JERSEY CITY — Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy announced today that the City of Jersey City has received a $175,000 grant from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) to complete the Liberty State Park Circulator Cost-Benefit Analysis.

The purpose of the study is to analyze a range of options for mass transit circulator service throughout Liberty State Park that would serve destinations within the park and existing and future adjacent residential development and businesses. The study will evaluate a range of route and modes, including rail and rubber tire options, using a comprehensive set of quantitative and qualitative evaluation criteria. The final product will include the identification of a range of feasible concepts for further study.

“We believe that a circulator service will support tourism and enhance the multi-modal mass transit network for park visitors, residents and workers in the vicinity,” said Mayor Healy. “Jersey City has a high transit-dependent population and was identified by the NJTPA in 2007 as an Environmental Justice community. Because 40 percent of Jersey City residents are without access to a car, many residents rely on public transportation to access park facilities.”

Located on Jersey Cityâ€s eastern waterfront, Liberty State Park is the largest park in the city. There are many major destinations within the park, including the Liberty Science Center, ferry access to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty National Monuments, the historic Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal, the parkâ€s Interpretive Center, and the Liberty Landing marina. With six million visitors each year, Liberty State Park is the most-visited park in the state and the second most-visited state park in the nation.

Currently, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Liberty State Park station and park-and-ride lot are located on the western edge of the park. However, there is no regular transit connection between the light rail station and the parkâ€s interior and environs. A circulator service will facilitate movement between destinations in and around Liberty State Park, of which many are beyond reasonable walking distance from the light rail station.

In order to gain a better understanding of the travel behavior of current and potential park visitors, a survey is being implemented. The brief survey takes about one minute to complete and is available in English and Spanish through the study website (www.lsptransitstudy.com). Paper copies of the survey are available at the following locations in Jersey City: Mayorâ€s Action Bureau at City Hall (280 Grove Street, Room 105), the office of the Division of City Planning (30 Montgomery Street, Suite 1400), the Park Office at Liberty State Park (200 Morris Pesin Drive), and at the information desk at the Central Railroad of NJ Terminal in Liberty State Park. All are encouraged to participate in the survey, even those who have never visited Liberty State Park.

As part of the public outreach plan for the study, two public meetings will be held.

Liberty State Park is owned and operated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protectionâ€s Division of Parks and Forestry. A Technical Advisory Committee consisting of representatives from City, County, State, and Park agencies; transportation professionals; and local businesses has been convened. The City has hired a consultant team led by Sam Schwartz Engineering to prepare the study. The final report is anticipated by June 2013.

Please visit www.lsptransitstudy.com for more information.

All media inquiries should be directed to Jennifer Morrill, Press Secretary to Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy at 201-547-4836 or 201-376-0699./////

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2nd Straight Year of Crime Decline

  JERSEY CITY – Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy and Police Department officials released official crime statistics for the year of 2010 that show for the second consecutive year both violent and non-violent crime decreased in city limits.

There were two (2) percent fewer violent crimes in 2010 compared to 2009, which includes categories such as homicide, rape, robbery and assault. The decrease continues the trend that started in 2009, where the city witnessed 30-year lows in violent and non-violent categories, including a 30-percent drop in robberies. Overall crime, both violent and non-violent dropped by 49 incidents, or .5 percent.

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The released crime statistics, certified by the New Jersey State Police, will be published in the annual FBI Uniform Crime Report later this year.

 “Whenever a major city realizes a drop in crime it is significant, and we are pleased to see a continued decline in most crime categories,” said Mayor Healy.  “These results are due to the hard work of the men and women of the Jersey City Police Department and their leadership, who will continue to work even harder to reduce crime further.  We also must give credit to the community and the block associations, because by having residents working together with the police you see an even greater impact.”   

In the most serious crime category of homicide, there was a 11 percent decline, or a total of three fewer incidents in 2010, (24), than in the prior year. Additionally, people-on-people crimes declined in the category of assault. There were 143 fewer assaults in 2010 for a five (5) percent drop compared to the prior year.  

“If you want to target any crime from a law enforcement perspective, the top priority has to be the public’s safety and their health and welfare, said Police Chief Tom Comey. “While we can’t be there to resolve every conflict, we hope that during our many interventions in disputes that people understand that there are alternatives than to react violently. We enjoy the progress we’ve seen but we’re not satisfied with that, we still want to improve.” 

In the non-violent crime category that includes burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft and arson, the city realized a marginal and slight increase of half-of-one (1) percent compared to the previous year. However, the non-violent crimes of motor vehicle theft and theft (larceny) dropped significantly during 2010.  

 In the category of car theft there was a 4.9 percent drop go for a total of 761 incidents in 2010, even fewer than 2009’s 30-year low of 800 cars stolen for a single year.  

“It’s always important for us to protect our residents but we must protect their property and homes as well,” said Police Director Sam Jefferson. “The strides we have made against auto theft, which for many people is their greatest financial investment, are unsurpassed.”  

In 1990, there was an unprecedented 5,030 cars stolen in city limits. Comparatively, 2010’s total of 761 cars stolen makes for an 85-percent decline since the city’s all-time high.  

For more information, please contact Stan H. Eason at 201-547-5808 or 201-376-2788, or Jennifer Morrill at 201-547-4836 or 201-376-0699.///

 Resources:

Compstat, www.NJJCPD.org.

Uniform Crime Report, http://www.disastercenter.com/newjersy/crime/8255.htm

Uniform Crime report, http://www.NJSP.org/info/stats.html

The post CRIME FALLS AGAIN IN JERSEY CITY first appeared on River View Observer.