This report summarizes a pedestrian safety demonstration project at the intersection of Drs. James Parker Boulevard and South Bridge Avenue in Red Bank, New Jersey. The project was completed through the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA)’s Complete Streets Technical Assistance Program. The goal of the project was to address vehicles failing to stop for people crossing at the intersection and to implement other pedestrian safety improvements. The NJTPA worked with the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey (VTC), and Sustainable Jersey (SJ) to provide technical assistance to the borough.
The Borough of Red Bank was one of nine municipalities selected through the NJTPA’s competitive grant program, which provides up to $10,000 in technical assistance to support the Borough’s efforts to advance or implement complete streets, which are roads designed for all users, including vehicles, people walking, bicyclists and public transportation.
Red Bank initially sought assistance in implementing demonstration projects at two locations, the intersection of Drs. James Parker Boulevard and South Bridge Avenue, and the easternmost section of White Street. While a demonstration project was implemented at the intersection of Drs. James Parker Boulevard and South Bridge Avenue, municipal officials were unable to implement initial plans to create a temporary pedestrian plaza along White Street during the span of the project.
Through the demonstration project, an intersection mural was painted to alert drivers of the potential presence of pedestrians and a higher visibility crosswalk was installed. Traffic cones were also placed along the intersection to slow turning traffic. The project team also suggested bicycle parking be installed at the intersection and the placement of on-street signage to remind drivers that it is a state law to stop for people in crosswalks, however those improvements had not yet been implemented at the time this report was issued.
Surveys collected after the project was implemented garnered positive feedback, including participants reporting improved compliance with crosswalk laws.
This report recommends completing the additional improvements and calls for the Borough to continue monitoring the changes made to the intersection of Drs. James Parker Boulevard and South Bridge Avenue in order to adjust the plans and consider permanent changes. Additionally, it is recommended that the municipality revisit the White Street pedestrian plaza plans and consider other locations throughout the Borough where demonstration projects can be deployed to improve safety. Such projects should make use of the various tools provided in this report that help to ensure community-driven outcomes.
The recommendations were developed based on community and municipal feedback collected from intercept surveys, conversations with residents and municipal employees, and feedback provided to various media outlets.
The lessons learned from the demonstration project can be applied to other municipal-owned roads in Red Bank. Tools to guide this process can be found in the Methodology section of this report. Red Bank has already taken advantage of another tool the NJTPA offers, Street Smart NJ, a pedestrian safety campaign that works to raise awareness of New Jersey’s pedestrian-related laws and change the behaviors that contribute to pedestrian-vehicle crashes. The Borough, which hosted a Street Smart NJ campaign in 2016, should continue its efforts to educate drivers and pedestrians to improve road safety. Additional Street Smart NJ information and a list of potential funding resources are provided in the appendices of this report.
Read full report: Red Bank Pedestrian Safety Demonstration Project (2019)
