In September 2006, NJ Gov. Jon Corzine launched a five-year, $74 million statewide pedestrian safety initiative that included money for several NJDOT pedestrian safety programs, traffic calming infrastructure, “traffic-stat” technology, and increased inter-agency coordination (see MTR # 539). Two years in, the results are visible around the state.

The Pedestrian Safe Corridor Program has begun intersection improvements and other capital upgrades in four high-traffic corridors. Market and Ferry Streets in Newark; Route 27 in Elizabeth, Roselle and Linden; Route 71 in Bradley Beach, Neptune and Avalon; and Route 70 in Cherry Hill are well on their way to earning the designation of “Pedestrian Safety Corridor.”

The first year of Safe Streets To Transit has yielded pedestrian safety improvements at key stations including Princeton Junction, West Windsor Bus Terminal, and the RiverLine in Bordentown, and also established a free shuttle service on Route 22 in Union County. The Safe Streets to Transit Program provides $5 million in funding for pedestrian safety improvements including infrastructure, education, outreach and planning guidance in areas surrounding transit facilities.

Included in Corzine’s pedestrian safety initiative was a $15 million contribution to the state’s Safe Routes to School program (SRTS). In 2007, NJDOT received 274 applications, representing $75 million in requests. Unfortunately, due to state-wide budgetary constraints, it only awarded 29 grants totaling $4.15 million. Over the past two years, NJDOT has also run the SRTS Urban Demonstration Project to ensure that the program is accessible to diverse participants, especially schools and communities with few local resources. So far, the Urban Demonstration Project has been successful, as will be detailed in a forthcoming MTR story.

Lastly, several recently finished pedestrian projects are worth noting:

• In Bridgewater, a new pedestrian bridge over Route 202/206 connects students and commuters to the Petersbrook Trail.
• At Rowan University, three new enhanced crosswalks with in-pavement lighting, new curbing, new paving and a bus turnout should improve safety for the high volume of students who access the campus from both sides of Route 322. Many students have been hit by cars in this area over the years.
• Atlantic City has a new mid-block crosswalk near the intersection of Route 30 and North Carolina Ave, along with a pedestrian refuge, new sidewalks, curbing and curb ramps.
• In Toms River on Route 9 — a site where two elderly residents were killed walking near the Dover Woods Assisted Living Residence earlier this year — NJDOT has installed a sidewalk, curb ramps and countdown pedestrian signals.
• Hopewell Township students received an upgrade of 900 feet of new sidewalk around the middle and high schools on Route 31.
• Route 49 in Bridgeton saw the addition of 2,585 feet of sidewalk and curbing along a school route known for recent accidents which killed a pedestrian and injured a crossing guard.
• And finally, bus riders in Waldwick will no longer have to walk in the shoulder of high-speed Route 17 thanks to 1,840 feet of new sidewalk enabling safer access to the pedestrian bridge and bus stop. (Pictured above.)

While NJDOT has made progress, statistics show more needs to be done. Were more state resources dedicated to bike and pedestrian safety, these kinds of targeted improvements could help the state make real progress on reducing pedestrian and cyclist fatalities, a goal it hasn’t been able to meet.