State Highway Reliability Report - New Jersey
In the line graphs below, FHWA has shifted the "Year" label in the x-axis back by one year, from Data Reporting Year to Data Collection Year. More information
The information displayed is provided by the State Department of Transportation (DOT) in their 2018 Baseline Performance Report, 2019 Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data submittal, and 2020 Mid Performance Period (MPP) Progress Report and has not been edited by FHWA. Any questions about individual State reports should be directed to the respective State DOT.
Please note: FHWA has posted data from State DOT reports to help bring context to their performance targets. This data may result in some discrepancies among published State DOT performance data due to data sources and reporting years used when establishing the performance targets.
Significant Progress Determination
Using data from the 2020 MPP Progress Report, FHWA has determined whether a State DOT has made significant progress toward achieving its individual targets for five National Highway Performance Program (NHPP) measures and one National Highway Freight Program (NHFP) measure, as described in 23 CFR 490.109.
Full Significant Progress Determination Table
Interstate Highway Reliable Person-Miles Traveled
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Interstate Highway Reliable Person-Miles Traveled 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Condition/Performance 82.1 81.7 80.6 98.2 -- Target -- -- 82.0 -- 82.0 -
Interstate Highway Reliable Person-Miles Traveled
The following points were considered for setting targets in New Jersey. These points primarily concern the Travel Time Reliability target, which uses the National Performance Research Data Set (NPMRDS) data. - Accuracy of NPMRDS v2 Dataset – The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and University of Maryland’s CATT Lab are under contract with FHWA to provide NPMRDS v2 data to the States for analysis. Both TTI and CATT Lab faced challenges with accuracy of the NPMRDS v2 dataset, which was derived from the 2017 INRIX Travel Time data. The NPMRDS v2 dataset is a network of the links made of the travel time on the Interstates (for this measure), which are called Travel Message Channels (TMCs), in short, it is called TMC network. - Corrections made to the TMCs in New Jersey - The NJDOT staff and three MPOs (NJTPA, DVRPC and SJTPO) collaboratively made corrections to the TMC network for New Jersey and provided corrections to TTI and CATT Lab to incorporate in the final dataset. Each TMC link was checked and verified against 2016 HPMS data submitted to FHWA as per the requirements stated in PM3 final rule. TTI was able to remove some extra TMC links from the network and make some other corrections. - HPMS Data lag – While working with TMC network downloaded from the CATT Lab’s approved Probe Data Analytics Suite (PDA Suite), the staff learned that there is a 2-year lag in the HPMS data being used for conflation with TMC network by TTI. NJDOT will reexamine the targets as the NPMRDS v2 network catches up with the most recent HPMS data (perhaps same year data). - Targets – Every time the TMC network is updated, the baseline changes. FHWA recognizes that as the NPMRDS v2 improves, the future target values may change. - Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Levels - There is a general upward trend in VMT growth, but VMT levels tend to fluctuate with the health of the economy, and can affect target values by affecting congestion. Therefore, the impact of VMT on future target levels is unknown. - Future Trends - NJDOT and MPOs have collaboratively decided to observe the future trends. As a result of the issues listed above, and with a reliable NPMRDS v2 dataset available for next four to six years, it may be possible to adjust targets appropriately and predict reliable future targets (beyond 2022). Therefore, NJDOT and MPOs have collaboratively decided to keep the future 2-year and 4-year Travel Time reliability targets for Interstates same as the 2017 baseline value. The Baseline percent of person-miles traveled on the Interstates that are reliable is 82.0%, which was derived from the PDA Suite at the time of “pencils-down” Complete Team meeting comprised of NJDOT, MPOs and other Stakeholders, including FHWA, NJ Transit and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.The current actual 2-year condition derived from the latest data collected through the midpoint of the performance period reported in PDA Suite is 80.6, which is lower than 2-year target 82.0. As per our understanding, the NPMRDS data continues to improve. As recognized by FHWA, the 2-Year target was set based on short history of NPMRDS data availability. Until a reliable NPMRDS dataset is available for next four to six years, it may not be possible to predict and achieve reliable future targets (beyond 2022).N/ANJDOT continues to invest in Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) / Transportation Systems Management & Operations (TSM&O) projects to relieve congestion and improve operations. For example, NJDOT's Route I-295/ NJ 42 Missing Moves and Route I-295/NJ 42/I-76 Direct Connection projects are Congestion Relief - Highway Operational Improvements projects. These Mobility and Congestion Relief projects relieve the existing bottleneck at the interchange by constructing a direct connection on I-295 and other highway improvements that will reduce congestion and enhance traffic operations and safety throughout the project area. When such multi-year funded projects on Interstates in New Jersey are completed, we anticipate these investments would translate into improved statewide percent of the person-miles traveled on the Interstate that are reliable. Other strategies, such as expanded and enhanced public transportation, facilities to move more freight by rail and policies that support moving freight during nonrush hours, measures that shift travel out of cars, move trips to other times of the day and eliminate some auto trips altogether and support multimodal approach are implemented as appropriate. The Department’s Statewide Capital Investment Strategy (SCIS) is providing strategic direction in the formulation of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The Regional Transportation Plans (RTP) prepared by the state’s three metropolitan planning organizations outline the strategies that will be implemented in each region through specific studies and projects. NJDOT continues to incorporate congestion mitigation strategies for the projects in NJDOT's project pipeline to ensure we make progress towards achieving reliability targets. Data Sources:
New Jersey 2018, 2020 Biennial Performance Report
New Jersey 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 HPMS Data Submittal
Non-Interstate National Highway System (NHS) Reliable Person-Miles Traveled
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Non-Interstate NHS reliable Person-Miles Traveled 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Condition/Performance -- -- 86.2 94.8 -- Target -- -- -- -- 84.1 Behind the data: For the first performance period only, baseline condition and 2-year targets are not required for the Non-Interstate NHS reliability measure.
Non-Interstate National Highway System (NHS) Reliable Person-Miles Traveled
The following points were considered for setting targets in New Jersey. These points primarily concern the Travel Time Reliability target, which uses the National Performance Research Data Set (NPMRDS) data. - Accuracy of NPMRDS v2 Dataset – The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and University of Maryland’s CATT Lab are under contract with FHWA to provide NPMRDS v2 data to the States for analysis. Both TTI and CATT Lab faced challenges with accuracy of the NPMRDS v2 dataset, which was derived from the 2017 INRIX Travel Time data. The NPMRDS v2 dataset is a network of the links made of the travel time on the Non-Interstate National Highway System (NHS) roadways (for this measure), which are called Travel Message Channels (TMCs); in short, it is called TMC network. - Corrections made to the TMCs in New Jersey - The NJDOT staff and three MPOs (NJTPA, DVRPC and SJTPO) collaboratively made corrections to the TMC network for New Jersey and provided corrections to TTI and CATT Lab to incorporate in the final dataset. Each TMC link was checked and verified against 2016 HPMS data submitted to FHWA as per the requirements stated in PM3 final rule. TTI was able to remove some extra TMC links from the network and make some other corrections. - HPMS Data lag – While working with TMC network downloaded from the CATT Lab’s approved Probe Data Analytics Suite (PDA Suite), the staff learned that there is a 2-year lag in the HPMS data being used for conflation with TMC network by TTI. NJDOT will reexamine the targets as the NPMRDS v2 network catches up with the most recent HPMS data (perhaps same year data). - Targets – Every time the TMC network is updated, the baseline changes. FHWA recognizes that as the NPMRDS v2 improves, the future target values may change. - Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Levels - There is a general upward trend in VMT growth, but VMT levels tend to fluctuate with the health of the economy, and can affect target values by affecting congestion. Therefore, the impact of VMT on future target levels is unknown. - Future Trends - NJDOT and MPOs have collaboratively decided to observe the future trends. As a result of the issues listed above, and with a reliable NPMRDS v2 dataset available for next four to six years, it may be possible to adjust targets appropriately and predict reliable future targets (beyond 2022). Therefore, NJDOT and MPOs have collaboratively decided to keep the future 4-year Travel Time reliability target for Non-Interstate NHS same as the 2017 baseline value. The Baseline percent of person-miles traveled on the Non-Interstate NHS that are reliable is 84.1%, which was derived from the PDA Suite at the time of “pencils-down” Complete Team meeting comprised of NJDOT, MPOs and other Stakeholders, including FHWA, NJ Transit and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.N/AN/AN/AData Sources:
New Jersey 2018, 2020 Biennial Performance Report
New Jersey 2020, 2021 HPMS Data Submittal
Interstate Highway Truck Travel Time Reliability (TTTR) Index
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Truck Travel Time Reliability Index 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Condition/Performance 1.82 1.89 1.89 1.40 -- Target -- -- 1.90 -- 1.95 -
Interstate Highway Truck Travel Time Reliability
Overall VMT is increasing, so is Port Activity (both containers and general cargo https//www.panynj.gov/port/trade-stats.html ), and e-Commerce, which increases truck activity. Meanwhile road capacity is not expanding therefore congestion will increase as will the TTTRI measure. Also data trends show a very modest increase in TTTRI over the calendar years of 2016 and 2017. Therefore, the Department and the MPOs agreed on a 2-year target of 1.9. However, it is anticipated that over 4 years, the target would be slightly higher, so it is set to 1.95.The TTTR has remained within a very narrow range just below the target.N/AThe state will be updating the Freight Plan and the Bottleneck report including the methodology on selection for the 2022 submission of the plan. The state is also integrating Freight into the Capital Planning Process using a combination of PM (TTTRI) and other factors including for example truck crash rates, number of permits issued for overweight trucks, integrated into the scoring system of the Freight Management System (FMS), in order to advance projects with a freight reliability benefit. Data Sources:
New Jersey 2018, 2020 Biennial Performance Report
New Jersey 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 HPMS Data Submittal
Significant Progress Determination
PLEASE NOTE: Each State’s performance target assessment is based on its own State-specific target methodology and program philosophy. Therefore, conclusions should not be drawn based only on the information in the 2020 Mid Performance Period Significant Progress Determination Results table. For example, the State may have set aggressive targets, and not met those targets, while another State may have set more easily attainable targets, and met those targets. FHWA understands that each State’s program is unique and therefore does not prescribe a methodology for States to set targets. States have the flexibility to use the methodology they deem most appropriate when setting their performance targets.
A State has met or made significant progress toward target achievement if “actual” condition/performance is equal to or better than the established two-year target or “actual” condition/performance is better than baseline performance 23 CFR 490.109 (e).
| Measure Area | Measures | Baseline | Target | Actual | Better than Baseline? | Achieved Target? | Made Significant Progress? | Consequences [23 CFR 490.109(f)] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The performance of the Interstate System | Interstate Travel Time Reliability measure | 82.1 | 82.0 | 80.6 | No | No | No | Additional reporting | |
| Freight movement on the Interstate System | Freight Reliability measure | 1.82 | 1.90 | 1.89 | No | Yes | Yes | None | |