What are the economic and demographic impacts on the areas surrounding transit villages?##M:[more]##
Jan S. Wells of the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center of Rutgers University will provide information on that question as part of the Princeton Junction Neighborhoods Coalition’s (PJNC) continuing series of talks on transit villages. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held at the West Windsor Senior Center on Monday, November 7, at 7 p.m. Call 609-275-5042 for more information.
West Windsor, along with New Jersey Transit, is currently studying the feasibility of developing a transit village on the west side of the Princeton Junction train station. Earlier this year, New Jersey Transit released the results of a vision study that called for a project at the train station with commercial, retail, and residential components. The planning board is expected to review the vision study and a hold public meetings on the concept before the end of this year.
“The presentation, followed by a moderated discussion, will serve to provide residents with more information and opportunity for conversation on the issues surrounding the development if a transit village,” says a PJNC press release.
A report titled “Demographics of the New Jersey Transit Villages,” co-authored by Wells in 2003, provides some background on demographic impacts of transit village already in place. “Transit villages in New Jersey feature a younger population, more racial and ethnic diversity, more immigrants, lower household economics, more singles, more rental housing, higher vacancy rates, and exhibit better transit habits — fewer cars, higher use of trains and buses, more residents walking to work,” the report states.
Wells also reports that “residents of the villages demonstrate a strong tendency to use transit, walk, or bike — either because they need to financially or because it is more convenient than driving. With the ongoing ‘transit-friendly’ improvement of these station areas (safe, walkable street patterns for access, mixed-use and higher density development, reduced auto activity, traffic calming, and pedestrian-scale streetscapes), New Jersey transit villages are becoming excellent examples of smart growth ideals being put into practice, with real social, economic, and environmental benefits.”
