Complete Streets
Complete Streets are designed to ensure the safe and adequate accommodation of all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users, children, older individuals, individuals with disabilities, motorists, and freight vehicles. The NJ Department of Transportation and the US Departmetn of Transportation promote the adoption of Complete Streets standards and policies.
Crafting an Effective Complete and Green Streets Policy
Webinar (September 17, 2024) and Open House (October 30, 2024)
This webinar and follow-up “open house” question and answer session, presented by the Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University, covered how to create and adopt a customized municipal Complete & Green Streets Policy. The webinars were sponsored by the NJDOT Bureau of Safety, Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority and organized by Sustainable Jersey.
View the recording and access the slides and other resources at njbikeped.org/complete-and-green-streets-policy-webinar.
Complete Streets Technical Assistance Program
This program, funded by the NJTPA, supports municipalities by providing them with the knowledge, skills and resources to develop Complete Streets-related solutions. Technical assistance is provided through a partnership with Sustainable Jersey (SJ) and the Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University (VTC). Selected participants receive free direct technical assistance to complete a specific task related to advancing a Complete Streets initiative in their community. No direct funding to municipalities is provided.
Current Projects
Five municipalities were selected through a competitive application process to participate in the NJTPA’s Complete Streets Technical Assistance Program in 2024-2025.
- Belleville Township – A bicycle corridor plan will primarily focus on Division Avenue from Union Avenue to Passaic Street, a wide road that experiences congestion, especially during school drop-off and pick-up. Vehicle speeding is also a concern in the area. This effort will explore the possibility of adding a bicycle lane to the corridor and is expected to include a pop-up demonstration to illustrate to community members what that could look like.
- Belmar Borough - A Complete Streets corridor assessment will focus on a half-mile stretch of 8th Avenue from the beach to near Silver Lake. This busy road connects residents to important services and serves tourists during the busy summer season. This effort will explore ways to improve safety for all travelers, but especially those walking and biking.
- Paterson City - A Complete Streets corridor assessment will focus on McBride Avenue from Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park at Wayne Avenue to the pedestrian bridge at Rockland Street. The assessment will explore ways to provide direct pedestrian access to Westside Park and improve pedestrian safety along the busy corridor.
- Readington Township - A Complete Streets corridor assessment will focus on Main Street (County Route 523) from the Whitehouse Train Station to just south of Route 22. The study area is the most densely populated portion of the Township and experiences high vehicular traffic. With housing, the train station, the municipal building, and parks along the county road, many residents walk in this area. This assessment will explore ways to improve safety along this busy corridor.
- Verona Township - A Complete Streets corridor assessment will focus on Linden Avenue from Fairview Avenue to Wildwood Terrace. This corridor is near several public schools as well as the Bloomfield Avenue town center. Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists traverse Linden Avenue to access these various destinations. Speeding is a concern along Linden Avenue, particularly with the number of students using the road to walk to school. This assessment will explore ways to make the road safer, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists.
Completed Projects
In 2022-2023, seven municipalities received technical assistance for projects ranging from walkability workshops to Complete Streets policies. Download the final reports below:
During 2020-2021, eight municipalities participated. Download the final reports below:
During 2018-2019, nine municipalities participated. Download the final reports below:
Other Efforts
Other planning efforts at the NJTPA support Complete Streets, including Planning for Emerging Centers studies and Bicycle-Pedestrian resources. Communities can create short-term or quick-build projects with the help of the the Complete Streets Demonstration Library.
Streets for Everyone Video
Video file available upon request by contacting
[email protected].