What do People Want in NJ?

A Review of Key Surveys!

Tim Evans ▪ New Jersey Future

TransAction ▪ April 11, 2012

New Jersey Future is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that brings together concerned citizens

and leaders to promote responsible land-use policies. The organization employs original research, analysis and advocacy to build coalitions and drive land-use policies

that help revitalize cities and towns, protect natural lands and farms, provide more transportation choices

beyond cars, expand access to safe and affordable neighborhoods and fuel a prosperous economy.

“The way New Jersey has been developed over the past generation has left an indelible imprint on the state’s economy and quality of life for all residents. Most people look at development from the confines of their immediate surroundings. Urban residents focus on how their cityscapes have changed in the past generation while suburban residents may think more about open spaces.”

Land-Use Policy Reality Check

Many aspects of growth and development can be described by data available from public sources (Census Bureau, NJDOT, NJ Transit, NJ Dept of Labor, etc.). But to find out whether and how these quantitative trends affect people subjectively, you have to ask them. Is what’s important to land-use policy advocates the same as what’s important to the general public?

Opinions About State Priorities

Q1. Please tell me whether each is very important, somewhat important, not very

important, or not at all important for us to address.

A. Attracting new businesses and creating jobs

B. Reducing property taxes

C. Improving education

D. Protecting farmland and open space from development

E. Slowing the rate of development

F. Reducing traffic congestion

G. Having a good transportation system of roads and highways

H. Improving access to public transportation

I. Protecting our drinking water supply

J. Preserving the state’s remaining forests

Very important

Somewhat important

Not very important

Not at all important

“Protecting natural resources, specifically the state’s drinking water supply, is valued as highly by New Jersey residents as encouraging new businesses and job growth. While economic concerns have increased dramatically in the past decade, it’s important to note that New Jerseyans continue to place a high premium on natural resource preservation.”

Environmental Issues Not Necessarily Taking a

Back Seat to Economic Growth

Weakening Highlands Protections (created by the

“Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act”) May Thus Not Be

a Popular Move

Don’t Forget About Property Taxes

Property taxes are even more important today than 10 years ago. (Six of the questions on the 2011 survey were also asked on a similar survey in 2000.)

Don’t Forget About Property Taxes

“New Jerseyans are less likely to view the pace of development negatively than they were ten years ago. This lessening of concern over development is likely tied to current economic conditions. The rate of construction has slowed because of the economy and thus over-development is not perceived as a problem right now.”

Pace of Development Not As Big a Concern

When Economy Slows Down

“It’s important to note that despite the substantial increase in economic priorities, other priorities related to sustainability, such as preserving open space, have not diminished in importance for New Jersey residents.”

“Economy vs. Environment” Is Not a Zero-

Sum Game In Public’s Mind

Center-Based Development

“Many planners emphasize focusing growth and development in existing towns and cities where there are already transportation options and neighborhoods are within walking distance of services and transit access. Two-thirds (66%) of New Jerseyans feel that the state needs more of these sustainable communities.”

A4. There has been talk recently of improving existing towns and cities where people can walk or take public transportation to shop or get to work. Do you think New Jersey has enough of these types of communities or do we need more of them?

“Nearly 3-in-4 New Jerseyans say they would definitely (46%) or probably (27%) like to live in a community where they could walk to shops or their job and that offered a variety of transportation options.”

Center-Based Development

Center-Based Development

If there were more compact, walkable, “downtown”-style communities in New Jersey, would people be willing to trade down to a smaller house to live there?

Redevelopment – Key to

Revitalization

Urban residents (32%) are more likely than residents of established towns and suburbs (16%) and expanding suburbs (19%) to say there has been too little development in their area.

A2. Thinking closer to home, do you think there is too much, too little, or just the right amount of development in your area?

Transportation Priorities

• Fix-It-First: “When asked which aspects of transportation

infrastructure should be prioritized, fully 3-in-4 (75%) rate the maintenance and repair of existing roads and highways as a high priority … Fewer New Jerseyans rate expanding walkways and bikeways (41%) or building new roads (36%) as high priorities.”

• Transit: “A majority of 54% give the same high priority

rating to expanding and improving train and bus services.“

Transportation Choices

“Public transportation in New Jersey is generally perceived as being safe, affordable, and convenient. Just under half say public transit in New Jersey goes where they want to go.”

“Just over half (52%) of New Jerseyans say they would like to use public transit or walk or bike more often than they do now. Most transit users say they would like to use transit even more than they do now (64% regular riders and 58% occasional riders). However, few of those who never use transit – just 31% – are inclined to consider it.”

Garden State Quality of Life Index

The Garden State Quality of Life Index was created by the Monmouth University Polling Institute to serve as a resident-based indicator of the quality of life offered by the state of New Jersey.

The index is based on five separate poll questions:

1. Overall, how would you rate New Jersey as a place to live – excellent, good, only fair, or poor?

2. How would you rate your town or city as a place to live – excellent, good, only fair, or poor?

3. How would you rate the quality of the environment in the area where you live – excellent, good, only fair, or poor?

4. How would you rate the job your local schools are doing – excellent, good, only fair, or poor?

5. How safe do you feel in your neighborhood at night – very safe, somewhat safe, or not at all safe?

Garden State Quality of Life Index

Region is defined by county boundaries: Northeast (Bergen, Passaic), Urban Core (Essex, Hudson), Route 1 Corridor (Mercer, Middlesex, Union), Central Hills (Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset), Northern Shore (Monmouth, Ocean), Delaware Valley (Burlington, Camden, Gloucester), and Garden Core (Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Salem, Sussex, Warren).

Tracking changes by region of the state:

Monday, August 1, 2011 NEW JERSEY’S QUALITY OF LIFE BY COUNTY Highest in Morris, lowest in Cumberland

Garden State Quality of Life Index

“The study also divided New Jersey towns into five different types of communities: Major Urban Centers, the six largest cities; Other Urban Areas, any municipality with a population over 25,000 or a high population density (including Atlantic City, Vineland, and some Union municipalities); Rural Areas, any town with a population density less than 1,000 people per square mile or a population less than 1,000 (excluding shore towns); Older Towns & Suburbs, any non-urban or non-rural municipality with slower population growth; Growing Suburbs; any non-urban or non-rural municipality with high population growth over the past two decades.”

Perceptions of quality of life by type of community:

Other Development-Related Questions

• A5. As things stand now, would you like to move out of New Jersey at some point or would you like to stay here for the rest of your life?

• B8. Just your best estimate, on an average day, how much time would you say you spend in a car for all reasons, including work, school, errands, and leisure?

• B10. How often do you use public transportation such as buses or trains – every day, several times a week, several times a month, a few times a year, less often, or never?

• B14. Thinking about your family’s health, how concerned are you about the quality of the water you drink – very concerned, somewhat concerned, or not very concerned?

• B16. How satisfied are you with the availability of open space and parks in the area where you live – very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?

Other Development-Related Questions

Thank you!

Tim Evans

Director of Research

timevans@njfuture.org

New Jersey Future

137 W. Hanover St.

Trenton, N.J. 08618

609-393-0008 ext. 103

http://www.njfuture.org