Project Development

The Bureau of Project Development conducts Concept Development (CD) studies to find viable solutions for identified problems. The CD phase is the planning stage that defines transportation issues, evaluates alternatives, and identifies the best solution to advance to the design phases.

Using a data-driven and collaborative approach, the Bureau works with the Department’s subject matter experts (SMEs), as well as local, state, and federal partners, and the public, to ensure that every recommended solution addresses the problem, is feasible, cost-effective, and ready for design.

The Bureau’s efforts ensure that transportation investments maintain New Jersey’s infrastructure in a state of good repair while improving safety, mobility, and access in accordance with state and federal standards.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has an established Project Delivery Process which meets federal and state regulations. The process covers the lifecycle of a project from initiation to construction.

Concept Development is the foundational stage in the project delivery process. This phase includes data collection and analysis, establishing the project’s Purpose and Need and exploring alternatives to select a Preliminary Preferred Alternative (PPA).

During the Concept Development phase, the project team collects and analyzes data to understand the problem, the people and communities affected, and the condition of the infrastructure and the surrounding environment.

Typical data collected includes:

Traffic volumes and travel patterns
Crash history and safety data
Infrastructure condition
Land use
Environmental features
Community facilities and points of interest
Pedestrian, bicycle, and transit activity

Engaging key stakeholders and the public helps ensure that projects reflect local priorities and address community needs. Feedback gathered through meetings, surveys, and outreach events informs decisions and builds support for the selected solution.

A clear Purpose and Need statement explains why a project is being proposed and what problem it seeks to address.

Purpose

A broad statement describing the desired outcome, such as improving safety, enhancing mobility, or addressing infrastructure deficiencies.

Need

The data confirms the existence of the problem, highlighting the need for a solution.

Goals and Objectives

Non transportation community outcomes the project aims to support, such as improving quality of life, economic vitality, or access to opportunities.

A well-defined Purpose and need ensure the project stays focused and provides a sound basis for evaluating alternatives.

A set of conceptual alternatives, including a No-Build option, is evaluated to identify the most effective solution to address the transportation problem.

Each alternative is assessed against a set of criteria to ensure it meets the project’s Purpose and Need, is buildable and cost-effective, and minimizes impacts on the surrounding community and environment.

After evaluating all conceptual alternatives, the Preliminary Preferred Alternative (PPA) is identified as the option that provides the best overall balance of safety, mobility, cost, constructability, community and environmental considerations.

The PPA reflects input from subject matter experts (SMEs), stakeholders, and partner agencies and represents a solution that is feasible, supported, and ready to advance into design.

Its selection marks the completion of the Concept Development phase and sets the direction for future project design and implementation.

Major Product Checklist
Project Development Resources

The major products for the CD Phase include:

Clearly defined Purpose and Need Statement
CD Report
Preliminary Preferred Alternative (PPA)
Environmental Document Classification
Reasonable Assurance of Design Exception Approval
Preliminary Engineering Scope Statement to post for Consultant Selection to perform Preliminary Engineering/Final Design/Construction
Design Communications Report (DCR)
System Enginnering Review Form (SERF) (If ITS devices are proposed)
Utility Risk Assessment Plan
Risk Register

For more detailed information regarding activity descriptions, visit the NJDOT Capital Program website.

Download the CD Report Table of Contents Template