VTC is proud to present at this year’s TransAction Conference in Atlantic City! 🎉
Tuesday April 15 |Â 10-11am
Moving Away from Traffic Impact Assessments
Traffic Impact Assessments (TIAs) are the industry standard way to assess the impact of proposed development to the transportation network. TIAs are often limited in focus to vehicle trips generated, and impacts to the roadway congestion, with limited considerations of planning goals, safety outcomes and modal choice impacts. Often the results of a TIA are reflected only in on-site parking, and off-site roadway mitigations. Discussed are alternative ways transport impacts of development can be considered, including alternate ways to approach Parking requirements and VMTs.
Moderator: Andy Kaplan, PE, PTOE, Manager, North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority
Presenter: Leigh Ann Von Hagen, PP, AICP, Executive Director, Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Presenter: Peter Truch, P.Eng, Global Independent Consultant, British Columbia, Canada
Presenter: Corey Hannigan, Active Transportation Program Manager, Tri-State Transportation Campaign
Tuesday April 15 |Â 1-2pm
School Zone Safety: Creating Safer Routes for Students
This session will explore strategies to improve safety for students traveling to and from school, focusing on infrastructure, engagement, and programming. We’ll share lessons from ongoing projects in Trenton, NJ, and Philadelphia, including quick, low-cost improvements and experiences working with school communities and administrators. Attendees will gain practical insights on effective approaches to making school zones safer and more accessible.
Presenter: Jen Farris, Transportation Planner, Office of Transit, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Planning, DVRPC
Presenter: Caroline Robertson, Safe Routes Philly VISTA, City of Philadelphia
Presenter: Sean Meehan, Research Project Manager, Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Presenter: Cheryl Kastrenakes, Executive Director, Greater Mercer TMA
Wednesday, April 16 | 9:15-10:15am
Locally Speaking: NJTPA Municipal Programs Create Vibrant Places
Technical assistance programs help communities explore meaningful transportation improvements and place-based strategies…for free! This session highlights federally funded NJTPA municipal programs that include Complete Streets Technical Assistance, Planning for Emerging Centers, and the Vibrant Places Program. The session features real-world municipal examples and covers how the competitive programs are administered.
Moderator: Hon. Bette Jane Kowalski Union County Commissioner and NJTPA Third Vice Chair
Presenter: Blythe Eaman, AICP, Director, Environmental & Sustainability Planning, NJTPA
Presenter: Jesika Tixi, Research Project Coordinator, Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Presenter: Paul Mickiewicz, Co-Chair, Verona Township Neighborhood Traffic & Safety Committee
Wednesday April 16 |Â 10:45-11:55am
Advancing Trail Networks in New Jersey: Insights on Planning, Funding, and Community ImpactÂ
Trail networks in New Jersey offer transformative opportunities for healthier, safer, and more connected communities. Developing these networks requires collaboration across multiple agencies, funding streams, and coordinated planning at both state and local levels. This session brings together representatives from NJDEP, NJDOT, county government, researchers, and advocates to explore how trails are planned, funded, and developed in New Jersey. Panelists will discuss state and federal funding opportunities, insights from a recent report by the Voorhees Transportation Center detailing best practices seen in other states, the regional North Jersey Trail Network Initiative, and local perspectives from county government. The session will also highlight the role of trails in community and economic development, with key initiatives from NJDOT and NJDEP. Attendees will gain insights into best practices for trail and shared-use path development, along with strategies for navigating diverse funding approaches.
Moderator: Zeke Weston, Policy Coordinator, New Jersey Future
Presenter: Paul Gleitz, Supervisor, Land Preservation and Planning, Monmouth County Park System
Presenter: Elizabeth Dragon, Assistant Commissioner, Community Investment and Economic Revitalization, NJDEP
Presenter: Laine Rankin, Assistant Commissioner of Local Resources and Community Development, NJDOT
Presenter: Tiffany Robinson, Trails Network Manager, New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition
Presenter: Rebecca Levitsky, Master’s Degree Student, Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Wednesday April 16 |Â 10:45am-11:55am
Catching up with the NJ MPO Executive Directors
This high-level session, moderated by the executive director of the Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University, brings together New Jersey’s three MPOs: the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), and the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO). The executive directors of all three MPOs will engage attendees as they interactively address common issues, opportunities, and challenges regarding transportation planning in the state. Submit your questions to the NJTPA booth in the expo hall or bring them to the session!
Moderator: Leigh Ann Von Hagen, PP, AICP, Executive Director, Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Presenter: David W. Behrend, AICP, Executive Director, NJTPA
Presenter: Ariella Maron, Executive Director, DVRPC
Presenter: Jennifer Marandino, PE, Executive Director, SJTPO
Wednesday April 16 |Â 5-6pm
Complete Readiness for Complete Streets Success
New Jersey has emerged as a national leader in Complete Streets, with the NJDOT policy recognized as a national model in 2020. However, despite growing municipal commitments, implementation remains a challenge. This session will highlight the opportunities each municipality has to accelerate the implementation of Complete Streets, making streets safer and greener for all people and transportation modes. Speakers from the three MPOs will showcase successful collaborations, sharing insights on the specific programs within their region, and how your municipality can enhance safety, accessibility, and sustainability in your community.
Moderator: Leigh Ann Von Hagen, PP, AICP, Executive Director, Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Presenter: Jennifer Marandino, P.E., Executive Director, SJTPO
Presenter: Spence Gober, AICP, Manager, Office of Community and Economic Development, DVPRC
Presenter: Peter Bilton Manager, Sustainable Transportation Planning, NJTPA
Thursday April 17 |Â 8:45am-9:45am
Best Practices for Improving Traffic Crash Data in New Jersey
This session focuses on best practices in crash data quality, recognizing six key attributes identified by NHTSA: accuracy, uniformity, accessibility, timeliness, integration, and completeness. Bringing together researchers, law-enforcement, and medical experts, we will discuss the accessibility and the availability of crash data nationwide, challenges and solutions to data collection and training, and the importance of crash and medical data integration. Our findings will provide guidance for policymakers and experts to enhance crash data accessibility and support Vision Zero initiatives.
Presenter: Hannah N. Younes, PhD, Senior Research Specialist, Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Presenter: David Guinan, Unit Head, Safe Corridor Unit, NJ State Police
Presenter: Sara A. Freed, PhD, Clinical Research Associate, Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
The TransAction Conference attracts and supports a wide variety of transportation professionals ranging from small community-based transportation systems, to regional, county, statewide and Federal agencies such as NJ TRANSIT, NJDOT, AMTRAK, The Port Authority of NY & NJ, and others. It includes planners, builders, managers, operators, community transportation providers, product suppliers, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, consultants, and so many others. Most of the workshop sessions have received certification for continuing education credits for Professional Engineers and Planners.