(The following story by Kaitlyn Calabro appeared on the Daily Targum website on February 20.)
New Jersey Transit’s rails, trains and buses have always been convenient ways for students to travel to New York, visit friends or go home. But studies suggest transit use offers many more benefits to the economy, environment and way of life than may be commonly known.
A study conducted by the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at the University concluded New Jersey is among the nation’s leaders in transit use.
But public transportation in New Jersey is not as commonly used today as it was over a decade ago.
Since the growth of automobile use prior to 1995, the transit industry struggled to show the public its true benefits, according to the study.
But public transit experienced a rebound between 1995 and 2005, and funding for transit increased.
In 2005, the amount of funds allocated for transit doubled from 1995, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Direct state operation and capital support for NJ Transit totaled $702.5 million in 2005, which is less than a gallon of gas per passenger each year.
During this time, New Jersey’s transit growth nearly doubled the nation’s rate.
Taylor Brandreth, a School of Arts and Sciences first-year student, is a frequent user of NJ Transit services.
“I use the train up here about four or five times a semester basically to go home or to go to New York City,” Brandreth said. “Everything around here is really close together. We’re so close to the city, and it’s so much more alluring to go there instead of staying where we are. Public transportation really helps a lot.”
Some students may find convenience in NJ Transit being so close to campus, but according to the report, it attracts transit users in New Jersey other than students as well.
New Jersey’s population density ranks first in the nation with 1,175 residents per square mile and has the highest daily volume on its highways.
Bergen County, the most densely populated county in the state, has a population larger than six other states.
In such a populated state, public transportation proves to be an asset to both students and residents alike.
Alexandra Ross, a School of Arts and Sciences first-year student from Bergen County, said traffic congestion in northern New Jersey is horrendous.
“There are so many new developments in Bergen County and so many more families moving in,” Ross said. “It creates a lot of congestion and traffic, which makes driving in northern New Jersey really difficult.”
Other students also find public transportation options to be helpful.
Tayler Thompson, a School of Arts and Sciences first-year student, said she finds using the train allows her to get to destinations faster than driving because it eliminates the problem of the traffic congestion.
Traffic congestion exists in most areas of the state, but transit use in northern New Jersey seems to be more prevalent than in southern New Jersey.
“One of the biggest differences between north and southern New Jersey is there are more rail services available [in northern New Jersey],” said Rick Remington, the director of Communications for the Voorhees Transportation Center who prepared the study. “There’s a higher density population in north Jersey.”
NJ Transit also allows for more employment opportunities since citizens of northern New Jersey can easily travel to Manhattan daily.
According to a study by economists at the Bloustein School, New Jerseyans held three of every four new jobs created in Manhattan during the 1980s and 1990s.
Besides the economy, the use of public transportation has a beneficial impact on the environment as well.
A 2007 study prepared by the American Public Transportation Association found that public transit usage reduced U.S. gasoline consumption by 1.4 billion gallons each year, which is equivalent to filling up almost 300,000 cars per day.
More and more people may be opting for transit use instead of automobiles because of the continuous rise in the cost of gasoline, Remington said.
“It encourages more people to use transit services,” Remington said. “As gas prices have gone up, people are using it more.”
Some students see the economical and environmental benefits of NJ Transit use.
“The train is more convenient for me because it’s so much cheaper than driving my car and spending money on gas,” Thompson said. “Many people aren’t using cars and are therefore using less fuel, which is good because it’s less harmful to the environment.”
The report found that greenhouse gas emissions from a commuter riding NJ Transit rail were less than half of what they would be if the communters were driving Honda Accords and less than a third if they were driving GMC Envoys.
The growth of NJ Transit usage has benefited the economy and the environment, but it has also been a catalyst for change in some areas.
“In a number of ways, it helps control energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Remington said. “It also creates redevelopment in urban areas.”
The train station’s location acts as a magnet for development, he said. For instance, many people live within a mile of the train station, and they can walk there to catch a train to go to work.
Along the way, they can do shopping or finish errands such as dry cleaning, Remington said. This encourages development of businesses and restaurants in the area around the stations.
“What it comes down to is a lifestyle in which people need a car less and less,” Remington said.