jimmybot
@jimmybot.com
writing about housing, safe streets, transportation, local & state happenings from Jersey City, NJ
Oh, I'm not sure NJT itself truly has a priority list since it is all state politics to get funding. But known potential NJT projects under the lens of capital invested per rider, ranked by efficiency. Paterson-Newark light rail seems another under talked about one. 37K riders for just $1.3B (!!)
December 16, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Oh, I'm not sure NJT itself truly has a priority list since it is all state politics to get funding. But known potential NJT projects under the lens of capital invested per rider, ranked by efficiency. Paterson-Newark light rail seems another under talked about one. 37K riders for just $1.3B (!!)
But what's so weird is Glassboro-Camden is probably actually a top 10 project by efficiency nationally. There are many good opportunities in North Jersey, and they should be moved forward too. The priority backlog is long. I think what would be surprising though is very little of it is commuter rail
December 16, 2025 at 4:49 PM
But what's so weird is Glassboro-Camden is probably actually a top 10 project by efficiency nationally. There are many good opportunities in North Jersey, and they should be moved forward too. The priority backlog is long. I think what would be surprising though is very little of it is commuter rail
Population density of Camden, NJ: 7,900 / sq mi
Population density of Portland, OR: 4,900 / sq mi
Might be best to consider Portland a sleepy suburb of Seattle.
Population density of Portland, OR: 4,900 / sq mi
Might be best to consider Portland a sleepy suburb of Seattle.
December 16, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Population density of Camden, NJ: 7,900 / sq mi
Population density of Portland, OR: 4,900 / sq mi
Might be best to consider Portland a sleepy suburb of Seattle.
Population density of Portland, OR: 4,900 / sq mi
Might be best to consider Portland a sleepy suburb of Seattle.
The good thing about light rail vs commuter rail branches is bidirectional demand. Rowan University has 23,000 students. And HBLR drove a ton of new development. It is tough to wrap my head around skepticism that it is implausible to get to 16,000 daily riders in 15 years?
December 16, 2025 at 4:05 PM
The good thing about light rail vs commuter rail branches is bidirectional demand. Rowan University has 23,000 students. And HBLR drove a ton of new development. It is tough to wrap my head around skepticism that it is implausible to get to 16,000 daily riders in 15 years?
Ridership numbers come from the EIS. There has been fast population growth in the recent decade, and it is projected to continue. Maybe it is wrong, but it isn't obvious why.
December 16, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Ridership numbers come from the EIS. There has been fast population growth in the recent decade, and it is projected to continue. Maybe it is wrong, but it isn't obvious why.
Light rail seems generally very effective in NJ, and it also seems to have do with how structurally inefficient commuter rail is and how dense New Jersey's urban areas are relative to anywhere else. Trenton has a higher population density than Seattle, Camden than Portland.
December 16, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Light rail seems generally very effective in NJ, and it also seems to have do with how structurally inefficient commuter rail is and how dense New Jersey's urban areas are relative to anywhere else. Trenton has a higher population density than Seattle, Camden than Portland.
Glassboro-Camden actually looks pretty efficient on a national level. If we assume housing abundance starts to win in the coming decade the ridership estimates are also probably way too low.
December 16, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Glassboro-Camden actually looks pretty efficient on a national level. If we assume housing abundance starts to win in the coming decade the ridership estimates are also probably way too low.
Also isn't Trenton Central Jersey?
December 16, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Also isn't Trenton Central Jersey?
Are there any known Central NJ projects that would be capital efficient per new rider served? bsky.app/profile/jimm...
One simple way to compare potential transit projects would be dollars invested per net new rider. IBX looks like it'd be an extraordinarily efficient investment. In NJ, the Northern Branch extension of HBLR to Bergen County is too and in the same ballpark.
(Caveat: Table is deep research generated)
(Caveat: Table is deep research generated)
December 16, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Are there any known Central NJ projects that would be capital efficient per new rider served? bsky.app/profile/jimm...
What do you think about local preference if it is implemented at the county level?
December 16, 2025 at 2:25 PM
What do you think about local preference if it is implemented at the county level?
Yep, light rail works great, and I'd be very optimistic about a Newark-Jersey City connection. I think NEC also works with Philadelphia's gravity on one end and multiple substantial destinations in the middle too.
December 15, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Yep, light rail works great, and I'd be very optimistic about a Newark-Jersey City connection. I think NEC also works with Philadelphia's gravity on one end and multiple substantial destinations in the middle too.
Rail is the structural fault of the suburbs, which the post-COVID remote and hybrid work world exposes. It doesn't work to have zero destinations and to run trains empty in one direction long distances to pick people up.
December 15, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Rail is the structural fault of the suburbs, which the post-COVID remote and hybrid work world exposes. It doesn't work to have zero destinations and to run trains empty in one direction long distances to pick people up.
Wow, so closer to $34,000 per rider for IBX. That is amazing.
December 15, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Wow, so closer to $34,000 per rider for IBX. That is amazing.
One simple way to compare potential transit projects would be dollars invested per net new rider. IBX looks like it'd be an extraordinarily efficient investment. In NJ, the Northern Branch extension of HBLR to Bergen County is too and in the same ballpark.
(Caveat: Table is deep research generated)
(Caveat: Table is deep research generated)
December 15, 2025 at 6:37 PM
One of the stranger aspects of anti-ebike discourse in NJ is railing against the lack of insurance. But car insurance in NJ is no fault, meaning even if someone else is to blame, your own insurance pays.
The logic means your car insurance is the responsible party when you are hit outside a car! /
The logic means your car insurance is the responsible party when you are hit outside a car! /
Speed Kills: Restricting low-speed e-bikes will lead to more dangerous streets
The New Jersey Legislature is currently considering the most restrictive low-speed e-bike laws in the…
https://betterblocksnj.org/2025/12/14/speed-kills-restricting-low-speed-e-bikes-will-lead-to-more-dangerous-streets/
The New Jersey Legislature is currently considering the most restrictive low-speed e-bike laws in the…
https://betterblocksnj.org/2025/12/14/speed-kills-restricting-low-speed-e-bikes-will-lead-to-more-dangerous-streets/
December 15, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Not all deliveristas are inconsiderate, but sure, delivery e-bikes on sidewalks can be quite annoying. But what happens when you require them to have insurance and they hit and injure a pedestrian? Nothing! The pedestrian's car insurance or if none, the state fund is on the hook instead.
December 15, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Not all deliveristas are inconsiderate, but sure, delivery e-bikes on sidewalks can be quite annoying. But what happens when you require them to have insurance and they hit and injure a pedestrian? Nothing! The pedestrian's car insurance or if none, the state fund is on the hook instead.
The follow-up question will then be but what about people who don't have cars and thus don't have car insurance? NJ maintains an uninsured fund through a tax on all car insurance premiums that pays for pedestrians hit that don't have their own car insurance. /
New Jersey Property-Liability Insurance Guaranty Association
www.njguaranty.org
December 15, 2025 at 2:38 AM
The follow-up question will then be but what about people who don't have cars and thus don't have car insurance? NJ maintains an uninsured fund through a tax on all car insurance premiums that pays for pedestrians hit that don't have their own car insurance. /
Smaller class sizes is something that is known to be highly inefficient but a pet issue of NEA. It is an inefficient way to use precious dollars precisely because spot tutoring is so much more effective.
December 13, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Smaller class sizes is something that is known to be highly inefficient but a pet issue of NEA. It is an inefficient way to use precious dollars precisely because spot tutoring is so much more effective.