DVRPC awards vast majority of $5.2 million in trails moneys to PA communities

Much of the following is taken from a recent post from the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia's, Bicycle News.

In late October, the Delaware Valley Region Planning Commission awarded $5.2 million through Phase I of its Regional Trails Program.  This grant program is funded by $10 Million from the William Penn Foundation, and provided money to eighteen projects around the 9 county Delaware Valley region.  However, of those eighteen projects, only two are in New Jersey and account for only $373,000 of the $5.2 million awarded, less than 7.2% of the grant money available.  While this money is available equally to counties and municipalities in both states, the massive bias towards Pennsylvania is because New Jersey communities are simply not applying for the grants.  According to John Boyle of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, "New Jersey communities are failing to come forward and apply for money to build trails in the past few years.  Kudos to Camden County/Coopers Ferry Partnership and Mercer County/Friends of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail for taking the opportunity to expand their trail networks."

These initiatives include both trail design and trail construction in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. They extend existing trails, including the Schuylkill River Trail in Phoenixville, the Chester Valley Trail near Exton, and the East Coast Greenway in Tullytown. They connect the existing and planned elements of the regional trail network to neighborhoods through projects like the Baldwin's Run Tributary Trail in Camden and the Lawrence-Hopewell Trail in Lawrence. Finally, these grants support several landmark projects, including the Manayunk Bridge Trail that will provide a cross-river connection between Philadelphia and Lower Merion Township and serve as a destination for bikers and walkers from across the region.

The awards to trail projects include:

• Reading to Hamburg Schuylkill River Trail Gap (Leesport section) – $142,630 (design and construction) – Berks County
• Big Woods/Schuylkill-Hopewell Furnace Trail – $500,000 (construction – Phase 1, survey – Phase 2) – Berks and Chester Counties – Berks County
• Neshaminy Creek Greenway (Phase I) -- $130,148 (construction) – Bucks County
• US Route 13 Crossing – $471,000 (construction) – Bucks County
• Baldwin’s Run Tributary Trail – $150,000 (design) – Camden County
• Chester Valley Trail Phase III – $500,000 (construction) – Chester County
• Phoenixville Schuylkill River Trail Segment – Phase I -- $285,000 (design and construction) – Chester County
• Darby Creek Trail -- $290,000 (construction) – Delaware County
• Lawrence-Hopewell Trail: Lewisville Road Section -- $248,000 (construction) – Mercer County
• Chester Valley Trail Extension – $325,000 (construction) – Montgomery County
• Canal Towpath Spillway Bridge – $170,000 (construction) – Montgomery County
• Tacony Frankford Greenway Trail – $500,000 (construction) – Philadelphia
• Penn Street Trail – $500,000 (design and construction) – Philadelphia
• Schuylkill Crossing at Grays Ferry – $260,000 (preliminary design) – Philadelphia

In addition, the DVRPC Board today approved $125,000 in funding for Camden County’s Kaighn’s Avenue to Route 130 Connector Trail. This project was one of four “early action” projects originally approved for $50,000 of funding in July 2011. The grant has since been revised to $125,000. The other three early action projects were:

• Manayunk Bridge -- $400,000 (design) – Philadelphia
• Spring Garden Street Greenway – $75,000 (design) – Philadelphia
• Schuylkill South -- $165,000 (acquisition for future extension of waterfront trail) – Philadelphia

In mid-December, DVRPC received applications for Phase II of the program, for projects that were seeking planning and feasibility funding. Those awards are expected to be announced in early 2012.

Why are South Jersey towns passing up on possible Bike/Ped monies?

Word is coming in that South Jersey towns are passing up on monies from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) that could be used to plan and design "non-motorized" transportation projects.  The DVRPC which serves Mercer, Burlington, Camden and Glouster Counties in New Jersey (as well as Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania) has a program call Transportation and Community Development Initiative (TCDI) which helps fund the planning and design of local projects that are consistent with regional and state planning objectives.  And according to the DVRPC:

The TCDI program is intended to reverse the trends of disinvestment and decline in many of the region's core cities and older suburbs by:

• Supporting local planning projects that will lead to more residential, employment or retail opportunities;
• Improving the overall character and quality of life within these communities to retain and attract business and residents, which will help to reduce the pressure for further sprawl and expansion into areas without infrastructure in place or planned;
• Enhancing and utilizing the existing transportation infrastructure capacity in these areas to reduce the demands on the region's transportation network; and
• Reducing congestion and improving the transportation system's efficiency.

Unfortunately, the DVRPC had not received enough applicants from New Jersey communities by the original September 1st deadline so the DVRPC has extended the deadline to December 28th.  Hopefully more eligible towns have already heeded the call because there was a mandatory pre-application meeting yesterday.

It's somewhat remarkable that there was a lack of interested municipalities because "planning and design" grants are often harder to come by.  Most grants available to towns are often only available for the construction of projects that are ready to go.

For more information about the TCDI Program see this guide from the DVRPC.

What exactly will NJDOT Bikeway Grants help build?

Ed note - If you're going to read one article in WBJ this week, let it be this one.  I spent the better part of three days doing the research and putting this story together because this is really important. Thanks for reading!

Last week both WalkBikeJersey and NJ Off-Road Biking reported about NJDOT awarding $7.6 million in Local Aid grants. The Bikeway Program is one of the four Local Aid grant programs that was a part of that announcement and it alone awarded nearly $3 million in grants for 12 different projects. Unfortunately the information provided by NJDOT does not go into specifics about each project and just gives the names of the projects and the towns where they are located.

Locations of NJDOT Bikeway Grant recipients throughout NJ.
View NJDOT Bikeway Grant Projects 2011 in a larger map.
Zoom in on project area to see project route details

Without specific information it’s difficult to get an understanding of exactly what this nearly $3 million is going to help build. In light of this, WalkBkeJersey decided to do a little bit of on-line investigating to get a better idea where this money is going. Unfortunately again, plans for all but one of these projects were not to be found on-line. However, through newspaper stories, information on local government websites and through some well deduced interpretations and observations from aerial imagery, I was able get a good idea of what is planned for 8 out of the 12 projects. The end result is the interactive Google map above and project reviews below. I’ve done my best to interpret the information I found and only mapped the projects where I felt I had enough information to do so.

Of the projects I was able to get a good idea about, some are well though out and will have clear benefits for all levels of cyclists.  A few seem to be great ideas but are likely see little use due to location.  Others will take many more years and many millions of dollars to make them practical and usable routes.  Then there are those that are well intentioned but the designs and treatments leave much to be concerned about.  So on to the reviews:

The Good:
1 - Middle Township Bike Path - Phase 3
Grant Award: $320,000
This is by far probably the best project funded through the Bikeways grants this year.  The project will be the continuation of a rail-trail in Cape May County that has the potential to act as a core route through the center of the county, providing connections to the numerous private campgrounds, local downtowns and other tourist attractions.  There is even the potential to one day extended it up to Somers Point to connect to the trail that goes up to Pleasantville near Atlantic City as well as the new Rt 52 causeway with its barrier protect bike/ped facility to Ocean City which will open at the end of 2012.  Looking way into the future there is again the possibility of hooking up to the Barnegate Bay Trail to form a Jersey Shore Trail / Bike Route from Toms River all the way to Cape May Point.

2 - Becks-Cornet Bikeway and Pedestrian Trail Project (Raritain Twp - Hunterdon Cty)
Grant Award - $100,000
This is a great little connector path that will connect three otherwise isolated neighborhoods.  This is an excellent local scale project with great bang for the buck.  It will serve local residents very well as it prevents cyclists and pedestrians from having to use Rt 202/31.  It will also provide a safe and shorter route for long distance cyclists traveling across the township and/or county by providing another back road route from Everitt Rd to Old York Rd.

3 - Barnegat Branch Trail Phase V
Grant Award: $350,000
This will be a continuation of the already popular Barnegat Branch Trail that serves as a non-motorized alternative to Rt 9 in Ocean County, which the trail parallels.  The trail is a good project overall and this phase will serve as a key connector.  However, this part of the trail will run immediately west of Rt 9 which is where the old rail right-of-way happens to be.  This is cause for some concern as the trail will essential be a sidepath along much if not all of what is Phase V.  There are numerous roadways and driveways which the trail will need to cross.  If these crossings are not carefully designed, with the understanding that cyclists are NOT likely to stop at every driveway crossing when they are less than a few hundred feet apart, then there will be some safety issues as sidepaths are known for causing problems at intersections and other crossings.

The Ehh (not great, not bad):
1 - Old York Road Bikeway Phase II
Grant Award: $203,000
Parts of the original Old York Road Bikeway just to the east of this phase include very well engineered on-road bicycle lanes that go up and over the NJ Turnpike.  Unfortunately the section built with this phase will likely see the continuation of the sidepath that can be seen in front of Marter Park but I can't say that with 100% certainty.  I do understand that it is desirable to connect the local (high?) school with the park and the neighborhood to the east on Old York Road.  However, this also appears to be a great place for long distance road cycling.  It would be nice to see this project properly serve road cyclists as there are no usable shoulders on any portion of the roadway this project phase will work on.

2 - Freedom Trail Bikeway Improvements (South Brunswick)
Grant Award: $260,000
This is a somewhat isolated rail-trail project that might otherwise seem like a waste of money if it weren't for the fact that there is the real potential to connect to the D&R Canal Towpath and the East Coast Greenway.  The only problem is that US Rt 1 happens to cut off this portion of the trail with the section west of the highway that is connected to the D&R Towpath.  South Brunswick is hoping to have this remedied with a bridge over Rt 1 but at a cost of $5 million plus, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting to see the two sections connected.

3 - Matts Landing Bikepath Phase 2 (Maurice River Township, Cumberland County)
Grant Award: $190,000
At first glance, even without totally understanding it, this appears to be an interesting little project way down in the hinterlands of Cumberland County on the Delaware Bay.  This is a really beautiful and isolated area of the state that is definitely worth exploring by bike.  However, having actually been to Matts Landing (I worked for a while across the river in Bivalve) I know the local roads around and leading up to Matts Landing get such little traffic that additional bicycle specific infrastructure seems unnecessary.  Due to the areas remoteness I am also concerned that the facility is likely to get little use as was the case with the bicycle paths around Bivalve when I was there.  I understand that the state is trying to help develop eco-tourism in this economically depressed area of New Jersey but with other locations around the state desperately needing bicycle facilities to fill actual demands, it seems more prudent to spend the money elsewhere.

4 - West Ave Bikeway (Atlantic Highlands, Monmouth County)
Grant Award: $150,000
This project could be up in the "Good" category if I had more information about it.  As I understand it, this project will connect the two highly popular Henry Hudson and Bayshore Trails that are separated by just few blocks in Borough of Atlantic Highlands.  Having visited the area numerous times to ride the trails and the roads, it appears that at least a portion of this connection will be via a continuation of the trail along the old railroad right-of-way, however I cannot say with any certainty.  Still, it would seem that using some way-finding signage along the local surface streets would be just as effective, as the local roads in this part of town have little to moderate amounts of traffic at most.  In fact that might be exactly what's planned here as the project is termed "bike compatible road" by NJDOT.

The Bad:
1 - Gibbsboro Bikeway, County Rt 561
Grant Award: $140,000
While I don't know exactly where this project will be built along 561 in Gibbsboro, I feel that it is safe to say that this will be a continuation of the same sidepath treatments that can already be seen along Rt 561.  While I'm a great supporter of well design, barrier protected cycletracks, these sidepaths DO NOT fall into that category. From what I can see from the previous projects, these sidepaths are nothing more than wide sidewalks that are given sidewalk style crosswalk treatments at intersections and driveways.  Sidewalks are great and Rt 561 should have them everywhere in Gibbsboro.  However, knowing that a great number of bicycle/car crashes happen when a bicyclist riding on a sidewalk enters an intersection or crosses a driveway is reason for concern when using this design treatment. This concern becomes even greater when one considers the frequent intersections and driveway curb cuts found along Rt 561 in Gibbsboro.  There are just too many opportunities for turning conflicts between bicyclists and motor vehicles for this type of facility.  Not to sound too much like John Forester but bicycle facilities designed to accommodate even the most timid cyclists should still treat the cyclist like the operator of a vehicle and not like a pedestrian.  And finally, with the construction of these sidepath projects, Rt 561 remains entirely unimproved for vehicular cyclists.

2 - Maurice River Bikeway Trail Phase V (Millville)
Grant Award: $390,000
It would seem nice to go for a bike ride on a path along a scenic river but at what point does the cost to create such a trail become too great?  With a grant award of $390,000 to build little over 1000ft of bicycle path, one can't help but ask this question.  Yes, this part of the path will navigate through wetlands which greatly adds to the cost.  But soon after this portion is complete, the next segment of path will be forced down a narrow corridor behind an industrial site.  Not exactly scenic.  Beyond that, it is still nearly a mile before that path would reach its southern terminus and its (likely) only other access at Fowser Rd.  Before reaching Fowser Rd the trail would likely again need to navigate numerous wetlands, with all the associated additional costs.

If one then considers the presence of local roadways, the transportation utility of the trail also comes into question.  Just to the west, 3rd Street already provides a more direct route for cyclists between the Fowser Rd area and Main St. Millville, all while avoiding Rt 47.  As such it is difficult to see this trail serving much of a transportation purpose when more direct route already exist on secondary road like 3rd Street.

While there is the potential for a great scenic pathway here, I cannot help but question the cost of this project in money and ecological disturbance, particularly when another safe route already exists for pedestrians and bicyclists.  If this was a critical connector for a large regional trail that would connect to areas beyond Millville and Cumberland County, then the project might be worth the costs.  However as just scenic trail with limited access and utility, it would seem that this money would be better spent elsewhere.

Don't know enough to comment:
1 - Seawood Harbor Bicycle Trail (Brick Twp, Ocean County)
Grant Award: $190,000
2 - Wildwoods Elevated Bike Path Connector Project
Grant Award: $290,000
3 - Bike, Hike and Roll Throughway Extension (Elizabeth)
Grant Award: $290,000

NJDEP receiving trail grant applications till Dec 15th

The NJDEP is seeking applicants for it's second round of federally funded trail grants. You can get more information about the grants directly from the NJDEP Trails Program website here.

I would have posted this much earlier but the link to the NJDEP Trails Program website didn't work when I first tried to post this a few weeks ago.

Below is a verbatim copy of the DEP November 3rd news release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2010


Contact: Lawrence Ragonese (609) 292-2994
Lawrence Hajna (609) 984-1795

FEDERAL GRANTS AWARDED FOR 48 NEW JERSEY TRAILS PROJECTS:
DEP NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 2011 TRAILS FUNDING

(10/P120) TRENTON - More than $800,000 in federal recreational trails grants have been allocated to 48 projects in New Jersey this year, and another $1 million may soon be available for 2011 projects, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin announced today.

Applications for the next round of federal grants are now being accepted by the DEP for consideration for funding in 2011 to develop, maintain and improve trails throughout New Jersey. The federal funds, which are administered by the DEP’s Office of Natural Lands Management, can be used to improve access to open space, enhance environmental resources, create urban and suburban corridors and provide additional hiking, biking and horseback riding opportunities.

The deadline to apply to the DEP is Dec. 15. Federal, state, county and local government agencies, and nonprofit groups are eligible for the federal funds.

“Preserving and enhancing our natural resources and open spaces, and providing affordable recreational opportunities for our residents are priorities of the DEP,’’ said Commissioner Bob Martin. “The quality of life in many New Jersey cities and towns is enhanced by the broad network of trails, which connects the fabric of our communities.’’

Trails can provide appreciation and accessibility of open space in rural, urban and suburban areas, as well as enjoyment by persons of all abilities, ages and means who are seeking physical activity and improved fitness as part of a healthy and active lifestyle, said the Commissioner.

In 2011, the DEP expects to award about $1 million in competitive grants for groups that maintain, develop and operate trails. Recipients are required to provide a 20 percent matching share for each project. The funding is contingent upon congressional authorization or an extension of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Surface Transportation Bill.

"These funds are vital to the development and maintenance of a statewide network of trails in New Jersey," said DEP Assistant Commissioner of Natural and Historic Resources Amy Cradic. “The matching grants will provide for greater access to the state's many open spaces while providing alternative transportation corridors, health and fitness opportunities and enhancing the state's vast natural and historic resources.’’

This year, 48 trail projects have received $833,109 in funding from the Federal Highway Administration's Recreational Trails Program. Included are a wide variety of trails projects statewide.

For example, a $25,000 grant was awarded to the nonprofit Student Conservation Association (SCA) to work with the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs on trail maintenance and improvements in various Essex County parks and reservations.

SCA also received $25,000 to work with the Hunterdon County Department of Parks and Recreation to repair and improve trails at Musconetcong Gorge Preserve.

Wawayanda State Park partnered with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Sussex County and Vernon Township to receive $25,000 to develop a parking area to allow access to the popular Appalachian Trail ADA accessible boardwalk over the Pochuck Creek wetlands. Brick Township received $11,200 to develop trailhead facilities and trail rehabilitation on the Airport Tract and Sawmill Bicycle Paths.

In the city of Camden, Cooper's Ferry Development Association is being provided $25,000 to develop the Von Neida Park Greenway Trail that will connect to a larger Camden GreenWay System that links other trails, parks and recreational areas throughout Camden County.

The 48 grant recipients in 2010 were recommended for funding by the New Jersey Trails Council and approved by the Federal Highway Administration.

The Trails Council is comprised of representatives from hiking, mountain biking, motorized trail use, canoeing/kayaking and horseback riding interest groups, as well as several general trail advocates and state government representatives.

Those interested in additional grant information, an application form, or who want to read New Jersey’s 2009 Trails Plans Update that offers a vision, goals and strategic actions to guide the state’s trails efforts, should visit www.trails.nj.gov

Following is a list of approved 2010 recreational trail projects, totaling $833,109:

* Atlantic County
Egg Harbor Township PAL, Equestrian Trails and Park: $25,000
* Bergen County
Edgewater Borough, Veterans Field Multi-Use Pathway: $25,000
* Camden County
Camden County Parks Department, Farnham/Cooper River Bikeway: $25,000
Camden Greenways, Inc., New Camden Park Waterfront Trail: $25,000
Camden Greenways, Inc., Stewardship and Volunteer Trail Workshops: $15,000
Cherry Hill Township, Cherry Hill Trails Program: $25,000
Cooper’s Ferry Development Association, Von Neida Park Greenway Trail: $25,000
Gibbsboro Borough, Blueberry Hill to Pole Hill Connector Trail: $25,000
* Essex County
Hilltop Conservancy, Inc., Interpretive Signage: $4,362
Student Conservation Association, Inc., Essex County Trails Crew: $25,000
* Gloucester County
Gloucester County 4-H Association, Monroe Township Nature Preserve: $25,000
* Hudson County
Guttenberg Town, Hudson River Waterfront Walkway: $25,000
* Hunterdon County
Lebanon Township, Trail Improvements: $22,050
Student Conservation Association, Inc., Hunterdon County Trails Crew: $25,000
Voorhees State Park, Trail Maintenance: $8,000
* Mercer County
Lawrence Township, Drexel Woods Trail Improvements: $25,000
Trenton City, Mill Hill Park Accessible Path: $25,000
Washington Crossing State Park, Visitor Center to Nature Center Connector Trail: $23,175
* Middlesex County
Cheesequake State Park, Interactive Kiosks: $4,079
Kingston Greenways Association, Cook Natural Area Trail Improvements: $8,940
Sayreville Borough, Nature Trails: $25,000
* Monmouth County
Allaire State Park, Trailhead Improvements: $1,600
Manasquan Borough, Capital to the Coast Trail Signage: $1,516
Millstone Trailblazers, Inc., Mine Hills Trail Project: $25,000
* Morris County
Mendham Township, Trail Expansion/Maintenance Project: $22,250
Mount Olive Township, Turkey Brook Park Trails: $6,750
Pequannock Township, Mountainside Park Trails: $8,023
* Ocean County
Brick Township, Trailhead Facilities and Trail Rehabilitation: $11,200
New Jersey Forest Fire Service, Pancoast Road Trail: $25,000
New Jersey Natural Lands Trust, Crossley Preserve Trail Restoration: $3,750
* Salem County
Parvin State Park, Parvin Long Trail Improvements: $11,300
* Somerset County
Franklin Township, Middlebush Park Pathway: $25,000
* Sussex County
Heritage and Agriculture Association, Inc., Lusscroft Farm Equine and Hiking Trails: $21,500
Wawayanda State Park, Appalachian Trail Access/Parking: $25,000
* Warren County
Stephens State Park, Musconetcong River Kayaking Trail: $8,500
* Multiple Counties
Belleplain State Forest, (Cape May and Cumberland), Trail System Improvements: $3,093
Bull’s Island Recreation Area, (Hunterdon and Mercer), Maintenance Equipment: $17,600
Bull’s Island Recreation Area, (Hunterdon and Mercer), Maintenance Trailer: $5,000
Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park (Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset), Trails
Maintenance: $24,245
Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park (Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset), Trails
Maintenance Equipment: $2,800
East Coast Greenway Alliance (Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset and Union), Guide to Bicycling and Walking 2011: $15,000
Jersey Off Road Bicycle Association (Atlantic, Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth, Middlesex, Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Passaic, Sussex and Warren), Park Infrastructure Improvements: $24,998
Jersey Off Road Bicycle Association (Atlantic, Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth, Middlesex, Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Passaic, Sussex and Warren), Trail Tools, Supplies and Training: $24,990
New Jersey Conservation Foundation (Statewide, all counties), New Jersey Trails Inventory: $23,500
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (Bergen, Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Warren), Managing Invasive Plant Species Along Trails: $7,416
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (Passaic, Sussex and Warren), Trail Conditions Inventory: $24,200
State Park Service - Central Region, (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris and Somerset) Trail Maintenance Equipment: $12,000
State Park Service - Central Region, (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris and Somerset) Trail Utility Vehicle: $17,200

Healthy Community Development Mini Grants

Just forwarding this along.
Andy B.

The deadline for Healthy Community Development mini grants submission is Wednesday, December 30th at 3:30 pm.

The New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services (NJDHSS), Family Health Services - Office of Nutrition & Fitness (ONF) and the New Jersey Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (NJCPFS) invite applications to implement a Healthy Community Development initiative.

The intent of the mini -grant is to provide seed money to engage the community in local level programming which may enable communities to leverage future funding from other sources. Most grant awards will be for $2500 (twenty five hundred dollars); however, larger grants of up to $10,000 may be awarded based on merit. A total of up to $100,000 will be awarded based on available funding. It is anticipated that 10 - 20 (communities) municipalities will receive an award in 2009 - 2010.

Eligible applicants for this award include New Jersey public and private non profit entities including municipalities, parks and recreation, schools/districts, local health departments, hospitals, YW-YMCA’s and other community based organizations capable of conducting the project as outlined. Only one application per municipality will be awarded. The application must include collaboration between/among at least two agencies (i.e. community/school). A letter of support from collaborating partner/s is required.

Although communities were not required to attend the 3rd Leaders’ Academy for Healthy Community Development on November 13, 2009, additional points will be awarded for attendance. The awards will be made on a competitive basis for applications that focus on policy and environmental change with first consideration given to participants who attended the Leaders’Academy.

The RFA for the Healthy Community Development mini grants is posted on the website at www.shapingnj.gov.

The deadline for submission is Wednesday, December 30th at 3:30 pm.

If you have any questions, please call 609-292-2209 or email carmen.santiago-willis@doh.state.nj.us.

Sincerely,

Peri Nearon

Peri L. Nearon, MPA
Director, Office of Nutrition & Fitness
Division of Family Health Services
Department of Health & Senior Services
50 East State Street
P.O. Box 364
Trenton, NJ 08625-0364
(609) 984-9384 - phone
(609) 292-9599 - fax
peri.nearon@doh.state.nj.us