23rd Annual NJDOT Research Showcase

Andrew Swords, Director, Division of Statewide Planning, New Jersey Department of Transportation welcomed attendees to the event.

The NJDOT Commissioner of Transportation, Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, provided opening remarks focusing on the need to work collectively to address climate change. Ms. Gutierrez-Scaccetti noted that partnerships among public, private, and academic organizations are essential to reach the state goal of an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. She touched on several recent NJDOT initiatives and adoption of technological innovations that support this goal and the agency’s mission to provide a safe, cost-effective transportation network for the traveling public.  In his opening remarks, Robert Clark, Federal Highway Administration's New Jersey Division Administrator, emphasized the need for research and innovation and noted federal funding awarded to, and agency support for, recent NJDOT initiatives.

Jane Cohen, Executive Director, New Jersey Governor’s Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy gave the keynote address on "Confronting Climate Change through Transportation Initiatives." Ms. Cohen discussed the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and explained how temperature increases from climate change can intensify air pollution as well as respiratory and cardiovascular health concerns that are disproportionately borne by overburdened communities. Ms. Cohen emphasized that environmental justice and equity are at the center of the work being done to chart a path forward to a clean energy future.  She highlighted recent landmark NJ state legislation (S-232 - Cumulative Impacts Law) and NJDEP's enforcement responsibilities to protect overburdened communities in permit review processes.

Noting that transportation makes up a larger percentage of greenhouse gas emissions, she stressed the need for coordination among state agencies to shift light duty, medium and heavy duty trucks, transit vehicles, and the state fleet to electric vehicles. NJ’s Partnership to Plug-In is a statewide initiative involving state agencies and private sector partners to build out the infrastructure needed to support electric vehicle ownership.  Ms. Cohen mentioned various funding sources for projects, including the regional cap and trade system as part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, from the Volkswagen Mitigation Trust Fund, the NJ Zero Emission Incentive Program for the purchase of EVs, and an e-mobility program in Trenton through ISLES.  She highlighted several other essential transportation initiatives that are aligned with climate planning. including the adoption of Complete Streets policies, Transit Villages, and efforts to reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). She promoted the value of integrating green infrastructure such as wetlands and rain gardens in transportation for greater resilience to stormwater and flooding.

In her closing remarks, she made an appeal to those in attendance to recognize the urgency of the moment and reflect on how they might contribute innovative solutions and how they might partner to work collectively toward addressing the challenges of climate change.  She recognized the Build the Better Mousetrap Competition as an example of adopting an orientation favorable to innovation. She stressed that her office welcomes new ideas such as pilot projects and programs and partnerships.

A panel of presenters from representing state agencies, academia, and industry followed:

• Peg Hanna, Assistant Director, Air Monitoring and Mobile Sources, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, spoke about the need to use various approaches to reach goals, such as the Electric Shared Mobility Program grants and the DEP-funded ISLES program in Trenton, and the value of working with local residents to understand transportation needs and gaps, working with the private sector, and considering the sustainability of any program.
• Andrew Tunnard, Assistant Commissioner, Transportation Operations Systems and Support, New Jersey Department of Transportation, introduced a study, New Jersey Fleet Electrification: Statewide Charging Facilities Design Recommendations, undertaken to determine locations for the state build-out of EV infrastructure and to create a framework for state agencies to move toward their goals of fleet transition.
• Alain Kornhauser, PhD, Professor of Operations Research & Financial Engineering, Princeton University, discussed details of the study, including the cost/benefit analysis comparing EV charging infrastructure favorably to internal combustion fueling locations, and the equitable distribution of the burden for creating EV infrastructure among state agencies.
• Spencer Reeder, Director of Government Affairs and Sustainability, Audi of America, spoke about the emerging market for electric vehicles and the expansion of options for buyers.
• Julia Rege, Vice President for Energy and Environment, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, spoke about the need for purchase incentives for electric vehicles, for more infrastructure including more charging capacity, and to switch manufacturing and supply that is still geared to the internal combustion fleet.

Presenters responded to attendee questions. The audience was informed that research ideas can be submitted to the Transportation Research Ideas Portal through the NJDOT Technology Transfer website.