-wing facilities and five heliports are included in the PA portion of the DVRPC region. Ten of those airports and heliports were included in the FY07 program and listed by their regional project priority. Priorities were established through coordination with the long-term DVRPC Regional Airports System Plan (RASP) goals, the projects' significance to the region, and their economic and social benefits. In FY07, DVRPC conducted the first-ever comprehensive scan of freight operations in the Philadelphia-Camden-Trenton region. This unique data-sharing exercise, called Freight for a Day, documented activity on the region's extensive freight network for one full 24-hour period. Volunteers toured a number of port and rail facilities and evaluated highway access routes. The scan showed the wide scope and range of daily freight activity and demonstrated the national significance of the region's freight facilities.

Evolving
The introduction of four casinos into the Philadelphia region will increase congestion and elevate safety risks unless steps are taken to mitigate community impacts. All four casinos - Sugarhouse, Foxwoods, Philadelphia Park and Harrah's Chester - are located off I-95 and will create a "casino corridor" along I-95 in Bucks, Philadelphia and Delaware counties.

Last year, DVRPC examined all of the proposed casino plans in the region and focused on the individual and collective land use, transportation and signage impacts. While the study did not recommend any one site over another, it found that as new entertainment venues, each of the new casinos will increase local traffic, generate additional new adjoining development and have a strong visual impact with new signs and advertising. The study recommended that transit service and bicycle and pedestrian facilities be expanded and enhanced to all of the licensed gaming facilities to serve both patrons and employees. It also recommended a series of improvements along Columbus Boulevard, including improved transit service, access management, traffic-calming, signal timing, intersection reconfiguration and streetscaping.

DVRPC in Bucks County

• Approximately 610,000 people live in Bucks County, within 23 boroughs and 31 townships.

• Bucks County is home to New Hope, which was originally known as an artists' colony and is now a popular place to visit.

• There are more than 50 local agricultural producers in Bucks County that sell directly to the public.

A DVRPC Transportation Improvement Project (TIP) worth $13 million will include the repair of River Road, which was heavily damaged during flood events over the last few years. Parts of the roadway along the canal are currently closed to traffic, and this project will positively impact homes, businesses, historic canal locks and emergency response efforts.

DVRPC in Chester County

• Chester County was one of the original counties created by William Penn in 1682.

• Its Brandywine Valley is home to the world's horticultural showplace, Longwood Gardens.

• Chester County is the home of QVC, the national electronic retailer, and Chaddsford Winery, PA's most acclaimed winery.

A series of signal interconnect and streetscape projects are planned along Business Route 30 in Coatesville, Downingtown and Caln Township, which will create an attractive pedestrian-scale shopping district. The result will be improved traffic flow and new pedestrian amenities such as lighting, benches, sidewalks and parkscapes. This project is part of DVRPC's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

DVRPC in Delaware County

• Delaware County has 37 SEPTA routes within its borders: five light rail lines, one heavy rail (the El), four regional rail lines and 27 bus routes.

• In July 2006, Media became the first fair trade town in the United States.

• There are approximately 31 miles of bike-friendly trails in Delaware County.

A series of improvements totaling $51 million that will provide for the restoration of rail service for 3 miles from Elwyn to Wawa, is under design and scheduled to begin construction in 2009. This project is part of DVRPC's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

DVRPC in Chester County

• Pennsylvania's namesake, William Penn, sailed from England to Chester in 1682 before settling in Philadelphia. Chester was Penn's first seat of government.

• Since 1996, Chester has attracted more than $1.36 billion in public and private investment as part of efforts to revitalize the city.

• Chester has approximately 267 acres devoted to outdoor recreation facilities, and the riverfront will soon be home to the East Coast Greenway, the national trail that will stretch from Maine to Florida.

DVRPC awarded a $35,000 Transportation and Community Development Initiative (TCDI) grant to the City of Chester to create a new transit-oriented development (TOD) plan for the Highland Station. The plan will include a mix of uses appropriate in proximity to a train station, pedestrian improvements, building reuses and strategies to create higher densities.

DVPRC in Montgomery County

• With approximately 500,000 jobs in the county, Montgomery County is the region's largest employment center after Philadelphia. In fact, about 67,000 more workers commute into the county for work each day than leave the county to work elsewhere.

• The county has 52 miles of regional multiuse trails, with 17 more miles to be completed in the next two years.

• Montgomery County is home to the only nuclear power plant in the region, the Limerick Generating Station.

DVRPC awarded over $400,000 in Transportation and Community Development Initiative (TCDI) funds to five communities in Montgomery County. In Souderton Borough, a $100,000 Streetscaping Plan will enable Souderton to continue the planning necessary for the revitalization of its downtown area. Improvements will include infrastructure enhancements, pedestrian safety and aesthetic improvements.

DVRPC in the City of Philadelphia

• Philadelphia is the home of many "firsts" in our nation, including: first hospital, first medical school, first stock exchange, first mint, first theater, first art museum and school, first protests against slavery, first zoo, first daily newspaper, first department store and first computer.

• Thanks to founder William Penn, Center City Philadelphia has a very easy-tofollow grid street design, making it a walkable city.

• The Pennsylvania Convention Center, one of the largest convention centers in the Northeast, currently occupies six city blocks in downtown Philadelphia. A large-scale expansion is expected to be complete in 2009.

In January 2007, SEPTA completed a $63 million renovation project of the 1930s-era Suburban Station complex into a bright, modern transit hub. The project is part of the DVRPC Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for Pennsylvania.

DVRPC in Burlington County

• Burlington County is the largest county in New Jersey, covering 827 square miles.

• Burlington County is one of the leading agricultural counties in the country, devoting more acres to farming than any other county in New Jersey. In fact, the largest blueberries in the world were developed and raised in Burlington County, and it is the second-largest cranberry-producing county in the United States.

• Burlington County's courthouse in Mount Holly was built in 1796 and is considered one of the finest examples of early American architecture in the country.

The $55 million elimination of the Route73/70 Marlton Circle is expected to be under construction by the summer of 2008. The new interchange, which is part of the DVRPC Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), will improve traffic flow and reduce congestion.

DVRPC in Camden County

• Camden County is named after Charles Platt, the Earl of Camden (1714-1794).

• Camden County institutions, municipalities and streets still bear the names of many early settlers, including William and Benjamin Cooper, whose descendants founded Cooper Hospital and Cooper's Ferry.

• The Walt Whitman and Benjamin Franklin bridges over the Delaware River opened the way for commuters to work in Philadelphia and live in the Camden County suburbs. This connection between Camden and Philadelphia, along with the development of the PATCO high-speed rail, helped to push the county's population over the half-million mark.

Delaware River Port Authority will be replacing PATCO's existing car fleet, either through new car purchase or the complete rebuilding of existing cars. This $180 million project, which is part of the DVRPC Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), will be underway soon, as DRPA has entered into a $9 million engineering contract to initiate the project. This project will improve the commute for thousands who use PATCO daily.

DVRPC in the City of Camden

• Camden is the home of the New Jersey State Aquarium, which includes over 80 exhibits and more than 5,000 fish and aquatic animals of some 800 species.

• The majestic USS New Jersey, the most decorated battleship in history, is docked at the Camden riverfront.

• The RCA Victor headquarters in Camden contained one of the first commercial and recording studios in the United States, and was also the site where the first color television was manufactured.

• Camden is where the first drive-in theater opened in 1933.

DVRPC has awarded the City of Camden a $40,000 Transportation and Community Development Initiative (TCDI) grant to further its revitalization. This grant will allow the City of Camden to develop a final zoning and land use ordinance to support the city-wide redevelopment efforts. It will involve the review of 12 redevelopment plans and draft ordinances. A new map with new zoning designations will also be created.

DVRPC in Gloucester County

• Gloucester County is one of the oldest, most historic counties in the United States. In 1626, the Dutch East India Company established Fort Nassau, a fortified storehouse and trading post for furs, located at the mouth of Big Timber Creek. This was the third settlement in the New World following Jamestown and the Pilgrims' settlement in Massachusetts.

• A little over one-quarter of the county's total land area is developed, with another 25 percent in active agricultural use and approximately 30 percent in vacant lands and woodlands.

• Nearly 15,000 acres of farmland are in the Gloucester County Farmland Preservation Program.

• Gloucester County's highway system includes 139 miles of state and interstate highways, as well as over 400 miles of county roads.

Gloucester County received over $250,000 this year to fund four Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) services, including employment shuttles to and from industrial parks, subscription transit service for persons with disabilities and a service that provides transportation for low-income individuals to literacy training programs.

DVRPC in Mercer County

• Mercer County was formed in 1838 from parts of Hunterdon, Burlington, Middlesex and Somerset counties.

• Mercer County was first populated by the Lenni-Lenape Indians.

• Three signers of the Declaration of Independence were residents of Mercer County-John Hart, John Witherspoon and Richard Stockton.

• One in five acres of land in Mercer County is preserved.

The installation of the first round of roadway safety improvements such as guiderails and reflective pavement markings will be under construction shortly as part of an ongoing safety program in the county. As part of the DVRPC Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), $500,000 is now allocated to the program every other year to improve the overall safety and visibility of roadways.

DVRPC in the City of Trenton

• Trenton is home of the New Jersey State Capital, the country's second-oldest state capitol building in continuous legislative use (the NJ State House).

• Trenton is one of only two capital cities in the United States that border another state, and it is located in almost the exact center of New Jersey.

• During the Revolutionary War, the city was the site of George Washington's first military victory. On December 26, 1776, Washington and his army crossed the icy Delaware River to Trenton and defeated the Hessian troops.

The Commission awarded an $80,000 Transportation and Community Development Initiative (TCDI) grant to the City of Trenton to provide a marketing analysis for the recently updated Trenton Train Station. This study will help the City to develop an economic development strategy and implement new and better design standards for the train station.

Fast Facts

The FY08 TIP for NJ totals $2 billion and includes almost 140 projects: $929 million for roadway and $1.1 billion for transit. Major projects include:

• Route 73, Fox Meadow/Fellowship Road

• 295/42/I-76 Direct Connection

• Trenton Rail Station/Terminal Improvement

The FY07 TIP for PA totals $3.5 billion and includes close to 600 projects: $1.8 billion for roadway and $1.7 billion for transit. Major projects include:

• PA Route 309 Reconstruction

• South Street Bridge Replacement

• SEPTA Rail Stations and Parking Program in Norristown, Glenside and Jenkintown