With a 1990 population of 553,124, an increase of 12.5 % from 1980, Monmouth County continues to grow at a strong pace. By 2000, the County’s population is expected to increase an additional 6 % to approximately 586,000 people. Monmouth County encompasses several densely populated areas, the most densely settled municipalities being Asbury Park, Shrewsbury

Township, and Keansburg, with densities of 11,748, 10,980, and 10,345 persons per square mile, respectively. The least densely populated municipality is Upper Freehold Township, with 70 people per square mile, according to the 1990 Census. The four townships with the highest populations are Middletown, Howell, Neptune, and Marlboro, which combined, make up just under 30 % of the County’s population.

The growth from 1980 to 1990 has occurred throughout the County. The population, however, remains concentrated along the Route 9 corridor and in the coastal areas of the County.

While Monmouth County’s convenient access to the Garden State Parkway and Route 9 makes it ideal for the suburban commuter, the county houses a significant number of seniors as well. According to the 1990 Census, approximately 13 % of the county’s population is over age 65, just under the statewide number of 13.3 % of the total population over age 65. As the overall population ages, this number is likely to increase. According to the Monmouth County Demographic and Economic Updates, Estimates, and Projections, revised in January 1995, the senior population is expected to reach 142,000 by the year 2010.

Overall, income levels in Monmouth County are higher than the statewide average for New Jersey. While the statewide median household income reported in the 1990 Census was $40,927, the Monmouth County median was $45,912. Notable exceptions are Asbury Park and Keansburg, both with significantly lower median incomes.

Three communities had greater than 10 % of their populations living below the poverty line in 1990. These communities are Asbury Park, Bradley Beach, and Long Branch.

Employment in Monmouth County is dominated by healthcare service provision, restaurants, business services, engineering/management services and supermarkets. The Army operates Ft. Monmouth and the Systems Management Directorate, which are two of the top three employers in the county, employing 13,300 workers combined. Other employment sectors include seaside resorts, electrical machinery, chemicals, farming and horse breeding.

The unemployment rate was reported as 3.6 % of the non-institutionalized persons in 1990. This is lower than that of the state as a whole, which had a rate of 3.9 %. During the 12-month period ending October, 1997, employment in the Atlantic Coastal region was up 1.8 % or 9,600 jobs. This is slightly better than the state’s increase of 1.7 %. Job growth was slightly slower than for the 12-month period a year earlier. Increases in the

Monmouth/Ocean area have mostly been in the service sector, with services, trade and finance/insurance/real estate being the most prominent. Within the services sector, the health services industry has grown significantly and is one of the largest employment sectors in Monmouth County.

Some of the typical characteristics which define populations that are likely to need public transportation services are advanced age, mobility limitations, limited income and limited or no access to an automobile. In an effort to identify the individuals in Monmouth County who would likely benefit from access to public transit, part of the planning process calls for the identification of individuals within Monmouth County who fall into the categories listed above. This information, in addition to information about employment opportunities, provides the basis for identifying needs among Monmouth County residents. If transportation issues can be addressed, access to employment opportunities should be enhanced, potentially providing Work First NJ participants opportunities to work. This goal, in addition to providing access to support services, should help identification of broader mobility options for people who are likely to be transit dependent.

.

As shown earlier in Section 1.1, 12.7 % of the population of Monmouth County in 1990 was age 65 or older. Individuals in this age group typically have higher than average transportation needs and will use public transit bus and/or van services.

As would be expected, the areas with the highest densities of population in general, also have high populations of seniors (880 to 1,939 seniors per square mile). Compared to the county overall the average senior population density is 150 per square mile, and 139 for the state as a whole.

"Mobility Limitation," as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau refers to people who have identified themselves as having a physical or mental health condition which lasts for six months or more and makes it difficult for the individual to go outside of the home alone to activities such as shopping or medical appointments. As a result of this definition, it is expected that the number of people identifying themselves as having mobility limitations is higher than the number of people with disabilities as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, the Census measure is an estimate of the number of people who would likely need specialized transportation services.

In 1990, 4.1 % of the population of New Jersey classified themselves as having a mobility limitation. In Monmouth County, the number of people reporting mobility limitations in the 1990 Census was 15,688, or 3.7 %. This is the sixth lowest of all counties in New Jersey. The three communities that have the highest number of people with disabilities are Middletown Township, Long Branch, and Neptune Township

The level of household income is another factor in determining the likelihood of transit need, as more expensive options for transportation may not be available. The number of households with income of under $15,000 in 1989. For the state as a whole, was 16.2%, where for Monmouth County the percentage was 13.3%. Additionally, the median income for Monmouth County in the 1990 census was $45,912, almost $5,000 more than the median income reported statewide. These figures are magnified at the community level, where high concentrations of seniors are shown in the same areas as high concentrations of households with under $15,000 in income.

The highest numbers of low income households are located in Asbury Park, Keyport, Bradley Beach, and Keansburg. Again, these households are concentrated in segments of these communities.

There are also communities with relatively small populations that have significantly higher %ages of low income households. For example, Asbury Park is reported as having a total of 2,670 households, 39.3 % of which had incomes below $15,000 in 1989, and a median income of $20,754.

Another measure of likely public transportation need is the lack of access to an automobile. In 1990, the percentage of occupied housing units with no access to automobiles in New Jersey was 12.9%. While in Monmouth County, 8.5 % of occupied housing units had no access to an automobile. The state’s percentage is partially attributable to having concentrations of lower income population in areas with significant amounts of public transportation service. Monmouth County has areas where development is low density suburban in nature, making transportation other than by private automobile less likely.

There are several communities that have significantly higher %ages of occupied housing units without access to an automobile. Again, Asbury Park, had the highest %age of occupied housing units without access to an automobile at 36.2 %. Other communities with 13 % or more occupied housing units with no access to automobiles, as reported in 1990, are Red Bank with 21.9 %, Bradley Beach with 19.4 %, Keansburg with 18.1 %, Long Branch with 16.3 %, Keyport with 16.2 %, Freehold Borough with 14.2 %, Highlands with 13.8 %, and Belmar with 13.4 %.

The study indicates that generally, concentrations of households with no access to an automobile are in the same areas as other transit dependent groups: Asbury Park, Long Branch, Bradley Beach, and Keansburg.

Unemployment is a characteristic that is likely to affect an individual or family’s income and/or ability to own a private automobile. While Monmouth County experienced lower unemployment than the state, eleven communities in Monmouth County had higher unemployment rates than the statewide rate of 3.9 % in 1990. These communities are: Asbury Park, Bradley Beach, Brielle, Englishtown, Freehold, Highlands, Keansburg, Long Branch, Red Bank, South Belmar, and Union Beach. The communities with the lowest unemployment rates were Spring Lake at 0.9 %, and Allenhurst at 1.1 % and Interlaken with 1.4 %.

The communities that have the highest concentration of unemployed persons is Asbury Park, with 993 unemployed persons in its boundaries. The highest numbers of unemployed persons in 1990 were located in Middletown Township, Long Branch, and Howell Township.

Transportation need in Monmouth County includes six indicators: