COVID-19 Response

woman on bus with mask

With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the VTC research team pivoted its efforts to enable it to contribute to the ongoing worldwide conversation on both its short and long-term impacts.

Several research teams at VTC are actively engaged in work to study the impacts of COVID-19 and prepare New Jersey for the “new normal.”

Events

Outside seating area

Transport innovation and Covid-19 recovery: Designing urban environment

Many towns and cities throughout the US and the world have reallocated street space in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was done to allow more social distancing for those walking and using other active modes of travel, and also to provide space for restaurants to offer outdoor dining.

CITI bikes in racks

Emerging Research in Bikeshare and Micro-Mobility

In this paper we examine the impact on the Citi Bike system and the NYC subway. Usage patterns during the lockdown are compared to corresponding days in 2019. 

Masked woman looking at phone

COVID-19 and the Future of Economic Activity and Transportation

On September 29, we convened a full-day virtual symposium to share information and gather input from sector leaders regarding COVID-19 responses and thoughts on what to expect from the post pandemic world. The future of work, housing, commercial real estate, tourism, hospitality, retail and entertainment in the New Jersey and New York metropolitan region were the key subjects of discussion.

U

Research

Sign Closed COVID-19

Working from Home and Walking during and after COVID

We investigate the relationship between people who worked from home during the pandemic and how often they walked before, during, and after COVID.

Sign Closed COVID-19

What do People Want to do Instead of Commuting to Work?

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a sudden shift to working at home. People stopped commuting to their jobs. We fielded two surveys in NJ and asked respondents about activities undertaken with time saved from not commuting as well as those they hope to continue after the pandemic subsides.

Sign Closed COVID-19

COVID-19 Impacts on NJ Employers

North Jersey Partners (NJP), in partnership with the Employers Association of New Jersey (EANJ), commissioned research from Rutgers-VTC to better understand the workforce development and technical assistance needs of small and mid-sized employers in New Jersey.

Show how your community is reacting

Understanding How Changes in Mobility Affect the Spread of Coronavirus

In an effort to understand how changes in mobility are associated with the spread of the coronavirus, distinguished professor Robert Noland used mobility data from Google correlated with estimates of the effective reproduction rate, a measure of viral infectiousness.

Citi bikes in NYC

Bikeshare Usage Change in New York City Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

Bikeshare use in New York City dropped substantially during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, but by summer of 2020 had largely recovered to pre-pandemic levels. The patterns of usage, however, have changed.

Resources

Man getting COVID vaccine

Transit to COVID-19 Vaccine Sites

On March 10, 2021 NJ TRANSIT announced its VAXRIDE Initiative to support New Jerseyans in their efforts to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Motion of pedestrian zebra crossing or crosswalk in asia. Feet of the pedestrians crossing on city street closeup.

COVID-19: Staying Safe While Walking and Bicycling

Indoor and outdoor physical activity will keep us healthy during this stressful time. VTC’s New Jersey Safe Routes program shares ideas for staying active, healthy, and safe in New Jersey even as we maintain our responsibility to our communities to socially distance ourselves from those around us.

Masked woman waiting for train

Transportation, Health Equity & COVID-19: Connections Between Access and Well-Being

Access to quality, reliable transportation has a major impact on one’s life. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this disparity has been even more apparent as those living in high-risk areas have suffered more health impacts from the virus.