New Jersey Transit has launched two new programs, one designed to improve accessibility for customers with disabilities, the other to supplement revenue through real estate development.
Disability Assistance
NJT is piloting two new apps that it says “will help empower customers with disabilities.” Through a collaboration with the Transit Tech Lab, customers now have access to GoodMaps, which “provides innovative indoor navigation assistance” at Hoboken Terminal; and Convo, which provides on-demand American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting at Newark Penn Station Customer Service and Ticket Offices. A QR scan connects customers to a live ASL interpreter “for seamless communication.”
“GoodMaps is a cutting-edge station navigation platform now available at Hoboken Terminal,” NJT explained. “GoodMaps empowers all visitors—including the visually impaired or individuals with disabilities—with precise, real-time navigation throughout the terminal, making travel easier and more accessible. The Goodmaps app operates similarly to outdoor GPS systems like Google Maps. However, it specializes in indoor navigation, providing turn-by-turn directions via audio or on-screen text. With the GoodMaps app, customers can access real-time directions for trains and buses right from their mobile device. They can also benefit from features designed for users with low vision and mobility challenges, enhancing independence and comfort.
Convo “offers technology for those who use ASL to communicate,” NJT said. “Customers can scan a QR code and connect with a live interpreter who can convey the message between the customer and an NJT employee. This allows a full experience to all NJ customers and opens the door to building better relationships by making communication more seamless.”
“GoodMaps and Convo are innovative applications that deliver practical solutions tp help make our busiest facilities more accessible to all customers,” said NJT President and CEO Kris Kolluri,” who will speak about “Modernizing Public Transport” at Railway Age’s Next-Gen Rail Systems conference in Jersey City, N.J. Oct. 29-31. “Whether it’s navigating a terminal or communicating with staff, these technologies give people more control over their journey and reflect our ongoing commitment to creating a more welcoming transit system.”
“Our collaboration with the Transit Tech Lab shows how innovation and partnership can advance accessibility in public transit” said NJT Head of IT Innovation Luna Katbah. “By combining technology and inclusive design, this pilot empowers visually impaired and hard of hearing customers to travel with greater confidence and independence.”
The Transit Tech Lab is a program established by agencies in the New York City region “to bring private sector innovation to public transit by connecting tech companies with transit agencies to pilot new technologies and solve critical transit challenges. The Transit Tech Lab provides an accelerated pathway for early to growth-stage companies to solve public transportation challenges for the largest transit agencies in North America.”
Revenue Through Real Estate
NJT says the agency “could realize as much as $1.9 billion in non-farebox revenue over the next 30 years through a combination of opportunities designed to unlock value from its 8,000-acre real estate portfolio,” according to “The LAND Plan: Leveraging Assets for Non-farebox Dollars” study (download below). Additionally, the plan “could add up to $14 billion in economic impact to New Jersey, up to an additional $1.6 billion in municipal revenues, and create up to 50,000 jobs and up to 20,000 new housing units. From Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) to retail concessions to industrial hubs and advertising, the plan offers a unique opportunity to generate essential funding by leveraging its underutilized assets for development, as well as enhancing its customer experience with retail offerings and advertising. The plan presents a series of potential opportunities and suggested actions for consideration to maximize the associated potential revenue.”
Among the study’s key findings for potential non-farebox revenue over the next 30 years are estimates derived from internal NJT analysis.:
- Transit-Oriented Development—Walkable, mixed-use communities centered around transit hubs boost ridership and generate revenue through land leases or sales. Additional revenue potential: $780 million-$1.1 billion.
- Industrial Hubs—Certain properties are ideal for warehousing and industrial uses, requiring large, flat parcels with good road access and utilities. Additional revenue potential: $150 million-$300 million
- Temporary Uses—Short-term activities such as events, filming and pop-ups use land, structures and vehicles. Additional revenue potential: $15 million-$30 million
- Retail Concessions—Rental income is generated from retail tenants occupying concession spaces in NJ TRANSIT facilities, providing desirable customer amenities. Additional revenue potential: $80 million-$100 million.
- Advertising—Revenue streams include advertising on digital displays, within station facilities, on vehicles and through naming rights arrangements. Additional revenue potential: $40 million-$130 million
- Parking Optimization—Parking fees collected at station lots, sometimes shared with municipalities or private operators, provide additional revenue. Additional revenue potential: $170 million-$230 million.
- Wetland Banking—Restoring or preserving wetlands on suitable vacant land earns ecological credits, with the highest value in contiguous conservation areas and watershed management areas otherwise impacted by service development. Restored/Preserved land: 150-170 acres
- Solar Power—NJT can provide opportunities for development of solar power generation projects across multiple redevelopment sites, including surface parking canopies and rooftop installations. Power generation potential: 5 megawatts.
“The revenue generated from these developments—whether residential, commercial, or industrial—will empower NJT to continue delivering lasting, reliable, and high-quality service, and further enrich the communities it serves across New Jersey,” the agency noted.
“This first-of-its-kind plan delivers a roadmap for the next Administration that maximizes non-farebox revenue opportunities for NJT, the State of New Jersey and the municipalities we serve,” said Kolluri, cautioning that the proposed actions “are presented merely as options for consideration—not mandates—to support the plan’s full revenue potential. I have a deep respect for home rule in New Jersey and the legislative process, and look forward to working collaboratively with the legislature, municipalities, and elected officials across the state.”
