The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) recently designated High Bridge Borough in Hunterdon County as a transit village. Designation provides priority consideration for certain funding opportunities, and state commitment to a municipality’s redevelopment plan.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed by a Transit Village Task Force that makes recommendations to the NJDOT commissioner who has final approval.
“To receive a transit village designation, municipalities must create redevelopment plans that promote economic activity around public transportation,” NJDOT Commissioner Fran O’Connor said. “High Bridge’s plan to spur new business activity in its downtown area with more clean options – walking, cycling, and mass transit – will enhance the quality of life for residents, and make High Bridge safer and greener.”
In its Transit Village District plan, the borough said its primary objective is to preserve and encourage a bikeable, walkable and transit-friendly environment that will improve downtown and create a vibrant community. The High Bridge Rail Station on Main Street is the western terminus on the NJ TRANSIT Raritan Valley Line.
The Transit Village Initiative provides municipalities with grant opportunities to redevelop land near train or other transit facilities to promotes economic activity and public transportation use. The initiative also provides planning expertise.
The Department has programmed $1 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 Capital Program to provide funding on a competitive basis to the 36 municipalities designated as Transit Villages. In FY24, the governor and
Legislature provided an additional $1.6 million allowing eight municipalities to receive grants, according to NJDOT.