During National Walk and Bike to School month, we look at some compelling reasons to make it easier for schoolchildren to walk or bike to school – most notably increased physical activity and reduced traffic. The new federal transportation legislation includes funding for cycling and walking programs and infrastructure, but also enough flexibility that those funds might get diverted for other uses. We urge the New Jersey state DOT to keep bicycle and pedestrian funding, and we encourage the development of more communities where housing and schools are within walking distance of each other.
Author Archive
Safe Routes to School: Small Steps for Healthy Kids
Thursday, October 11th, 2012Seven Exemplary Projects, Plans Earn Smart Growth Awards for 2012
Thursday, May 31st, 2012Seven projects and plans, ranging from a mixed-use brownfield redevelopment to a shopping center transformation to an innovative alternative to traditional zoning, will receive New Jersey Future’s 2012 Smart Growth Awards. Joseph M. Taylor, chairman and chief executive officer of Panasonic Corporation of North America, will receive the Cary Edwards Leadership Award, honoring his decision to build a new headquarters in Newark.
New Report: Review of Legal Framework for County Planning in New Jersey
Monday, May 21st, 2012A new report, the first of two, outlines the legal framework for county planning in New Jersey, and highlights where that framework is either unclear or inconsistent with current planning practices.
Walk or Cycle to Work? You Have Company
Monday, May 14th, 2012Cycling or walking to work is a small but important phenomenon in New Jersey. Between 2000 and 2010 there has been a large increase in the number of people who cycle to work. Residents of bike friendly communities enjoy both health and economic benefits, and NJDOT and a growing number of municipalities are implementing Complete Streets policies to foster biking and walking.
359 Municipalities Working Toward Sustainable Jersey Certification
Wednesday, April 18th, 2012New Jersey is the first state in the nation to have a comprehensive sustainability program that supports community efforts to reduce waste, cut greenhouse gas emissions and improve environmental equity. Of the state’s 566 municipalities, 359 are registered and working toward Sustainable Jersey certification, and nearly 75 percent of New Jersey’s population lives in one of those communities.
State Officials: Redevelopment at the Heart of State Strategic Plan
Wednesday, March 28th, 2012The lieutenant governor and four senior state officials discuss how the new State Strategic Plan will help foster redevelopment in the Garden State.
A Better Transportation Bill
Thursday, March 22nd, 2012The U.S.Senate has passed a better transportation bill than the House did. Now it’s time for the House to pass it too.
Redevelopment Forum Keynote: ‘Walkable Urbanism’ Is Key to New Jersey’s Future
Thursday, March 22nd, 2012Noted urbanist Chris Leinberger, who gave the keynote address at New Jersey Future’s Redevelopment Forum, highlights the many opportunities in developing walkable urban places, and provides New Jersey with a to-do list to help move that kind of redevelopment forward.
House Transportation Bill Falls Short
Thursday, February 9th, 2012Despite all the health benefits of biking, walking or using transit, the House of Representatives’ proposed transportation re-authorization bill falls short on these key transportation needs.
Compact Downtown Development Offers Property Tax Benefits
Thursday, November 17th, 2011An analysis of properties in New Brunswick and the Morristown area finds that compact downtown developments pay significantly higher property taxes per acre than lower-density development located outside downtown areas.
