This report identifies a number of recommendations for potential improvements to Glen Rock’s Hamilton Avenue and details lessons learned by Glen Rock officials and other stakeholders that may be applied to other streets in the borough. The most significant recommendation reimagines the corridor as a bicycle boulevard, which would prioritize pedestrians and bicyclists through a combination of traffic calming infrastructure, signage, and public education. Additional recommendations include enhancing the pedestrian experience through the addition of high-visibility crosswalks and curb ramps that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This report also recommends the adoption of a borough-wide complete streets policy.
The Borough of Glen Rock submitted an application to the NJTPA’s competitive Complete Streets Technical Assistance (CSTA)Program in 2018. The borough was one of nine communities selected out of 17 applications to receive up to $10,000 in technical assistance. Glen Rock requested a Walkable Community Workshop (WCW) to explore the benefits of complete streets and develop strategies for making streets safer for the most vulnerable users — pedestrians and bicyclists. Staff from the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center (VTC) at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, led the workshop on November 28, 2018, with support from Sustainable Jersey (SJ) and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA).
The workshop included an hour-long classroom-style training in borough hall, and an on-site walking audit along the length of Hamilton Avenue, which serves two schools, the free public library, and a residential neighborhood. It intersects with Rock Road, which provides connection to the downtown commercial area and train station, and Maple Avenue, which connects with Route 208. During the walk audit, participants took a detailed look at existing conditions along the corridor and envisioned potential improvements. The audit found that Hamilton Avenue is generally in good shape, with a low speed limit, sidewalks on both sides, and well-maintained properties. The audit also identified a variety of opportunities to improve the pedestrian and bicycle experience.
While the workshop and report focus on Hamilton Avenue, the lessons learned during the half-day workshop can be applied to every municipal-owned road in Glen Rock. The field audit form can be found in this report’s appendices and can be repurposed for walk audits in other corridors within the borough. Another resource the NJTPA offers communities is 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. StreetSmart NJ campaign information, along with a list of potential funding resources, can also be found in the appendices.
Read full report: Glen Rock: Hamilton Avenue Walkable Community Workshop (2019)
