SJTPO Seeking Feedback on Regional Transportation Plan

COURT HOUSE — The South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO) is currently seeking public comment for the draft Transportation Matters – A Plan for South Jersey. Transportation Matters will serve as the federally required regional transportation plan for the SJTPO region, which consists of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties and will guide the region’s transportation decision-making for the next 24 years. This document is the culmination of a process that began earlier this year to establish a long-term vision and goals for transportation in South Jersey, and includes input from a variety of regional stakeholders and the public.
Underscoring the importance of transportation planning to the region, Sea Isle City Mayor and SJTPO Policy Board Chairman Leonard Desiderio remarked, “South Jersey will receive nearly $142 million for transportation improvements in 2016, over 80 percent of which will go exclusively to system maintenance. As of today, our local planners and engineers have identified over $660 million in unfunded critical needs. Finding solutions and keeping the system operational is why this process matters!”
With Transportation Matters, SJTPO envisions a transportation system that moves people and goods safely and efficiently, while incorporating all modes and users. The plan is guided by the following goals:
• Promote accessibility and mobility
• Support the regional economy
• Mitigate traffic congestion
• Improve transportation safety
• Protect and enhance the environment
• Restore, preserve, and maintain the existing transportation system
• Enhance the integration and connectivity of the transportation system
• Improve security
• Improve the resiliency and reliability of transportation infrastructure
• Increase and enhance opportunities for travel and tourism
The plan includes a comprehensive review of current transportation resources in South Jersey, its highways, transit, bicycle, pedestrian, and intermodal facilities. For each travel mode, the demand for travel is reviewed, needs are assessed, and opportunities and strategies for improvement are presented.