Save the Date!
And plan to join the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center (VTC) at the 2026 New Jersey Planning & Redevelopment Conference, presented by New Jersey Future and the American Planning Association New Jersey Chapter. VTC staff will share research and practical experience from several current initiatives, contributing to conversations on transportation access, community mobility, and planning for more connected and resilient communities.
The conference will convene virtually on June 10–11 and in person on June 12 at the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick, bringing together planners, public officials, researchers, and community leaders to discuss land use, transportation, housing, and strategies for sustainable growth across the state.
Designing Local Streets for All Users, Not Just Cars
AICP CM | 1.0
June 10, 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
VIRTUAL | TRANSPORTATION & MOBILITY
Local streets should enable people to reach nearby destinations safely and comfortably without relying solely on a car. Their design should signal that people come first. Yet transportation planning and engineering practices often continue to prioritize vehicle movement, even in downtowns, school zones, and other built environments where safety and livability are paramount. As New Jersey advances goals related to roadway safety and clean energy, the connection between transportation, land use, and street design has never been more important. This session explores how Complete Streets principles and coordinated planning can create pedestrian, bicycle, and transit supportive communities. Attendees will gain insight into policies, design strategies, and implementation approaches that promote safer access, stronger local economies, and a more balanced mobility system statewide.
Moderator: Tim Evans, Research Director, New Jersey Future
Speakers:
Blythe Eaman, Director of Environmental and Sustainability Planning, NJTPA
Anthony Durante, Senior Associate, Michael Baker International
Leigh Ann Von Hagen, Executive Director, Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, Rutgers University
Nancy Facey-Blackwood, Councilmember, Borough of Red Bank
From Library to Lane: Scaling Complete Streets in South Jersey
AICP CM | 1.0
June 11, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
VIRTUAL | REGIONAL PLANNING
In 2024, the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization launched a Complete Streets Technical Assistance Program to help communities move from policy adoption to on the ground implementation. This session highlights lessons from the program, including a temporary demonstration project in Pennsville that tested traffic calming strategies in real time. Panelists will discuss how communities can use tool lending resources, pilot installations, speed data collection, and public engagement to build momentum and inform permanent improvements. The discussion will also outline how technical assistance can reduce barriers to implementation and create replicable models for safer streets. Attendees will gain practical insight into scaling Complete Streets initiatives and leveraging available support to advance safer, more accessible roadways across South Jersey.
Moderator: Jennifer Marandino, Executive Director, SJTPO
Speakers:
James Sinclair, Senior Research Specialist, Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, Rutgers University
Kristen McLaughlin, Bicycle & Pedestrian Planner, Cross County Connection TMA
Steve Krough, Emergency Management Coordinator, Pennsville Township
Anne Heasly, Senior Program Manager, Policy and Planning, Sustainable Jersey
Rethinking Safe: Planning for Dignity, Belonging, and the People We Leave Out
AICP CM | 1.0
June 11, 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
VIRTUAL | SPECIAL POPULATIONS
Planners often reference safe streets, yet rarely ask what safety truly means and who benefits from current approaches. This session expands the definition of safety beyond crash data to include physical, emotional, and social well being. Drawing on work with unhoused residents, intergenerational mobility storytelling, school based demonstration projects, and culturally responsive engagement strategies, panelists will examine how traditional planning processes can overlook those who experience public space with heightened vulnerability. The discussion will introduce equity centered frameworks that prioritize dignity and belonging while offering practical strategies for meaningful engagement and mobility design. Attendees will gain replicable, community rooted approaches for redefining safety and shaping public spaces that reflect the lived experiences of all residents across New Jersey.
Moderator: Tiffany Robinson, Trails and Active Mobility Director, New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition
Speakers:
Rosa Mannion, Principal Landscape Architect, NV5
Leigh Ann Von Hagen, Executive Director, Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, Rutgers University
Justin Dennis, New Jersey Program Director, Trust for Public Land
Courtenay Mercer, Principal, Mercer Planning Associates
Assessing Impact and Needs of the 2025 State Plan: What We Learned
AICP CM | 1.0
June 11, 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
VIRTUAL | REGIONAL PLANNING
In December 2025, New Jersey adopted an updated State Development and Redevelopment Plan supported by two companion analyses, an Impact Assessment and an Infrastructure Needs Assessment. Together, these studies evaluate how the Plan may shape development patterns over the next 10 to 20 years and identify the resources required to implement its vision. This session convenes experts from the New Jersey Office of Planning Advocacy, Rowan University, and Rutgers University for a behind the scenes look at the methodology, findings, and policy implications of this major statewide effort. Attendees will gain insight into how planning impacts were assessed across the economy, infrastructure, health, environment and land use, climate, and equity, and how these findings can inform stronger long term decision making across New Jersey.
Moderator: Lisa Avichal, Senior Planner, Office of Planning Advocacy
Speakers:
Sam Rosenthal, Research Project Coordinator, Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, Rutgers University
John Hasse, Professor, Rowan University
Qian He, Assistant Professor, Rowan University
Kevin Keenan, Professor, Rowan University
Mahbubur Meenar, Associate Professor, Rowan University
Vijayant (VJ) Rajvanshi, Planning Director, Department of Transportation, Middlesex County