The Borough of Garwood, New Jersey, participated in the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) Complete Streets Technical Assistance (CSTA) Program in 2020. The CSTA Program selected eight municipalities to receive up to $10,000 in technical assistance to advance complete streets projects. This report identifies several potential infrastructure improvements to create a safe and attractive bicycle corridor along Center Street, Walnut Street, Second Avenue, Spruce Avenue, Fourth Avenue, and Pine Avenue in Garwood. Center Street is a major thoroughfare that connects to most of the amenities in Garwood, including the Garwood Train Station, Lincoln Public School, Garwood Public Library, Unami County Park, and the downtown. Coupled with Walnut Street (an extension of Center Street) and the rest of the streets, the proposed bicycle corridor connects residential neighborhoods as well as educational, business, and recreational destinations.
The recommendations in this report were developed using a collaborative process with municipal stakeholders to identify existing conditions that pose obstacles to safe bicycle travel and develop practical solutions that enhance safety for all roadway users. They include conceptual plans and reference images that show what a variety of completed projects could look like if installed. Municipal officials may use these plans and images to facilitate discussions with the public and to assist in moving the project from concept to reality. Most of the recommendations can be implemented through a reallocation of roadway space using new striping and signage. As such, the municipality can implement these improvements quickly and at a relatively low cost. Aside from facilitating bicycle travel, many of the recommendations aim to improve overall traffic safety by addressing speeding and improving pedestrian crossings. While the recommendations focus on the selected six streets, the same principals of connectivity apply to other municipal-owned roads in Garwood.
In addition to the CSTA Program, which advises communities on engineering improvements, the NJTPA also has a pedestrian safety education program, Street Smart NJ, which provides resources for communities to improve safety through education and enforcement. Street Smart NJ aims to raise awareness of New Jersey’s pedestrian-related laws and change the behaviors that contribute to pedestrian-vehicle crashes. Appendices to the report include additional information on Street Smart NJ and funding opportunities.
Read full report: Garwood Bicycle Network Plan (2020)
New Jersey Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center. (2021). 2021 NJ Complete Streets Summit Summary Report. Retrieved from https://njbikeped.org/portfolio/2021-nj-complete-streets-summit-summary-report/
