News
Translation as Access: Meet Kenia Gonzalez
Kenia Gonzalez recently joined the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center as its Bilingual Outreach Specialist. We spoke with her about her role and why language access plays a critical part in VTC’s work. Kenia leads Spanish-language translation, interpretation,...
Little Rock Merchants Praise ‘road diet’ Revamps for Managing Traffic Flow
Road diets in Little Rock, Arkansas, have helped calm traffic, improve pedestrian and cyclist safety, and support neighborhood revitalization without causing major traffic problems. Robert Noland, Rutgers professor and director of the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, explains that many of the four-lane roads previously built are high speed and very dangerous, and a road diet “means you can actually improve things by reducing the amount of pavement.”
President Trump’s Housing Proposals: What They Really Mean for New Jersey Homebuyers and Sellers
The author cites a recent report from the New Jersey State Policy Lab, Trends in Investor Acquisition of Residential Properties in New Jersey, which highlights that while investor activity impacts affordability and inventory, large investors are not the primary reason homes are expensive.
Kevin Dehmer to Serve as State’s Chief Technology Officer
Governor Mikie Sherrill announced Kevin Dehmer as her pick to be the state’s next Chief Technology Officer, overseeing the New Jersey Office of Information Technology. As Chief Technology Officer, Dehmer will advance the modernization of New Jersey’s digital infrastructure, improve the efficiency and transparency of the state permitting process, adopt technologies to clear licensure backlogs and reduce wait times, and strengthen our cybersecurity capabilities against AI-driven challenges to position New Jersey for long-term success.
Nicholas Longo Named Director, Rutgers Democracy Lab
Rutgers–New Brunswick Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jason Geary announced that Dr. Nicholas V. Longo has been appointed the inaugural director of the Rutgers Democracy Lab, effective Feburary 1. He will also be a professor at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.
Studio: A Framework for Community Benefits Agreements
The Fall 2025 Studio prepared frameworks for community engagement and Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs). Now, it is time to strategize how Dayton and the Airport City Newark Coalition can utilize CBAs in negotiations with future developers. By doing so, the ACNC can ensure that new projects deliver meaningful and equitable benefits to local residents.
Could 17-year-old voters swing a congressional seat in NJ? Here’s how
“New Jersey is a state whose politics are controlled by political machines, and they like to know who’s going to vote,” Julia Sass Rubin said. “And the primary is the most important election in New Jersey, because we don’t have very competitive general elections for the most part.”
VTC Research Featured at 2026 TRB
Convened by the Transportation Research Board (TRB), the 2026 TRB Annual Meeting was held January 11–15, 2026, in Washington, D.C., at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and the Marriott Marquis. The Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center participated in the meeting, presenting research on pedestrian safety, travel behavior, and access to public transportation.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill criticizes Trump over the possible suspension of the Hudson River rail tunnel project
“The Northeast region’s economy is really dependent on the Northeast corridor, particularly linking Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston,” Hughes said. “Once you stop a project it’s very difficult to start again.”
NJ’s employment, economic numbers look bad. Can Sherrill fix that?
“I would not be surprised to see other states start to experience rapid increases as employment growth nationally continues to slow and/or decline,” Irving said in an email.
Heldrich Center: Report on Intersection of Behavioral Science & Admin Burden
The Heldrich Center for Workforce Development has announced the release of a new Multi-State Teacher Workforce Report, designed to provide a comprehensive, data-driven view of the educator pipeline from preparation and certification to placement, retention, and mobility
Railway Crossing Safety for Cyclists and Pedestrians
There are over 3,400 miles of railroad tracks in New Jersey, and almost 44% of schools in the state are located within a half-mile of an active freight or passenger rail.