November 2020
Posted: 11/9/2020 11:57:58 AM
The NJTPA Board of Trustees approved more than $96 million in federal funding for safety improvements to roads and intersections across the region at its meeting Monday.
The funding is for two programs, the Local Safety Program — 11 projects totaling $71.2 million — and the High Risk Rural Roads Program — two projects totaling $25 million.
The NJTPA created the Local Safety Program in 2005 in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Transportation to advance improvements on county and eligible local roads identified as having high crash rates. Since its inception the program has funded over $216 million in improvements. Typical projects include road diets to slow traffic and create room for other uses, such as bike lanes; leading pedestrian interval signals, which stop traffic in all directions to allow people to safely cross; and curb extensions or pedestrian refuge islands to shorten the distance for people crossing roads, among other safety upgrades.
The High Risk Rural Roads Program funds safety improvements on rural roads that have been identified as high risk and have crash rates that exceed the NJTPA region's average for this road type. Since its inception in 2009, the program has funded more than $45 million in projects.
The Board approved the following projects at its meeting.
Local Safety Program Projects
- Essex County: The county is receiving funding for two projects:
- $17 million for traffic and pedestrian signal upgrades at 25 intersections throughout the county, including leading pedestrian intervals, four new traffic signals, and curb-extensions and pedestrian refuge islands where feasible. The intersections are in South Orange Township, West Orange Township, Orange Township, Verona Township, Millburn Township, Bloomfield Township, Nutley Township, Newark City, Belleville Township, Montclair Township and Glen Ridge Township.
- $9.35 million for similar improvements to 14 intersections along two corridors — Valley Street and Springfield Avenue in Maplewood, South Orange and Irvington townships. This project also includes four new traffic signals.
- Hudson County: The county is receiving funding for two projects:
- $6.65 million for 20 intersections along three corridors in the Town of Harrison, Jersey City, Union City, North Bergen Township and Town of Secaucus. The improvements to Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard include leading pedestrian intervals, curb extensions, and a road diet feasibility analysis. Improvements to Secaucus Road include installation of signals, application of a surface treatment that creates friction to prevent crashes, and centerline and in-road rumble strips. This project also includes signal upgrades, road striping and drainage improvements along Paterson Plank Road.
- $4.22 million for 17 intersections along John F. Kennedy Boulevard in Union City, Town of West New York and North Bergen Township. This includes traffic and pedestrian signal upgrades, leading pedestrian intervals, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements, curb extensions and ergonomic crosswalks where appropriate.
- Jersey City: $8.35 million for 31 intersections along Garfield Avenue. This includes widening sidewalks and addressing driveway grades to meet ADA requirements, curb extensions, traffic and pedestrian signal upgrades, leading pedestrian intervals, lighting and high visibility crosswalks.
- Monmouth County: $2.81 million for 10 intersections along Memorial Drive in Neptune Township, Borough of Neptune City, Bradley Beach and Avon by the Sea, including a road diet, installation of rectangular rapid-flashing beacons at pedestrian crossings, ADA improvements, upgraded traffic and pedestrian signals, signage, road striping and drainage.
- Morris County: $423,660 for traffic and pedestrian signal upgrades, including audible pedestrian signals; installation of a dedicated left turn lane and high visibility crosswalks; and ADA improvements at the intersection of Morris Street and Ridgedale Avenue in Town of Morristown.
- Newark: $5.8 million for 11 intersections on Bergen Street, including traffic and pedestrian signal upgrades, curb extensions, in-road rumble trips, leading pedestrian intervals, lighting, bike lanes and left turn lanes where applicable.
- Ocean County: $1.8 million for signal upgrades and installation of an additional right turn lane at the intersection of Hooper Avenue and Church Road/Kettle Creek Road in Toms River Township.
- Passaic County: $8.56 million for 11 intersections along Lakeview Avenue in City of Paterson, including converting a traffic circle to a modern roundabout; converting a divided four-lane road into a divided two-lane road with dedicated left turn lanes in each direction; bicycle lanes; lighting; drainage and traffic signal upgrades.
- Somerset County: $6.28 million for 26 intersections along Hamilton Street in Franklin Township, including a road diet, curb extensions, restricted parking, relocating crosswalks, traffic and pedestrian signal upgrades, leading pedestrian intervals, ADA improvements and pedestrian refuge islands where feasible.
High Risk Rural Roads Projects
- Monmouth County: The county is receiving funding for two projects:
- $18.52 million for Stagecoach Road in Millstone and Upper Freehold townships including two modern roundabouts, application of a surface treatment that creates friction to prevent crashes, centerline rumble trips, installation of a safety edge, road markings, signs, breakaway road fixtures and removal of brush.
- $6.47 million for Siloam Road in Freehold Township including centerline and edge line rumble strips, mounted posts at curves in the road, edge line and other road markings, breakaway road fixtures, signs, surface treatments and lighting.
These projects are funded through the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program. Funding can be used for design, construction and construction inspection. It typically takes a few years after a project is approved for funding for the design and construction to be completed.