2. Table of Contents
• RPSD Planning Process
• Standing Committee S.W.O.T. Exercise
• Discovery Workshop Overview
• Discovery Workshop Results
– Polling: Shared Values
– Listen and Learn: Like and Change Results
– Polling: Planning Goals and Objectives
– Polling: Demographics
2
3. RPSD Planning Process
3
Discovery
Where are we
now and where
are we heading?
Existing Conditions &
Current Trends
Issues and Challenges
Opportunities &
Strengths
Shared Values &
Common Interests
Visioning
Where do we
want to go?
Priority Goals &
Objectives
Preferred Future
Growth Scenario
Action
Planning
How do we get
there?
Strategies & Actions
Priority Projects &
Initiatives
Resources &
Responsibilities
Implementation Timeline
5. Standing Committee S.W.O.T. Exercise
On September 25, 2012, TNJ held a
Standing Committee meeting to kick-
off the Discovery Phase of the RPSD
planning process.
A portion of that meeting was devoted
to putting together a S.W.O.T. analysis.
The findings from that session are
presented on the following slides.
5
6. Challenges & Threats
• Economic Competitiveness
– Stagnant/uneven job growth and worker/jobs skills gap
– Aging infrastructure
– Home rule & conflicting government priorities
• Livability & Environment
– Chase for “ratables” leads to poor land use decisions
– Housing costs are high
– Lack of sustainable funding for public infrastructure (transportation,
power, water, sewer, parks) maintenance and upgrades and open
space/farmland preservation
• Society & Community
– Disparities in school performance
– Public health disparities by race and place
– High cost structure is “pricing out” arts & culture
6
7. Strengths & Opportunities
• Economic Competitiveness
– Location and infrastructure networks
– Institutions of higher education
– High quality of life
– Changing market preferences
• Livability & Environment
– Market demand for amenity-rich, transit-oriented, walkable places
– Land and buildings available for redevelopment
– Existing public transit network and services
• Society & Community
– Many high performing school districts
– Growing understanding of the built environment’s impact on health
– Arts & culture increasingly used as an economic development strategy
7
8. Desired Long-term Outcomes
• Economic Competitiveness
– Sustained job growth & economic investment
– Continued high quality of life
– Increased economic resilience
• Livability & Environment
– Greater share of new development in walkable, transit-served locations
– Improved transportation connections (roads, sidewalks and transit)
– A network of high-quality natural, agricultural and recreational lands is
protected
– Communities are more resilient to extreme weather events
• Society & Community
– Reduced disparity in school performance
– Reduced health disparities
– Growing/thriving arts community region-wide8
12. Discovery Workshop Polling Results
This section combines the results from the Discovery Phase
Workshops held between March and May 2013.
Audiences were asked to provide their input for questions using an
electronic clicker.
The first two slides present a summary of shared values, followed
by detailed findings.
12
13. Shared values…
• Personal Growth and Well-being
– Being healthy and taking care of yourself (45%)
– Volunteering and giving back to community (25%)
• Family
– Having time to spend together (55%)
– Making time for recreational and cultural activities
together (22%)
• Community
– Having good neighbors and being a good neighbor (37%)
– Feeling a sense of community (28%)
13
14. Shared values…
• Education
– Having opportunities to keep learning all through life (46%)
– Having quality neighborhood schools (36%)
• Nature
– Taking good care of our air, water and natural lands (57%)
– Having green space nearby (22%)
• Safety & Security
– Having safe neighborhoods (33%)
– Peace of mind about the future (32%)
– Having a well-paying job (20%)
14
15. What aspect of Personal Growth and Well-Being is
most important to you?
45%
9%
26%
14%
5%
1%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Being healthy and
taking care of
yourself
Being close to
nature
Volunteering and
giving back to your
community
Spirituality and
religion
None of the above Prefer not to
answer
16. What aspect of Family is most important to you?
55%
14%
23%
6%
2%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Having time to spend
together
Having extended family
nearby
Making time for
recreational and cultural
activities together
None of the above Prefer not to answer
17. What aspect of Community is most important to you?
28%
9% 11%
38%
11%
3%
0%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
18. What aspect of Education is most important to you?
37%
9%
47%
6%
1%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Having quality
neighborhood schools
Being able to go to
college or a trade school
Having opportunities to
keep learning all
through life
None of the above Prefer not to answer
19. What aspect of Nature is most important to you?
23%
60%
8% 8%
1%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Having green space
nearby
Taking good care of our
air
Protecting wildlife
habitat
None of the above Prefer not to answer
20. What aspect of Safety and Security is most important
to you?
21%
34%
4%
33%
7%
1%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Having a good
paying job
Having Safe
neighborhoods
Fewer traffic-related
accidents
Peace of mind
about the future
None of the above Prefer not to
answer
21. How should the region spend transportation dollars?
13%
2%
15%
19%
12%
5%
9%
4%
8%
15%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
18%
20%
Fixing unsafe
bridges
Building more
highways
Making existing
highways work
better
Expanding
transit service
Making existing
transit work
better
Making it
easier to
transport
goods and
materials
around the
region
Using
technology to
improve
transportation
Supporting
more
carpooling and
shuttles
Making our
roads safer
Making it
easier to walk
and bike where
we need to go
22. What sources of funds should be used to support
transportation?
10%
29%
5%
2%
12%
9%
24%
9%
1%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
Transit fares and
tolls
Gas taxes General taxes
like income tax
or sales tax
Borrowing more
money and
paying it off over
time
Selling
"naming"• rights
to bridges
Working with
banks and
businesses to
share costs and
revenue from
tolls and fares
All of the above None of the
above
Prefer not to
answer
24. Listen and Learn Results
Audiences were asked to have small-group conversations about their
communities and submit written responses to six questions:
• What do you like about where you live?
• What do you want to change about where you live?
• What do you like about where you work?
• What do you want to change about where you work?
• What do you like about how you get around?
• What do you want to change about how you get around?
Participants were invited to submit open-ended responses. Those results were
then simplified into themed categories.
The following slides contain a summary of findings by theme, followed by the
top fifteen results for each question.
24
25. Economic Competiveness
Like…
• Entrepreneurship and small
businesses
• Having a diversity of job
opportunities
• Access to well-paying jobs
Change…
• Reduce taxes
• Create more jobs and more
higher-paying jobs
• Increase the diversity of job
opportunities
• Attract more businesses in
downtown areas
25
What we heard was important: Recurring Themes…
26. Livability & Environment
Like…
• Community/neighborhood
character (Rural places, Small
Towns and Cities)
• Ability to walk and bike places
• Good road/highway access
and light traffic
• Access to public transit; open
space, parks & recreation; and
shopping/services nearby
• Proximity to New York City
(and beaches in Monmouth &
Ocean)
Change…
• Encourage a greater diversity of
businesses and services in
downtown areas
• Create more affordable housing
options
• Make it easier and safer to walk
and bike places
• Increase availability of public
transit & improve the
frequency/quality of services
• Improve transportation
“connections” (roads & transit)
and reduce traffic congestion26
What we heard was important: Recurring Themes…
27. Society & Community
Like…
• Low crime and safe
neighborhoods
Change…
• Improve public
safety, especially in
cities
27
What we heard was important: Recurring Themes…
28. 28
What we heard was important: Recurring Themes…
What do you LIKE about where you LIVE?
Response Number
Access to open space 94
Rural community character 69
Livability / walkability of community 65
General Community character 60
Ability to walk and/or bike to places 55
Low crime & safe neighborhoods 54
Access to public transportation options 44
Proximity or general accessibility to locations 41
Access to shopping and services nearby 38
Small Town community character 35
Quality schools 32
Visual appeal and aesthetics 30
Access to recreational opportunities 28
Proximity / easy access to New York City 27
Downtown shopping areas and "Main Streets" 26
“Number” indicates instances of response appearing. Each respondent could make multiple statements.
29. 29
What we heard was important: Recurring Themes…
What do you want to CHANGE about where you LIVE?
Response Number
Need to reduce taxes 57
Need more local public transit options 49
Need to make it easier and safer to walk and bike places 46
Need to lower crime 46
Need more vibrant downtowns with greater diversity of businesses & services 42
Need more regional transit options 41
Need to reduce traffic and congestion 39
Need more affordable housing options 37
Need to improve transportation connectivity (roads and transit) 36
Need to support entrepreneurship to create more businesses 35
Need a greater diversity of housing options 30
Need to improve the frequency, safety and quality of transit options 27
Need better access to parks and open space 26
Need to improve infrastructure 25
More local government control 21
“Number” indicates instances of response appearing. Each respondent could make multiple statements.
30. 30
What we heard was important: Recurring Themes…
What do you LIKE about where you WORK?
Response Number
Transportation - general 62
Proximity to home 57
Job specific reason 43
Amenities nearby 43
Diversity of job opportunities 33
Town setting 30
General location 28
Opportunities to be self-employed 25
Easy commute - transit 24
Walkable location 23
Proximity / easy access to New York City 22
Local hub / cluster, proximity to clients 22
Independently owned shops and businesses 19
High-paying jobs nearby 17
Nature / parks nearby and waterfront 16
“Number” indicates instances of response appearing. Each respondent could make multiple statements.
31. 31
What we heard was important: Recurring Themes…
What do you want to CHANGE about where you WORK?
Response Number
Too few jobs / bad economy 73
Transit (General) 42
Need less bureaucracy, regulation. Change politics. 38
Need to attract more business 35
Accessibility (general) 34
Need higher paying jobs 33
Too much traffic and congestion 30
Need more job training / workforce training opportunities 26
Need to reduce taxes 24
Job specific changes 23
Difficulty walking or biking to work 23
Need more entrepreneurship 21
Business environment too expensive, insurance, rent too high 21
Work too far from home 17
Need more amenities by work 15
“Number” indicates instances of response appearing. Each respondent could make multiple statements.
32. 32
What we heard was important: Recurring Themes…
What do you LIKE about how you GET AROUND?
Response Number
Easy driving commute 92
Transit accessibility 88
Easy walking or biking commute 57
Multiple transit options (bus or train, many lines) 41
Choice between driving or transit available 35
General location 32
Everything is close 30
Highways and major roads 27
Proximity / easy access to New York City 25
Views, aesthetics, open space 23
Minor and back roads 20
Proximity to home 16
Independence 10
Nothing 7
Safety 5
“Number” indicates instances of response appearing. Each respondent could make multiple statements.
33. 33
What we heard was important: Recurring Themes…
What do you want to CHANGE about how you GET AROUND?
Response Number
Lack of transit 154
Too much traffic and congestion 97
Cycling is unsafe 55
Walking is unsafe 45
Transit does not connect towns 40
Need to improve transit schedules 33
Need to reduce taxes 32
Need more road maintenance 29
Safety 25
Everything is far / places not accessible 20
Parking is scarce, hard, expensive 17
New York City is inconvenient 13
Tolls and gas are too high 13
Transit facilities are poor 12
Transit is too slow 11
“Number” indicates instances of response appearing. Each respondent could make multiple statements.
35. Planning Goal and Objectives Results
Participants were then asked to rank planning goals, using the
electronic clickers.
Those results are presented in the following slides.
35
36. Which planning goals and objectives are
most important…
Prioritized List of Regional Planning Goals
(Weighted Score)
1. Strengthen the region’s economy (1586)
2. Improve everyone’s access to opportunity (1296)
3. Ensure communities are safe, healthy and great
places to live (1062)
4. Enhance efficiency and conserve land (951)
5. Protect and enhance the environment (908)
36
37. Prioritized List of Regional Planning Objectives
(Weighted Score)
1. Keep and create well-paying jobs (655)
2. Ensure infrastructure is in good repair and can support
economic development (649)
3. Connect where people live with where they need to go (591)
4. Maintain/expand vibrant downtowns and main streets (371)
5. Create safe, stable neighborhoods w/high quality housing (357)
6. Maintain and improve the quality of schools (356)
7. Encourage development of compact neighborhoods with a mix
of housing, shopping and services (327)
8. Preserve open space and natural areas (269)
37
38. Prioritized List of Regional Planning Objectives
(Weighted Score)
9. Increase investment near existing housing, jobs and
infrastructure (253)
10. Preserve & enhance the character of existing downtowns and
neighborhoods (242)
11. Increase the economy’s ability to adapt to change (187)
12. Create inclusive, mixed income neighborhoods (185)
13. Reduce combined transportation and housing costs (164)
14. Improve access to community resources such as
libraries, senior centers, and youth activities (144)
15. Reduce potential impacts of climate change (138)
38
39. Prioritized List of Regional Planning Objectives
(Weighted Score)
16. Increase ability to respond to and recover from extreme
weather events (127)
17. Ensure adequate water supply (125)
18. Improve access to parks and recreational opportunities (112)
19. Improve public health (108)
20. Improve access to cultural resources (99)
21. Increase regional economic self-sufficiency (95)
22. Direct development away from environmentally sensitive
areas (89)
23. Improve water quality (51)
24. Preserve wildlife habitat (37)
39
40. Goal 6: Address regional growth issues in
a coordinated way
1. Ensure a broad cross-section of residents, businesses and local
government leaders are engaged in the planning
process, including populations traditionally under-represented
in regional planning processes (120 votes)
2. Protect property rights during planning & implementation (71)
3. Foster collaboration between Federal, State, County and local
government to address regional growth issues (70)
4. Provide a regional framework for making decisions about
capital investments, programs, regulations and major
development applications (54)
40
41. Goal 6: Address regional growth issues in
a coordinated way
5. Align existing plans, programs and regulations at all levels of
government (31)
6. Maintain, up-to-date, coordinated local, regional, and State
functional plans that reflect Together North Jersey regional
planning goals and objectives (27)
41
42. What we heard was missing…
• Support small businesses and entrepreneurship
• Support farmland preservation and agricultural businesses in appropriate
locations (both rural and urban)
• Enhance workforce preparedness and expand training opportunities
• Improve and expand existing public transportation options
• Encourage transit-oriented development
• Make it easier and safer to walk and bike places
• Expand access to diverse housing options for all income groups
• Reduce taxes and regulations and reform the property tax system
• Encourage the use of shared services to improve government efficiency
• Also a variety of place-specific strategies and local project ideas
42
45. What is your household size?
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census
17%
40%
17%
22%
5%
25%
29%
17%
28%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
1 person household 2 person household 3 person household 4 or more person
households
Prefer not to answer
Workshops Region
46. How many persons in your household
are under the age of 18?
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census
9% 8%
5%
2%
71%
4%
15% 13%
5%
2%
65%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
One (1) Two (2) Three (3) Four or more (4+) None Prefer not to
answer
Workshops Region
47. How many persons in your household
are over the age of 65?
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census
16% 14%
0% 0%
63%
6%
27%
73%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
One (1) One or More
(Region Only)
Two (2) Three (3) Four or more
(4+)
None Prefer not to
answer
Workshops Region
49. How long have you lived in your current
neighborhood?
5%
8%
15%
22%
46%
1%
3%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Less than a year 1-3 years 4-10 years 11-20 years 20+ years I do not live in
Northern NJ
Prefer not to
answer
50. Do you rent or own your home?
50
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census
(Occupied Units)
19%
75%
3% 4%
37%
63%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Rent Own Residence is provided by others Prefer not to answer
Workshops Region
51. How many vehicles are kept at your home
for your household's use?
51
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census
(vehicles available for occupied housing units)
9%
29%
38%
20%
4%
12%
35% 36%
17%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
No vehicles 1 vehicle 2 vehicles 3+ vehicles Prefer not to answer
Workshops Region
52. Are you…?
52
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census
49%
45%
3% 3%
49%
51%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Male Female Other Prefer not to answer
Workshops Region
56. How did you hear about tonight's meeting?
56
20%
15%
10%
5%
1%
12%
17%
2%
15%
3%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
Together
North Jersey
email /
website
NJTPA email
/ website
County / city
email /
website
Print
newspaper
Online
newspaper
Community
group or
organization
Family Flyer posted
at library
Other Prefer not to
answer
57. For More Information:
57
Jon Carnegie, AICP/PP
Project Director
TOGETHER NORTH JERSEY
Executive Director
Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center
Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
33 Livingston Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
PH: (848) 932-2840
FAX: (732) 932-3714
carnegie@ejb.rutgers.edu
www.togethernorthjersey.com
