PENNS NECK AREA EIS COMMUTE OPTIONS PACKAGE (September 9, 2002) The stated purpose of the Penns Neck Area EIS is to "address traffic congestion, mobility constraints and safety concerns on U.S. Route 1 and east-west cross streets in the Penns Neck area of West Windsor Township, Mercer County, New Jersey and its environs." A variety of road-based alternatives are presently under consideration to address this stated purpose. In addition, a variety of complementary travel demand management strategies, transit improvements, and bicycle and pedestrian enhancements are being considered as components of a "Commute Options" package to be included with each of the road-based alternatives. Each road-based alternative examined in the EIS will be analyzed assuming concurrent implementation of the Commute Options package. For modeling purposes, a trip "credit" will be taken against future travel demand. In simple terms, the modeling will assume that 4-5% of peak period work trips will be diverted from single-occupant vehicle travel to other modes of commuting. This percentage is consistent with the trip reduction factors presented in New Jersey's current Long-Range Transportation Plan, Transportation Choices 2025, for Mercer and Middlesex Counties. It is also consistent with the findings of the recently completed Central Jersey Transportation Forum Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) study. While travel and mode choice decisions are made by individuals and cannot be dictated by policy-makers, the Commute Options package is intended to encourage the use of alternative modes of commuting, help decrease growth in single-occupant vehicle use in the Penns Neck area, help reduce peak-hour traffic congestion, provide traffic mitigation during construction, and ensure the sustainability of the significant investment in roadway infrastructure contemplated as an outcome of the EIS process. The package is specifically designed to complement existing TDM programs and activities undertaken by the Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association (GMTMA) and Keep Middlesex Moving, Inc. (KMM); enhance and expand existing transit services in the study area; improve conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists; and target commute option programs to the employment core areas located along and near the Route 1 corridor in West Windsor and Plainsboro Townships. The Commute Options package is intended to serve as a three-year demonstration program to be considered in the DEIS as a complementary strategy. The program would include a commitment to on-going evaluation and assessment. For the purposes of the EIS, it is assumed that, if approved for implementation in the Final EIS, the DOT will work with GMTMA, KMM, NJ TRANSIT and the appropriate Metropolitan Planning Organizations to develop final implementation plans, fund, and implement the Commute Options package prior to or concurrent with construction of the locally preferred alternative selected in the Final EIS. Specific components of the Commute Options package presently under development include the following: Enhanced Transportation Management Association (TMA) Services Existing TMA services and programs should be expanded and enhanced in the following ways: * Comprehensive employee survey - A comprehensive employee survey should be undertaken. The survey should target employees working in the Carnegie Center/Alexander Road employment core in West Windsor Township and the Forrestal Center employment core in Plainsboro Township. In addition, employees of Princeton University and Sarnoff Corporation should be surveyed. At a minimum, the survey should query employees regarding residence location, mode of travel, time of travel, decision factors affecting mode choice, and attractiveness of potential commute option incentives. Survey data should be used to inform the implementation of enhanced and strategically targeted TMA services. * Enhanced rideshare services - Existing rideshare services should be reviewed, coordinated, modified and enhanced as needed to target the West Windsor and Plainsboro employment cores. This should include investigating new information technology solutions such as real-time, on-line ride matching. * Expanded vanpool incentives - Promotion and recruitment efforts related to NJ TRANSIT's vanpool subsidy program should be expanded, and new incentives to recruit volunteer drivers and coordinators should be provided. * Enhanced marketing and outreach to employers and commuters - A full-time commute options coordinator should be employed to develop a comprehensive commute options marketing campaign and special promotion efforts to expand the use of various employee incentive programs such as commuter tax benefits and Transit Pass. The marketing campaign should be targeted to employers and employees working in the West Windsor and Plainsboro employment cores. In addition, an effort should be made to encourage employers to permit and promote work alternative arrangements such as telecommuting, flexible work hours, and compressed work weeks. * Enhanced transit information program - New transit marketing materials, a web-based transit information clearinghouse, and an information kiosk at the Princeton Junction train station should be developed and implemented. Status: Preliminary implementation plans and cost estimates for the above-referenced program enhancements are being developed. New Jitney/Shuttle Services Existing public and private shuttle/jitney services should be expanded and supplemented. This effort should include service planning, vehicle purchase/service contracts, and operation subsidies. New jitney/shuttle services should be designed to: * enhance the use of the Northeast Corridor rail line for reverse direction peak period commuting to work sites in the West Windsor and Plainsboro employment cores; * provide alternative travel modes for targeted commuter markets; * enhance daytime access to area retail and restaurant locations (e.g., noon-time shuttle service). Service expansion should be designed in the context of the recently completed preliminary BRT studies conducted by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and GMTMA. Status: Preliminary service plans and cost estimates are being developed for a Princeton Junction station shuttle serving Carnegie Center and Alexander Road corridor employers. This service will mirror GMTMA's successful TrainLink which serves Forrestal Center employers. In addition, new shuttle services to the following key residential commuter markets are being investigated: East Windsor/Hightstown along County Route 571, Trenton/Lawrence along Business Route 1, and Bucks County, PA. Modifications to Existing Fixed-Route Transit Services In the context of the service planning for new jitney/shuttle services, existing fixed-route services operating in the primary study area should be analyzed and modified or enhanced as warranted. Status: Once preliminary service plans for the above-referenced shuttles are complete, modifications to existing bus routes will be considered. Bicycle/Pedestrian Enhancements and Amenities All road-based alternatives should include facilities to accommodate pedestrian and bicyclists. These facilities should integrate with existing and other planned bicycle and pedestrian facilities. In addition, potential bicycle commuter routes within a five-mile radius of the West Windsor and Plainsboro employment cores should be investigated, planned and implemented. An audit of existing pedestrian conditions in Penns Neck and Princeton Junction should be completed and appropriate improvements should be planned and implemented. Status: Cross-sections for all segments of the road-based alternatives under investigation will include appropriate accommodations for pedestrians and bicycles. A bicycle compatibility analysis of potential commuter routes in the Primary Study area is being undertaken. The analysis is utilizing the Federal Highway Administration's Bicycle Compatibility Index methodology. This analysis will permit mapping of existing bicycle conditions and provide a mechanism to prioritize potential bicycle enhancement actions. An audit of existing pedestrian facilities will be undertaken in the Penns Neck and Princeton Junction neighborhoods to identify "weak links" in the pedestrian circulation network. This audit will permit mapping of existing pedestrian conditions and provide a mechanism to prioritize potential pedestrian enhancement actions. Parking Cash-Out Incentives A voluntary parking cash-out program should be investigated for potential implementation. The investigation should include potential employer subsidies and the identification and recruitment of one or more "leadership" employers to participate in the program. Status: A preliminary implementation plan, including cost estimates is being developed. Penns Neck Area EIS Commute Options Package 9/9/02 3