>>> FUNDING FOR "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WORKING TO KEEP NEW JERSEY IN BUSINESS ONLINE AT NJCHAMBER.COM.

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>>> THIS WEEK ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT," $100 MILLION FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, LEGISLATURES ARE READY TO SEND MORE AID BUT IS IT ENOUGH?

PLUS CRITICAL RESOURCES BUSINESSES MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT FROM SECURING FEDERAL CONTRACTS TO GETTING YOUR COVID QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

AND WE PUT NEW JERSEY'S TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY IN FOCUS, INCLUDING NJ TRANSIT'S BUDGET WOES AND EMERGING TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES.

THAT'S STRAIGHT AHEAD ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

>> Announcer: THIS IS "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

>> HELLO I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

IF YOU'RE WATCHING ON YOUTUBE, MAKE SURE YOU SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO GET ALERTED WHEN WE POST NEW EPISODES AND CLIPS.

NEW JERSEY HAS LOST TOO MANY BUSINESSES IN THE PAST YEAR.

BUT LEGISLATION APPROVED THIS WEEK COULD HELP MORE SURVIVE.

STATE LAWMAKERS ADVANCED BILLS TO PROVIDE A TOTAL OF $100 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO HARD HIT COMPANIES.

MORE THAN A THIRD OF THAT AMOUNT WOULD BE SET ASIDE FOR BARS AND RESTAURANTS.

THE REST OF THE MONEY WOULD GO TO OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS.

$100 MILLION SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY, BUT REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS HAVE BEEN SAYING IT WON'T BE ENOUGH AND MORE MONEY SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE.

LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK ALSO SPENT TIME DISCUSSING HOW TO FIX NEW JERSEY'S UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM.

OUR STATE'S JOBLESS RATE IS IT NEARLY 8%, THAT'S HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

TWO IDEAS ARE GAINING TRACTION.

ONE TO GIVE INCENTIVES FOR HIRING UNEMPLOYED WORKERS.

ANOTHER THAT WOULD HAVE LEGISLATIVE OFFICES HELP WITH UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS.

I TALKED WITH JOHN RIGHTMEYER ABOUT BOTH OF THE BILLS.

LET'S FOCUS ON THE TAX CREDIT.

WHY DOES THE TAX CREDIT IDEA MAKE SENSE IN TERMS OF WHAT THE LAWMAKERS ARE THINKING?

>> WELL, IT DIRECTLY ADDRESSES THE PRESSURE ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM BY GIVING COMPANIES OR BUSINESSES AN INCENTIVE TO HIRE SOMEBODY WHO'S CURRENTLY OUT OF WORK.

SO YOU WOULD SEE THE TAX CREDIT BE GIVEN TO A COMPANY WHEN IT HIRES SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS.

AND THAT CREDIT WOULD GO AGAINST EITHER THEIR GROSS INCOME OR THEIR CORPORATE BUSINESS TAX LIABILITY.

HOWEVER THE BUSINESS PAYS ITS TAXES.

AND THEN IT WOULD ALSO BE BASICALLY AN OFFSET OF WHAT THEY WOULD BE PAYING FOR THAT EMPLOYEE'S WITHHOLDINGS.

SO THE EMPLOYER SIDE OF THEIR WITHHOLDINGS TAX.

SO IT'S A REFUNDABLE CREDIT, ONE THAT DIRECTLY GOES TO COMPANIES THAT ARE HIRING PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED, SO IT USES, IN A CREATIVE WAY, THE TAX CODE TO KIND OF WHITTLE AWAY AT THE SPIKE IN UNEMPLOYMENT THAT NEW JERSEY IS STILL EXPERIENCING NOW MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

>>> ON THE TAX CREDIT BILL, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WOULD LAST JUST WHILE WE'RE RECOVERING FROM THE PANDEMIC OR WOULD THAT BE A PERMANENT TAX CREDIT?

>> IT'S NOT A PERMANENT CREDIT BUT IT WOULD BE MORE THAN A ONE YEAR TAX CREDIT.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF THIS AS WELL.

IS THERE WOULD BE SOME RUNWAY FOR COMPANIES TO RECEIVE THIS TAX CREDIT FOR UP TO FOUR YEARS.

AND IT WOULD BE IN PLACE IN THE EVENT THAT NEW JERSEY CONTINUES TO HAVE A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH UNEMPLOYMENT.

IF YOU REMEMBER AFTER THE GREAT RECESSION ABOUT A DECADE AGO, IT TOOK NEW JERSEY A LONG TIME TO RECOVER ALL THE JOBS LOST TO THAT DOWNTURN, AND NEW JERSEY HAS HAD SOME JOB GAINS IN IN THE STILL, WAY BEHIND WHERE WE WERE.

UNEMPLOYMENT IS DOUBLE WHAT IT WAS BEFORE THE DOWNTURN THAT WAS TRIGGERED BY THE PANDEMIC.

>> THIS OTHER UNEMPLOYMENT BILL THAT WAS CONSIDERED THAT REALLY HAS THE OFFICE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH LEGISLATIVE OFFICES, IT'S VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE FRUSTRATED RESIDENTS FINALLY JUST BEGAN CALLING THEIR LOCAL LAWMAKERS AND ASKING FOR HELP.

SO I AM ASSUMING THAT THIS BILL REALLY KIND OF CAME OUT OF THAT LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION THAT REALLY WAS SO HARD FOR SO MANY TO DEAL WITH.

>> YEAH.

IT SURE LOOKS THAT WAY.

IT SEEMS TO BE A RESPONSE TO ALL OF THE CALLS THAT WERE FIELDED BY LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT OFFICES.

THERE'S STILL PEOPLE LOOKING FOR -- APPARENTLY STILL LOOKING FOR THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

OFTENTIMES THEY WILL CALL THEIR LEGISLATIVE OFFICES BECAUSE THEY CAN GET SOMEONE ON THE PHONE TO ACTUALLY WORK WITH THEM.

SO WHAT I THINK YOU'VE SEEN IS A LOT OF DISTRICT OFFICES HAVE BEEN WORKING AS A GO-BETWEEN FOR THE UNEMPLOYED IN THEIR DISTRICTS, AND THE LABOR DEPARTMENT AS IT HAS, YOU KNOW, STRUGGLED TO STAY ON TOP OF THIS INCREASE IN UNEMPLOYMENT FILINGS AND THIS BILL LOOKS LIKE A REACTION TO THAT.

TO SAY IF WE'RE GOING TO BE RELYING ON THE DISTRICT OFFICES TO LEND A HAND, LET'S FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO LINK UP THE TWO AGENCIES.

SO YOU HAVE THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH IN A WAY TO SORT OF SUPPLEMENT EFFORTS THAT ARE ALREADY UNDER WAY WHEN IT COMES TO UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

>> LET'S HOPE IT WORKS.

GREAT TO TALK TO YOU AS ALWAYS.

>> SAME HERE.

LIKE WISE.

>>> AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE, THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN HAS LED TO NEARLY 3 MILLION WOMEN LEAVING THE WORKFORCE ALTOGETHER.

IT'S A SOBER STATISTIC TO MENTION DURING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.

BUT LEAVING THE TRADITIONAL 9:00 TO 5:00 WORK PLACE CAN ALSO LEAD TO OPPORTUNITY.

NUMBERS ARE HARD TO COME BY BUT WE DO KNOW THAT SOME WOMEN ARE USING THIS TIME TO BECOME ENTREPRENEURS AND ARE LAUNCHING THEIR OWN SMALL BUSINESSES.

AND I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY MORE MIGHT TAKE THAT LEAP IF ONLY THEY KNEW WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

WE FOUND ONE SUCCESSFUL NEW JERSEY ENTREPRENEUR WHO'S EAGER TO HELP OTHER WOMEN ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.

WE CONNECTED WITH ELEANOR, WHO'S CFO OF TRENTON GROUP, A PR AGENCY.

SHE TOLD US ABOUT A MENTORING PROGRAM THAT TOOK HER BUSINESS TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.

ELEANOR, IT'S GREAT TO TALK TO YOU.

SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE STARTING OUT IN BUSINESS ARE TRYING TO GROW THEIR COMPANY.

THEY'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR ADVICE ON HOW TO DO THAT, AND YOU ACTUALLY FOUND A MENTORING PROGRAM THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE.

SO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT PROGRAM WHAT YOU FOUND AND HOW IT'S HELPED YOU.

>> YES.

I FOUND, THROUGH THE SBA, WHICH IS THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, A PROGRAM THAT IS A VERY LONG TITLE BUT IT'S CALLED THE ALL SMALL MENTOR PROTEGE PROGRAM.

IT'S A RELATIVELY NEW PROGRAM, ABOUT THREE YEARS OLD.

AND WHAT IT DOES, IT GIVES SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, WOMEN, MINORITY, VETERAN OWNED COMPANIES, AN OPPORTUNITY TO START WORKING WITH MENTORS IN THEIR FIELD.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, I GOT TO -- OR I AM IN PROGRESS OF WORKING WITH OGLIVE, WHICH IS A GLOBAL PUBLIC RELATION ADVERTISING AGENCY.

AND THEY BECOME MY MENTOR, I'M THEIR PROTEGE AND WE WORK TOGETHER TO CLOSE NEW FEDERAL CONTRACTS.

SO IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR COMPANIES THAT WANT TO GROW AND WANT TO GROW IN A CONSISTENT WAY.

ESPECIALLY SINCE THE COMMITTEE HAS DONE A LOT OF CHANGING IN TECHNOLOGY.

THIS GIVES COMPANIES A REALLY STRONG FOUNDATION BY WHICH TO BUILD THEIR BUSINESS.

>> DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD HAVE GROWN YOUR BUSINESS TO THE POINT IT'S AT NOW WITHOUT YOUR MENTOR?

>> NO.

WHAT IS AMAZING, OGLIVE HAS BEEN A TRUE MENTOR.

WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THAT THEY OPENED UP OPPORTUNITIES.

FOR INSTANCE, I HAVE A DESK AND AN OFFICE NOW WITH OGLIVE IN WASHINGTON D.C.

THEY OPENED UP HOW THEY RESPOND TO RFP OPPORTUNITIES.

THAT'S HOW YOU GET FEDERAL BUSINESS.

THEY ALSO TEACH YOU.

THEY ALSO LEND YOU A HAND.

THEY ALSO HELP YOU WITH BECOMING MORE SOPHISTICATED IN YOUR APPLICATIONS, IN YOUR RESPONSES.

SO IT'S AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE SECRETS, THE SECRET SAUCE, THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO THAT NEXT LEVEL.

I HAD BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 20-SOME-ODD YEARS AND DECIDED TO VENTURE OUT ON THERE AND NEVER THOUGHT IN A MILLION YEARS I WOULD CLOSE A BIG DEAL.

NOT ONLY DID WE CLOSE ONE, WE CLOSED TWO AND WE'RE ABOUT TO CLOSE TWO MORE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS -- THERE'S VERY FEW PEOPLE YOU MEET THAT CLOSE THOSE KINDS OF DEALS.

>> WHAT'S THE BIGGEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE TO ANOTHER FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR WHO'S THINKING ABOUT VENTURING INTO THE PROGRAM?

>> I LOVE SUPPORTING OTHER WOMEN BUSINESSES.

BECAUSE I STARTED MINE IN MY 20s.

AND SO, FOR ME THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF US.

NOW THERE'S A LOT MORE WOMEN IN THE INDUSTRY.

AND IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO TELL THEM IS, ONE, NEVER GIVE UP.

TWO, KNOW YOUR VALUE.

THAT WAS THE MOST -- THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT LESSONS FOR ME TO LEARN AS A WOMAN, WHEN I FIRST WENT INTO BUSINESS IS THAT I UNDER VALUED MYSELF A LOT.

AND ONE THAT I JUST LEARNED RECENTLY IS REALLY FOLLOW YOUR GUT INSTINCT.

WHAT HAPPENS IS SOMETIMES YOU START WORKING IN THE UPPER ECHELONS AND YOU CAN BECOME INTIMIDATED BECAUSE THESE ARE THE BEST IN THE INDUSTRY.

ONE THING I'VE LEARNED IS, FOLLOW YOUR GUT, YOU KNOW JUST AS MUCH AS THEY DO, AND JUST CONTINUE ON THAT PATH FORWARD AND IT WILL HAPPEN.

>> ELEANOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>>> ANOTHER RESOURCE THAT YOU MIGHT NOT BE AWARE OF IS THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS ACTION CENTER.

A ONE STOP SHOP THAT SERVES TO EDUCATE BUSINESS OWNERS.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MELANIE SAID HER CENTER HELPS PEOPLE NAVIGATE THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT SYSTEM PROGRAMS OUT THERE.

>> THERE ARE LOTS OF SERVICES AVAILABLE THAT ARE THERE FOR THEM TO HELP THEM WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN IF THEY WANT TO REORGANIZE THEIR BUSINESS, HELP THEM WITH A FINANCIAL PLAN.

TO HELP THEM FIND FINANCING, ESPECIALLY ONCE THE BIDEN STIMULUS PACKAGE COMES DOWN TO THE STATE, THERE WILL BE GRANTS AVAILABLE TO BUSINESSES AND WE'RE THE FIRST DOOR THEY SHOULD GO THROUGH TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR ABILITY TO APPLY.

>> SO MANY INDUSTRIES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE ECONOMIC FALLOUT FROM THE PANDEMIC, INCLUDING THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR.

AIRLINE TRAVEL IS PICKING UP, BUT MASS TRANSIT RIDERSHIP IS STILL WELL BELOW NORMAL AND THERE'S STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT YET DRIVING TO WORK.

WE PUT THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY IN FOCUS THIS WEEK.

AS PART OF THE NEW $1.9 TRILLION AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN EMERGENCY FUNDING WAS SET ASIDE FOR TRANSIT IN PART TO HELP OFFSET DECLINING REVENUES AT THE FARE BOX.

LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS FROM NJ TRANSIT.

RAIL RIDERSHIP IS DOWN 80%.

BUS RIDERSHIP HAS FALLEN 50%.

AND THE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM HAS SEEN A 52% DECLINE IN RIDERS.

BUT THE TRAINS AND BUSES HAVE TO KEEP MOVING.

ESPECIALLY TO GET OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS TO THEIR JOBS.

TO FIND OUT WHERE MASS TRANSIT IS HEADED WE SPOKE TO MICHAEL GARCIA FROM THE GROUP KNOWN AS THE TRI-STATE TRANSPORTATION CAMPAIGN.

KEVIN, IN TERMS OF FUNDING FOR MASS TRANSIT, DO YOU THINK POLICY MAKERS WILL ALSO BE GIVING A SECOND LOOK AT THAT?

IT'S ALMOST HARD TO PREDICT WHERE WE'RE GOING IN THE FUTURE FOR MASS TRANSIT, BUT STILL WE HAVE TO PLAN AHEAD.

>> WE CERTAINLY HAVE TO PLAN AHEAD.

RECENTLY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN SUPER INSTRUMENTAL IN PROVIDING FUNDING FOR THESE AGENCIES TO CONTINUE OPERATING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND HOPEFULLY BEYOND THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED NOW AND IN THE FUTURE IS MORE FUNDING.

IN TERMS OF NEW JERSEY TRANSIT, WE NEED DEDICATED STAPLE FUNDING FOR THE OPERATING BUDGET.

AND THIS WILL ALLOW THE AGENCY TO ALLOCATE AND FUND CAPITAL PROJECTS NEEDED TO EXPAND NOT ONLY THE BUS NUMBER BUT ALSO THE TRANS AS WELL.

AND THEY JUST RECENTLY RELEASED THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN.

FUNDING WILL BE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THESE PLANS COME TO LIFE.

>> KEVIN, HOW CAN WE THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT MASS TRANSIT NOW THAT MORE COMPANIES ARE BRINGING EMPLOYEES BACK TO WORK?

>> WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS THAT RIDERSHIP HAS PLATEAUED SINCE THE SUMMER.

IT HAS SOMEWHAT CREPT BACK TO PRE-COVID LEVELS BUT NOT AT THE LEVELS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

BUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE WITH MASS TRANSIT AS WE CONTINUE NAVIGATING THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC AND BEYOND IS INCREASED CLEANINGS AND NEW TECHNOLOGY COMING TO NOT JUST NEW JERSEY TRANSIT BUT TRANSIT AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> IS THERE ANY THOUGHT OF HOW WE RETHINK TRANSIT IN TERMS OF -- THERE'S ALWAYS DEBATE ON ADDING MORE STOPS OR WHEN IT COMES TO TRAINS CHANGING SCHEDULES AROUND A LITTLE BIT MR. ROSENSTEIN, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT ALL MASS TRANSIT HAS TO WORK THROUGH AS WE LOOK AT WHERE RIDERSHIP RETURN LEVELS GO TO?

>> WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT WHY RIDERS ARE TRAVELING TODAY AND WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO GO TO.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BUS NETWORK, FOR EXAMPLE.

LOCAL BUS SERVICE IN PARTICULAR, HAS BEEN PRETTY STEADILY, IN TERMS OF RIDERSHIP THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC.

SO LOCAL BUS RIDERSHIP ON NEW JERSEY TRANSIT IS AROUND 70%.

WHEN YOU COMPARE THAT TO RAIL AND INTERSTATE BUS SERVICE, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT THERE IS MORE LOCAL BUS RIDERSHIP AND THIS IS DUE TO ESSENTIAL WORKERS, FRONT LINE WORKERS WHO ARE RIDING THE BUS TO GET TO WORK.

>> KEVIN THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOOD TALKING WITH YOU.

>> NO PROBLEM, THANK YOU SO MUCH, RHONDA.

>>> IF YOU PREFER DRIVING TO MASS TRANSIT, YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT ALL THE NEW TECHNOLOGY BEING OUTFITTED IN CARS THESE DAYS.

AND THAT'S GOING TO IMPROVE YOUR DAILY COMMUTE.

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR ALLEN CORNHOUSER BROUGHT US UP TO SPEED ON THAT.

THROUGH COVID WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES IN THE WAY PEOPLE APPROACH AND USE TRANSPORTATION.

YOU HAVE FOR QUITE SOME TIME THOUGHT ABOUT HOW THE TRANSPORTATION LANDSCAPE IS CHANGING.

WHEN IT COMES TO CARS, HOW DO YOU SEE OUR WAY WE USE OUR CARS NOW CHANGING AND THE TECHNOLOGY CHANGING AS WELL?

>> WELL, I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS THAT TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING.

AND I THINK WE'VE BEGUN TO SEE IT IN COVID AND THE CARS THAT ARE -- THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO BUY, ESPECIALLY THE NEW ONES, NOT NECESSARILY IN THE SHOW ROOM BUT OVER THE INTERNET OR HOWEVER THE CAR DEALERS HAVE CHANGED TO SELL THEIR VEHICLES.

BUT THE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THEIR -- IS THAT I THINK FINALLY IS THE CAR MANUFACTURERS ARE SEEING THAT SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGY THAT IS REALLY ORIENTED TOWARDS -- TOWARDS COLLISION AVOIDANCE, MAKING THESE CARS MUCH SAFER TO DRIVE IS REALLY APPEARING IN THE NEW CARS THAT ARE BEING MADE AVAILABLE.

>> LET ME JUST JUMP IN HERE FOR A MOMENT AND ASK YOU, AS THIS TECHNOLOGY IS IMPROVING, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE EFFORT OF SELF-DRIVING CARS?

THAT WAS SOMETHING TALKED ABOUT QUITE A BIT AND THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN, AND I'M WONDERING WHERE WE STAND ON THAT AT THIS POINT GIVEN THAT TECHNOLOGY IS IMPROVING WITH SOME OF THE CARS YOU CAN GO TO THE LOT AND BUY RIGHT NOW?

>> RIGHT.

I THINK THAT'S -- THE REASON THAT'S BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD UP TO THIS POINT IS WHAT TENDS TO APPEAR IN THE NEWSPAPER, IN THE SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT, IS SORT OF THIS, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THAT CARS -- OUR CARS ARE JUST GOING TO CARRY US AROUND WHILE WE, YOU KNOW, SLEEP IN THE BACKSEAT.

OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

OR WE DO OTHER THINGS, ESPECIALLY LIKE WE ALL -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY ALL.

WE ALL LIKE TO DO THIS, SIT THERE AND TEXT.

THAT'S TERRIBLE ITSELF.

SO THE TECHNOLOGY HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT SORT OF TWO THINGS.

ONE SORT OF TECHNOLOGY THAT IS OUT THERE RUNNING IN THE CAR, MAKING -- MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T GET OURSELVES INTO TROUBLE.

SO THAT IF THE TIME THE COLLISION BECOMES 1.6 SECONDS TO COLLISION BOOM THE ONLY THING THAT GOES OFF AND YOU DON'T COLLIDE.

THOSE SYSTEMS ARE FINALLY GETTING TO BE SO THAT THEY WORK WELL, ESSENTIALLY, ALL THE TIME.

THERE AREN'T THE FALSE ALARMS THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKES GO ON, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR CAR AND YOU RUN BACK TO THE DEALER AND SAY THIS IS A LEMON, TAKE IT BACK.

WE CAN'T HAVE THAT SITUATION.

SO THOSE SYSTEMS ARE IN THE CARS THAT WE DRIVE.

THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THAT TO A POINT AT WHICH THESE VEHICLES PROVIDE MOBILITY TO US.

THAT I'VE ARGUED THAT THESE AREN'T CARS THAT WE'RE GOING TO OWN.

THIS MAY BE CARS THAT NEW JERSEY TRANSIT OR AN AGENCY OR A FLEET OPERATOR PUTS OUT THERE, AND BASICALLY YOU AND I REQUEST, AS YOU AND I AT ONE POINT REQUESTED LYFT AND UBER SERVICES, I'M SURE YOU'VE USED IT OUR WATCHERS HAVE USED IT, YOU PICK UP YOUR PHONE, YOU CAN WATCH IT, IT COMES AND YOU GET IN, IT TAKES YOU TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.

>> EXCELLENT POINT.

ALLEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPENDING TIME WITH ME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> OKAY.

>> LET'S FACE IT, IF YOU'RE STILL WORKING FROM HOME, YOU MAY NOT BE DRIVING AROUND TOO MUCH.

BUT MAYBE YOU'RE PART OF ANOTHER INTERESTING TRANSPORTATION TREND THAT CAME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, AND THAT'S A BIKE BOOM.

WE CHECKED IN WITH CITY BIKE, WHICH PROVIDES BIKES FOR RENT IN JERSEY CITY AND IS ABOUT TO EXPAND TO HOBOKEN IN A FEW WEEKS.

GENERAL MANAGER LAURA FOX SAID THE PANDEMIC INITIALLY IMPACTED BUSINESS BUT AFTER THAT RIDERSHIP WAS ON A ROLL.

>> IN MARCH AND APRIL WE SAW RIDERSHIP DIP DURING THAT TIME, BUT THEN RIDERSHIP STARTED TO REALLY SWING BACK IN MAY, JUNE, JULY, WE WERE PROBABLY A COUPLE PERCENTAGE POINTS BELOW WHERE WE WERE IN 2019 AND AUGUST ONWARDS AS A SYSTEM ACROSS JERSEY CITY AND NEW YORK CITY WE WERE BEATING THE 2019 NUMBERS.

AND SO WE REALLY SAW PEOPLE START TO USE BIKING IN AN ENTIRELY NEW WAY, WHICH WE WERE EXCITED ABOUT.

>> FOX SAID CITY BIKE USERS AREN'T JUST COMMUTING TO WORK, THEY'RE NOW MORE AND MORE PEOPLE RENTING BIKES TO GET OUTSIDE AND HAVE SOME FUN.

>>> IT'S TOO EARLY TO SAY IF SOME OF OUR NEW TRANSPORTATION HABITS WILL STAY WITH US ONCE THINGS GET BACK TO NORMAL BUT IT'S SOMETHING PETER IS THINKING ABOUT.

HE'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NEW JERSEY FUTURE, WHICH IS FOCUSED ON LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT.

PETER, YOU KNOW, WE LEARNED A LOT THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC.

AND ONE THING WE SAW WAS PEOPLE'S TRANSPORTATION HABITS CHANGED.

WHAT POTENTIAL LASTING IMPACT MIGHT WE HAVE WHEN THIS IS ALL SAID AND DONE?

>> IT'S A GREAT POINT.

I THINK FOR, YOU KNOW, THE SIMPLEST POINT IS THAT PEOPLE SAW HOW THEY CAN GET AROUND AND GET BY WITHOUT BEING IN A CAR AS MUCH AS THEY HAD BEEN IN THE PAST.

AND SO, JUST CHANGING YOUR BEHAVIOR AND CHANGING YOUR HABITS STARTS TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON HOW YOU CAN APPROACH THE FUTURE.

>> HOW DO WE TAKE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT PLANNING IN THE STATE AND WHERE WE SPEND OUR MONEY WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPORTATION?

>> I THINK WHAT WE LEARNED IS THAT PEOPLE LIKE NOT BEING IN THEIR CARS ALL THE TIME.

AND SO WE HAVE TO CREATE THE PLACES THAT ALLOW THEM NOT TO BE IN THEIR CARS ALL THE TIME.

AND NEW JERSEY HAS SOME EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSES TO THAT END.

WE HAVE SMALL TOWNS WITH GREAT DOWNTOWNS THAT ARE WALKABLE, COMPACT.

WE HAVE CITIES.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THOSE PLACES.

>> I FEEL LIKE IF YOU'RE IN A RURAL OR SUBURBAN AREA YOU'RE KIND OF STUCK WITH A CAR.

IT'S NOT LIKE YOU CAN HOP ON A BUS IN SOME PARTS.

>> YEAH, NO, THAT'S TRUE.

WE'RE NOT SUGGESTING WE SHOULDN'T HAVE PEOPLE LIVING IN RURAL OR SUBURBAN AREAS.

I THINK THERE'S DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS IN DIFFERENT AREAS.

IN MORE RURAL AREAS YOU HAVE TOWNS, SMALL TOWNS AND TOWN CENTERS AND YOU WANT TO SEE THE SMALL TOWN CENTERS BECOME THE HUBS OF ACTIVITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME TO, DRIVE THEIR CAR, AND THEN WALK AROUND.

WE'RE NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE'RE GETTING RID OF CARS.

WE'RE SAYING THAT PEOPLE CAN DRIVE LESS.

AND THE WAY THAT PEOPLE CAN DRIVE LESS IS BY HAVING MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET OUT OF THEIR CARS.

>> DO YOU THINK THERE'S ENOUGH OF A SEAT CHANGE THAT HAPPENED THAT WE COULD SEE A REAL FOCUS ON PLANNING AND BUILDING COMMUNITIES A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST?

>> WE'D LIKE TO THINK SO.

I THINK WHEN PEOPLE START TO UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE BENEFITS THAT COME WITH CREATING THESE PLACES, I THINK WE'LL START TO SEE MORE RESOURCES GOING INTO THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING OF THESE PLACES.

SO IT'S NOT JUST THAT PEOPLE GET OUT OF CARS BUT BY GETTING OUT OF CARS, THAT MEANS WE'RE REDUCING OUR GREEN HOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

IF YOU LOOK AT -- IF 10% OF -- IF WE DROVE 10% LESS THAN WE DRIVE RIGHT NOW, THAT WOULD BE THE EQUIVALENT OF CREATING -- OF CONVERTING 600,000 CARS IN NEW JERSEY TO ELECTRIC.

SO JUST BY WALKING MORE, WE'LL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT OR GETTING OUT OF OUR CARS MORE WE'LL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON GREEN HOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

>> HOW DOES NEW JERSEY FARE COMPARED TO OTHER STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN TRYING TO BUILD THESE WALKABLE COMMUNITIES?

>> NEW JERSEY IS INTERESTING IN THAT A LOT OF OTHER STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE LARGE CITIES AND LARGE METROPOLITAN AREAS AND THEN IT BECOMES RURAL QUICKLY.

IN SOME OF THOSE CASES, THOSE CITIES ARE DOING A VERY GOOD JOB, IN SOME CASES BETTER THAN NEW JERSEY IS.

BUT WHAT NEW JERSEY HAS A LOT OF THAT MANY PLACES DON'T ARE THOSE SMALLER TOWNS.

THE SMALL CITIES AND SMALLER TOWNS.

AND NEW JERSEY IS DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB WITH THAT.

>> PETER, IT'S A PLEASURE TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>>> AND THAT WRAPS UP OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

AND ARE YOU A BUSINESS INTERESTED IN SPONSORING "NJ BUSINESS BEAT"?

CONTACT STEVE AT THE EMAIL OR PHONE NUMBER YOU SEE AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

WE'RE TAKING A BREAK NEXT WEEKEND FOR THE HOLIDAY BUT "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" RETURNS THE FOLLOWING WEEK.

SEE YOU THEN.

>> Announcer: FUNDING FOR "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WORKING TO KEEP NEW JERSEY IN BUSINESS.

ONLINE AT NJCHAMBER.COM.

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WE HAVE BEEN HELPING GOVERNMENTS AND PRIVATE SECTOR CLIENTS IN NEW JERSEY WITH THEIR EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY NEEDS FOR 30 YEARS.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SERVICES AT CGI.COM.

NJBIA HAS BEEN THE VOICE OF BUSINESS FOR MORE THAN 110 YEARS AND IS BUILT TO SERVE OUR MEMBERS IN TODAY'S NEW NORMAL.

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, A GAME CHANGING FORCE OFFERING PROGRAMS LIKE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY WHERE BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND DATA SCIENCE.

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