WRI and NJ State Policy Lab Release Report Outlining Community Transportation Priorities and Recommendations in Camden County
January 15, 2025
The Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs (WRI) at Rutgers University–Camden is proud to announce the release of its latest report, “Outlining the Transportation Priorities and Recommendations of Communities in Camden County” in collaboration with the New Jersey State Policy Lab. The report builds on previous research that presents ten years of data to outline, explore, and highlight the role and impact of public transportation on Southern New Jersey counties.
Of the eight South Jersey counties, Camden County fares best in terms of public transit access. Within that context, there remains a significant desire within communities in the county to improve and address gaps. To that end, the report, part of an ongoing research initiative focused on transportation strengths and barriers in South Jersey, presents community opinions on and recommendations for addressing transportation access in Camden County.
“Transportation is critical to the daily lives of residents in Camden County, and this report provides essential insights for ongoing dialogue and policy development around transportation in Camden County and the South Jersey region as a whole,” said Kristin Curtis, Associate Director of Research at WRI. “This research provides nuanced recommendations from residents and commuters about what’s working well and game-changing solutions they feel would transform transportation access and experience across the county.”
Research participants were engaged through a comprehensive outreach effort involving over 50 community organizations in Camden County, promotional activities at PATCO and New Jersey Transit stations, direct mail campaigns, and focused engagement at local events. Recognizing the value of qualitative research in capturing nuanced community perspectives, WRI prioritized these methods to enrich the process. As a result, input was gathered from residents, commuters, and visitors through a combination of online surveys, as well as virtual and in-person focus groups, ensuring a diverse range of voices were heard.
Findings highlight that people are appreciative of the transit options that exist and underscore a desire for expanded services, improved reliability, and user-friendly transit options, with a particular emphasis on improved connectivity in the southeastern portion of Camden County. The report includes specific recommendations around PATCO, River Line, and public opinions around ongoing projects such as the Camden Loop, Walter Rand Transportation Center improvements, and the Glassboro-Camden Line.
“The New Jersey State Policy Lab is grateful to have this opportunity to collaborate with WRI in exploring barriers and challenges residents throughout Camden County and other South Jersey communities are facing in accessing public transportation. We believe that identifying these emerging trends in transportation use and access can serve to strengthen the state of New Jersey as a whole,” shared Elizabeth Crooner, Executive Director of the New Jersey State Policy Lab.
WRI and the New Jersey State Policy Lab and will host a webinar on February 12, 2025, to discuss the findings and upcoming research from the report. The webinar will take place from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Registration is available here.
About the Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs
The Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs (WRI) at Rutgers–Camden has been a long-standing and trusted regional community partner for 25 years. WRI honors former Senator Rand’s dedication to Southern New Jersey and exists to produce and highlight community-focused research and evaluation leading to sound public policy and practice in the region. With that as a foundation, WRI convenes and engages stakeholders in making the connections across research, policy, and practice in support of Camden City and Southern New Jersey residents. Using social science research methods, WRI specializes in transforming data into actionable information across a variety of areas, including workforce development, education, transportation, and public/population health. WRI reinforces and amplifies Rutgers’ research, teaching, and service goals by connecting the multidisciplinary expertise of faculty to regional problems, developing research and professional skills in students, and linking the resources of higher education to communities in Southern New Jersey.
About the New Jersey State Policy Lab
The NJSPL assists the state of New Jersey and its many communities with the design, implementation, and evaluation of state policies and programs by conducting rigorous evidence-based research that considers equity, efficiency, and efficacy of public policies and programs in holistic and innovative ways. The Lab is run as a partnership between the Edward J. Bloustein School of Public Policy in Rutgers-New Brunswick and the School of Public Affairs and Administration in Rutgers-Newark. The Policy Lab is funded by the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE). The contents of this report do not necessarily represent the policy or endorsement of OSHE or the state of New Jersey.