Safer Streets Pitch Dominates as NJTPA Funds $16M Warren Bridge
North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority - Board of Trustees • North Jersey Transportation Planning AuthoritySeptember 14, 2026
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The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority spent the longest stretch of its Sept. 14, 2026, meeting hearing a national street-design leader argue that the region's 384 communities should stop solving the same safety problems on their own. Trustees then approved three items by roll call with no recorded opposition: $16M in federal money to replace a Warren County bridge, and two sets of federally required targets for congestion and emissions. Before adjournment, transit advocates asked the board to back weekend rail and bus service.
- NACTO's Ryan Russo urges North Jersey towns to share street-safety know-how. Hoboken is the group's only New Jersey member.
- $16M federal bridge replacement in Warren County added to the regional TIP on 15 audible yes votes.
- Three advocates press for weekend NJ Transit service on the Montclair-Boonton Line, former DeCamp routes and to Hackettstown.
- Board adopts federally required targets for traffic congestion and four vehicle pollutants, 18-0 each.
NACTO's Pitch: Stop Reinventing the Street
Why it matters: Russo described a regional safety toll measured in thousands. The region "has its safety challenges with over 2,600 people killed or severely injured per year," said Ryan Russo, Executive Director, National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO). About 875 of them were walking or biking.
Where things stand: Russo is a former Oakland DOT director and former deputy commissioner at NYC DOT. He linked multimodal options to household affordability and safety and cited about 40,000 traffic deaths nationally. He also pointed to a long decline in public trust that now reaches local government, a federal funding picture he called unpredictable, and the need to invest in capable public servants. His core pitch was peer learning.
"I believe you have 384 individual communities inside your region. They should not have to solve the same problem that someone else has figured out," said Russo.
He promoted NACTO's peer networks, its updated Urban Bikeway Design Guide, the Designing Cities Conference in Nashville in May 2027, and free guidance at nacto.org.
The Q&A: First Vice Chair Jason J. Sarnoski, who presided in place of Chair Charles Kenny, noted that 12.5% of the region's commuters use transit. Russo estimated the national figure at 2.5% to 3%. Asked about work-from-home trends, Russo said transit ridership commonly runs at 60% to 80% of pre-pandemic levels.
One board member pressed on small towns. "I'm asking for those municipalities that have limited capacity, are facing these challenges and just don't know where to go," the board member said. Russo pointed to NACTO's discussion forums and said MPOs elsewhere are paying for local memberships.
"We're very excited to have Hoboken as a member of NACTO, but I'm also very disappointed that that is our sole New Jersey member, given how urbanized New Jersey actually is," said Russo.
Another member noted that many projects default to state design standards. Russo credited state DOTs with growing more open to collaboration. On deliveries, he called the curb a frontier of public space management. A member of the public asked about e-bikes and scooters. Russo backed reclassifying vehicles that exceed 20 mph and warned that "motorcycles are being disguised as bicycles in the rights of way."
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The board took no action. Municipalities with thin engineering staffs have the most to gain from shared networks, but NJTPA made no commitment to fund memberships. The pitch builds on NJTPA's own pipeline. Last year the agency helped eight subregions, including Warren County, write safety action plans that make them eligible for federal implementation funding. It has now launched a Safe Streets and Roads for All Advancement Program.
What's next: Implementation workshops for the advancement program are planned for October and November.
Advocates Map North Jersey's Weekend Transit Gaps
Why it matters: Three speakers from three groups brought a shared message: rail and bus lines that already exist sit idle or nearly idle on weekends. Nick Giglio, founder and chair, ROOT (Restore Our Transit in Essex), said current service is "leaving more than 150,000 people what is effectively a weekend transit desert."
Where things stand: Giglio said the Montclair-Boonton Line is the only dual-tracked electrified line without hourly weekend service. He also argued the gap runs against NJ Transit's own data. "It's also out of line with New Jersey Transit's own reports showing weekend demand now exceeds pre-COVID levels while weekday rail demand still lags behind," said Giglio. He asked the board to declare hourly weekend Montclair-Boonton service and seven-day former DeCamp bus service regional goals, and to ask NJ Transit for a clear roadmap. He stressed that the request is for operating money, not capital funds. He also praised the board's congestion and air-quality work and tied his requests to those goals.
Vito Herrera, vice chair and legislative director, Lackawanna Coalition, repeated calls for hourly service from Hoboken to Montclair State University and restored express and hourly Long Branch-Bay Head service on the North Jersey Coast Line. "When train service is suspended, we ask NJ Transit to provide bus substitution along the line and/or bus bridge where there is backup service," said Herrera. He also said former DeCamp routes run only at peak hours in the peak direction.
Neil Weissman, group ride organizer, New York Cycle Club, proposed an April-to-October pilot. It would extend limited weekend and holiday service to High Bridge and Hackettstown and add an earlier outbound train to Port Jervis. His aim is to draw some of New York City's 800,000 active adult cyclists, most of whom do not own cars. He estimated $60,000 in labor costs for an engineer and two conductors.
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The board took no position. Sarnoski acknowledged "certainly a theme today of commuting and transit." Essex County riders, the Montclair-Boonton corridor and trail towns in Hunterdon, Sussex, Morris and Warren counties have the most at stake. NJ Transit's new chief planner, Trent Lethko, joined the board at this meeting as the delegate for Kris Kolluri.
What's next: No follow-up was scheduled. The board next meets Nov. 9, 2026.
$16M Lifeline for Warren County Bridge
The basics: The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is the region's list of federally funded projects. A project must appear on it to receive federal dollars.
Where things stand: At NJDOT's request, the board added the South Main Street Bridge over the Washington Secondary Conrail line to the FY 2026-2029 TIP. "This request will allow NJDOT to make emergency repairs and replace the bridge," said Commissioner Sui, Vice Chair, Project Prioritization Committee.
The amendment commits $16M in National Highway Performance Program (NHPP) funds over six years. The money covers preliminary engineering, final design, right-of-way and construction. Sui's committee also added $6M in NHPP funds to the Route 440, Route 95 to Creel Street project in Middlesex County. That brings its FY 2026 design phase to $24M to cover significant structural, geotechnical and environmental work. Staff also briefed the committee on federal awards for the Paterson-North Transit Market project in Passaic County and the County Route 508/Route 280/Route 7 project in Hudson County.
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Hudson County moved the amendment and Passaic County seconded it. The vote was 15 audible yes responses with no opposition (For: 15, Against: 0, Absent: none recorded). Some seats answered together, so individual votes cannot all be separated. There was no board or public comment. Warren County drivers and Conrail-line neighbors gain a funded path to a full replacement. The meeting's presiding officer, Sarnoski, is Warren County's trustee.
What's next: NJDOT can begin emergency repairs and move through design to construction over the six-year window.
Federal Targets Set for Delay and Pollution
Why it matters: Federal rules require these Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) targets. "Approval of these items is needed to comply with federal regulations," said Commissioner Michèle S. Delisfort, Second Vice Chair, Union County.
Where things stand: The congestion targets cover 2026 to 2029 for the New York-New Jersey, Trenton and Allentown urbanized areas. They were developed with partner MPOs and DOTs in three states. The targets track two measures: the share of travel not in single-occupant vehicles, and peak-hour excessive delay per person on the National Highway System. Peak hours are 6-10 a.m. and 3-7 p.m. on weekdays.
The targets factor in post-pandemic travel patterns, transit ridership, remote work, ridesharing, New York City congestion pricing, construction and economic conditions. "Excessive delay has increased since the pandemic, and future efforts would focus on moderating and stabilizing," said Delisfort. She said the targets may be adjusted during the four-year period.
The emissions targets cover carbon monoxide, fine particulate matter, volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides. They are based on reductions from CMAQ projects over the past four fiscal years and those expected over the next four.
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Both items passed 18-0 by roll call (For: 18, Against: 0, Absent: none recorded). Newark moved the congestion targets and Jersey City seconded. Ocean County moved the emissions targets and the Governor's Authorities Unit seconded. Neither drew board or public debate. Transit advocates now have a benchmark for their case: shifting trips out of solo cars is one of the measures the region has formally committed to track.
Minor Items
- Electric ferry: The FTA awarded NJ Transit $9.6M for a low-emission ferry for planned Carteret service. Carteret has secured more than $100M for its terminal, and South Amboy's new terminal holds its ribbon cutting this month.
- Freight: NJTPA began an 18-month e-commerce delivery study. Morris County awarded a $358,000 contract to rehabilitate the Union Street and Mercer Street rail crossings in Dover.
- Safety projects: A roundabout opened in Livingston, Hudson County began JFK Boulevard construction, and a consultant will study high-crash corridors.
- Grant deadlines: Vibrant Places applications are due Sept. 30. Safe Routes to School applications are due Nov. 13, with pre-application meetings required by Oct. 15.
- Board changes: NJDOT alternate Eric is retiring after 25 years, and Passaic County Commissioner Michael Ramaglia joined the board. July 13 minutes passed by voice vote, with Jersey City abstaining.
Looking Ahead
The FHWA and FTA will conduct their four-year certification review of NJTPA's planning process on Oct. 26-27. Staff said the review is required for the region to keep its federal transportation funding, and trustees are urged to join the Oct. 26 meetings. The board's next meeting is Nov. 9, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., with NJDOT Commissioner Priya Jain as featured speaker.