New Plan for Trenton Transit Center Neighborhood Offers Roadmap for Revitalization

TRENTON, Oct. 23 — New Jersey Future today released the Trenton Transit Center Strategic Action Plan, calling for the transformation of the neighborhood around the transit center into a vibrant and dynamic district. The neighborhood, which was designated as a federal Opportunity Zone, is home to several undeveloped properties, and lacks both accommodation for pedestrians and bicyclists and a unifying neighborhood identity, making it ripe for redevelopment.

“Trenton’s transit orientation and availability of quality and affordable development sites makes the area surrounding the Trenton Transit Center one of the city’s key locations where private-sector, high density, mixed-use development could and should occur,” said George Sowa, chief executive officer of Greater Trenton, a nonprofit that uses private funding and a network of collaborative relationships to advance economic revitalization efforts in New Jersey’s capital city. “The study creates a plan to energize this critical area of the city as a catalyst for quality urban development.”

“As we did the drawings and analysis for this plan, it became clear that all the elements needed to make this a welcoming, cohesive neighborhood are already in place,” said John Hatch, a principal at the architecture and planning firm Clarke Caton Hintz. “We were happy to work with New Jersey Future to develop a plan that will help underscore the true character and potential of the city.”

Recommendations for the neighborhood include a dramatic increase in the number and variety of housing units, integrating public plazas and open spaces, and fixing intersections to increase pedestrian and bicyclist safety. These actions will equip the neighborhood with the tools needed to be a welcoming place for individuals, families, and businesses to live, work, and play.

“The Trenton Transit Center is, as the plan notes, under-utilized as an economic-development asset,” said New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach. “For many reasons — linking more people with economic opportunity, reducing transportation-related greenhouse-gas emissions, and increasing property values in the area — maximizing the redevelopment opportunities that already exist around the station should be one of the city’s highest priorities. The return on those investments will continue well into the next generation and beyond.”

“The opportunities highlighted by this plan are significant,” said Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora. “We appreciate the work done by all involved in developing it, and we are eager to get started on the first of the implementation steps it recommends.”

New Jersey Future developed the plan for Greater Trenton in partnership with Clarke Caton Hintz. The plan was made possible through funding from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and undertaken in parallel and in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Transit Opportunity Zone study, conducted for the City of Trenton. The full plan is available here.

Founded in 1987, New Jersey Future is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that promotes sensible growth, redevelopment and infrastructure investments to foster vibrant cities and towns, protect natural lands and waterways, enhance transportation choices, provide access to safe, affordable and aging-friendly neighborhoods and fuel a strong economy. The organization does this through original research, innovative policy development, coalition-building, advocacy, and hands-on strategic assistance.