Regional Plan Association - Transportation


			Two underlying themes of RPA's research are to analyze the changing dynamics and interdependencies among different areas of the region, and to relate this analysis to current issues and policy decisions. In addition to ongoing monitoring and analysis, RPA undertakes targeted research that focuses on particular issues or geographic areas. Current projects include the following: Lower Manhattan economy, Long Island index, and New Jersey Framework.


Since September 11, RPA has been leading efforts to examine the future economy of Lower Manhattan for the Civic Alliance to Rebuild Downtown New York. In 2002, this effort resulted in the publication of Reports from the Economic Development Working Group and the development of economic scenarios and their regional implications for the Civic Alliance's Planning and Design Workshop for Lower Manhattan. The first report included an analysis of the Manhattan and regional office market, an examination of the future of Lower Manhattan as a creative center for the region, and economic development recommendations for the Alliance. In 2003, RPA will continue its analysis of the regional implications for a revitalized Downtown. * Reports from the Economic Development Working Group (7.7 mb) pdf


RPA is working with the Rauch Foundation and key stakeholders on Long Island to produce an index that will measure Long Island's quality of life and help achieve a consensus on problems and solutions among the Island's leaders and citizens. RPA's primary role is to produce research and analysis that will help articulate the issues agenda. As an initial product, RPA has produced a Long Island Profile that summarizes demographic, economic and environmental facts and trends. RPA is also providing statistical and issues analysis to support a series of quality of life polls and serves on the project's Advisory and Technical committees. Long Island Profile (2.2 mb) pdf Long Island Growth Projections Report (800K PDF) www.longislandindex.org


As New Jersey charts its course for the new century, it must confront two structural challenges to sustain the growth and prosperity it achieved in the 1990s. One is driven by the continuing transformations of the global economy, the second by the internal capacity constraints created by decades of largely unplanned metropolitan growth. Regional Plan Association is developing economic and transportation analysis to better understand the implications of the changing economic geography for New Jersey's infrastructure and development needs. An analysis of industry clusters and infrastructure conditions in different regions is being completed. Future work will focus on identifying priority infrastructure investments and opportunities for interstate collaboration.


With growing public interest in property tax reform and a proposed Constitutional Convention in 2006, Regional Plan Association and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy have teamed up to address New Jersey’s over-reliance on local property taxes to fund public education and identify policies which would encourage smart growth. Three public forums are being held in the winter and fall of 2005, and a final report will be released in the spring. As part of the property tax reform series, Regional Plan Association produced a series of white papers on the deficiencies of the current system and key policy issues for each forum, as well as summaries of the discussions and ideas presented at each program. A final report will include recommendations for reforming the State’s property tax system to encourage smart growth. This information can inform New Jersey leaders to reform the current system in ways that will discourage sprawl and encourage compact, mixed-use communities. For each forum below please find the accompanying white paper/agenda and a summary of the forum: Forum 1: How Can We Afford Smart Growth? February 23, 2005 Co-hosted by the Edward J. Bloustein School for Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, this program explored the financial obstacles to realizing smart growth, and raised suggestions about how to overcome these barriers. Background paper/agenda Summary of Proceedings Forum 2: Welcoming Families Back to New Jersey: Schools, Housing and the End of ‘Fiscal Zoning’ March 9, 2005 Held in partnership with the Municipal Land Use Center at The College of New Jersey, this forum addressed New Jersey’s over-reliance on local property taxes to fund public education, and examined how reforms that have been implemented in Michigan and Massachusetts have changed school funding and land use policies. Background paper/agenda Summary of Proceedings (coming soon!) Forum 3: Should Land and Buildings Be Taxed Differently? The final forum will take place March 23^rd at the Rutgers University Center for Law and Justice in Newark. Co-hosted by the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies, panelists will look at differential taxation (i.e., taxing land and buildings at different rates) as a possible tool for reforming the state’s land use and fiscal policies. For more information, see the Calendar . Background Paper/Agenda Coming in May: Final Report and Recommendations