GCL Project Update

8/9/2020

Growth in the Corridor

Southern New Jersey is significantly under served by fixed rail transit network relative to southeastern Pennsylvania and Northern New Jersey.  GCL is a key opportunity to address this deficiency and benefit the rapidly growing communities in Southern New Jersey.

There are a number of key drivers to the need for increased transit services in the corridor.  For example, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s (DVRPC) Connections 2045 Plan for Greater Philadelphia estimates that Gloucester County’s population and employment will grow by 29% between 2015 and 2045. This projected growth is the highest of all the counties within the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) planning area and will need to be focused in order to contain sprawl. The GCL will become a key component to help focus this growth, provide mobility options and congestion relief.

In addition to overall increased travel demand from Gloucester County commuters, the two termini of the proposed line, Camden and Glassboro, have experienced significant growth over the last two decades and will continue to redevelop and grow. The City of Camden is undergoing transformative redevelopment and growth with developments such as the Knights Crossing Campus headed up by Campbell Soup and Brandywine Realty Trust, the Krishna P. Singh Technology Campus by Holtec, the Philadelphia 76ers training facility, and the Camden Waterfront Project led by Liberty Property Trust, to name a few.

The Borough of Glassboro and Rowan University have also experienced significant growth and expansion with student enrollment increasing from approximately 9,578 students in 2006 to over 19,000 in 2019. Glassboro is near completion of its ambitious $400 million downtown redevelopment project jointly lead by the Borough and Rowan University. More than 80 acres have been transformed with over 2,000 market rate residential units, more than 100 new businesses, and 300,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space. In addition, the Rowan University/Rutgers-Camden Board of Governors “Eds and Meds” program has transformed both Glassboro and Camden and created a strong demand for connections between the two campuses since 2000.

Project Benefits

Economic studies and evaluation the impacts/benefits from transit can be found at American Public Transportation Association, Railvolution.org, and other industry sources.  A study commissioned by the Gloucester County Planning Division in 2012 also examined the potential benefits from the GCL.

In fact, studies show the benefits of transit-oriented development (TOD) last a lifetime. An AARP study of walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods in Northern Virginia found that people ages 75 and older took 20 percent more transit trips per week than their suburban counterparts. Another AARP study examines state policies that are needed to help older adults age in place including integrating land use, housing and transportation; and, providing more transportation choices, particularly for older adults who no longer drive.

Travel Choices

Students will benefit because the GCL will link key institutions including Rowan University, Rutgers-Camden, Camden County College, Cooper Hospital, and others.

Workers will benefit because the GCL will provide access to the large employment base throughout the alignment and will offer commuters an alternative to driving. It also expands employment opportunities to those who are transit dependent.

The aging population will benefit because the GCL will provide mobility choices which are currently limited and will connect to a network of healthcare facilities as well as other establishments needed for everyday living.