There are numerous economic and community benefits associated with the North Brunswick Transit Village. The highlights below show why the project has earned support from residents, elected officials, NJ TRANSIT, and the NJ Department of Transportation.
A new train station is the catalyst for the North Brunswick Transit Village. Currently, the longest stretch on the Northeast Corridor Line without a station lies between Princeton Junction and New Brunswick. A new station in North Brunswick will give commuters much-needed access to NJ TRANSIT and its network.
The idea of linking regional transportation to this redevelopment project has garnered enthusiastic support from area residents, NJ TRANSIT, and the NJ Department of Transportation. A new station will bring immeasurable benefits to area residents, as train stations have in other communities for centuries.
The Transit Village adheres to the core principles of Smart Growth: a mixed-use community with walkable neighborhoods, mass-transit accessibility, sustainable economic and social development, and preserved green open space. See the Principles of Smart Growth page for more.
The Transit Village will significantly increase the municipal tax base and positively affect revenue for the Township of North Brunswick — a “positive ratable.” Property taxes have risen substantially in recent years, and the project is an opportunity to reverse that trend by generating a profitable new ratable.
The Transit Village is designed and will be operated as a self-sustaining community, maintaining many services independently. This means limited impact on municipal services.
A Rutgers University study found that Transit-Oriented Developments (TOD) do not result in large numbers of additional school-age children — in fact, far fewer than conventional single-family developments. Comparing school revenue to school costs, the Transit Village produces a substantial revenue surplus.
The Transit Village will give local residents access to greater regional employment via train and bus, and will also create on-site jobs in shops, restaurants, offices, a hotel, and the transportation center.
New Jersey’s housing costs are among the highest in the United States. A shortage of compact, high-density, reasonably priced housing has cost the state jobs and wage growth. The Brookings Institution concluded that the number-one issue for the future of New Jersey’s economy is housing for young professionals.
A higher-density, walkable community near a train station offers a wider range of housing types at more affordable prices. This housing mix will drive a vibrant neighborhood where people live, work, shop, dine, enjoy the arts, and gather on the town green — the single most important key to the Transit Village’s long-term viability.
Main Street NB will serve as the town center for North Brunswick Township, creating an authentic main-street neighborhood and a sense of community for residents of all ages. It will become a focal point for concerts, festivals, fireworks, town-wide events, and parades.
Walkable and bikeable civic spaces will let residents visit the public library, socialize in the plaza, relax in park-like areas, see a concert in the grass amphitheater, and shop or eat at a sidewalk café. A full-service hotel will serve business travelers and local residents hosting special events, meetings, and out-of-town guests.
Before any new buildings open, the developer will make significant improvements to Route 1 intersections and traffic lights at Aaron Road, Commerce Boulevard, and Adams/Cozzens Lane. A new roadway will connect Cozzens Lane to Adams Lane at Malouf Chevrolet, fixing an existing bottleneck.
Transportation infrastructure improvements include the train station itself, highway improvements, and traffic-calming measures. The NJ Department of Transportation is committed to working closely with communities that build Transit-Oriented Developments, and the North Brunswick Transit Village meets all 14 points of the NJ DOT Transit Village Initiative Program.