Celebrate the Transit Village Designation!

A story Plaintalker has been tracking since 2006 hit the headlines today - Plainfield has won designation as a transit village.

The designation is prized because it opens the door to special attention from state agencies, but since 1999 only 27 municipalities have earned it. Plainfield is now the 28th transit village and credit is due to the city's Planning Division and Planning Board, which have worked hard on Transit Oriented Development zoning designations centered on its two train stations.

Some background from Plaintalker and Plaintalker II:

In April 2006, former Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs and her director of Public Works & Urban Development Jennifer Wenson Maier announced that Plainfield would seek four transit village designations, for its two existing train stations and two defunct ones that the administration hoped to revive.

In August 2006, transit-oriented development and "New Urbanism" were discussed at the Zoning Board meeting.

In November 2007, planners probed issues of density and uses around the Netherwood train station.

In July 2008, the City Council debated a transit-oriented development ordinance for the Netherwood area.

In January 2010, talk of transit villages had given way to more emphasis on transit-oriented development.

In January 2011, a transit expert urged Plainfield to get more involved in the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition.

Transit-Oriented Development-Downtown map

A press release from the NJ Department of Transportation includes praise from NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson for all the work that went into the successful application. Plainfielders all will benefit from the designation. Drink a toast this weekend with your favorite libation for this great news!

--Bernice

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