NJ Transit's River LINE opened in March 2004, providing daily one-seat light rail service between Trenton and Camden. The 34-mile line roughly parallels Route 130 and makes 20 station stops in 13 communities in Camden, Burlington, and Mercer Counties. One of the major stated objectives of the River Line was to stimulate smart, locally embraced development and with it economic growth that is supportive of transit along the corridor. NJ Transit is interested in understanding the degree to which the new light rail line has been a catalyst for new development in the area.

This project will help measure the success of the River Line in meeting one of its major stated objectives. It will also be helpful to measure the public benefit of investments in transit. As additional transit investment projects are proposed, this information will enable NJ Transit to determine their potential public benefit.

The objectives of this study are to:

• To identify the most current techniques for evaluating the impact of new light rail transit on an area.
• To examine economic indicators such as the number of building permits, changes in zoning regulations, median home prices, and others for segments of the line before and after the line opening.
• To collect and report information about development that has occurred or is planned for areas served by the new light rail line.
• To provide qualitative information about perceptions of the extent to which the River LINE has influenced development patterns.
• To measure the success of the River LINE corridor in meeting smart growth objectives.
• To identify best practices for measuring the public benefit of investment in transit.
• To identify key issues/information that will enable NJ TRANSIT to determine the public benefit of the River LINE.