In 2022, Belleville Township sought the expertise of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) Complete Streets Technical Assistance (CSTA) Program to help install a temporary demonstration project next to a Township school. Demonstration projects are an approach to neighborhood building that uses short-term, low-cost, scalable interventions to affect long-term change related to street safety and public space. The intent of this project was to enhance pedestrian safety, bring public art to the Township, and help residents see what permanent changes could look like. After consultation with the project team, Belleville Middle School was selected as the location for this project.
The CSTA team conducted a site visit and drafted two alternatives for Belleville to consider. One alternative focused exclusively on the intersection of Holmes Street and High Street, where the team proposed installing curb extensions and an art mural. The second alternative included sidewalk extensions over a wider area. Because this was Belleville’s first experience with a temporary demonstration project, the Township elected to move forward with a more focused approach.
Township officials recruited local artist Athena Zhe to design the intersection mural, and on May 25, 2023, enlisted the help of the Belleville High School Art Club to paint the intersection. Following the installation, the project team shared an online survey with residents to understand how the project was being received. Feedback was generally positive, with many respondents hoping to see a similar installation by other schools.
Belleville and school district officials can use the knowledge gained with this project to repeat the process at other locations. In addition, the Township can apply for grant funding to make some of the changes permanent. A list of potential funding resources and recommended design guides can be found in the appendices.
Read full report: Belleville: Pedestrian Safety Demonstration Project (2023)
