The Borough of Bound Brook, New Jersey, participated in the 2022-2023 North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) Complete Streets Technical Assistance (CSTA) Program. This report identifies several recommendations to promote walking as a means of travel and to improve walkability along Vosseller Avenue and West Maple Avenue in the Borough of Bound Brook, New Jersey (Figure 1). The report also calls for the installation and improvement of high-visibility crosswalks and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant crosswalks throughout the route. Additionally, the report recommends bicycle infrastructure, adopting an updated Complete Streets ordinance, and addressing parking violations. A longterm recommendation is to conduct a traffic study to determine appropriate intersection controls. The most significant obstacles to walkability in the study area are the sight lines at intersections and non-compliant driver behavior at crosswalks, such as failing to stop for pedestrians.
The recommendations in this report were developed through a Walkable Community Workshop (WCW) that was held on October 3, 2022, which was a collaborative effort with municipal employees and Borough stakeholders. The study corridor consists entirely of municipal roads. Smalley School and Bound Brook High School are located within a half mile of the corridor. Improvements along the corridor are necessary to ensure student safety, particularly for students whose families do not have access to a vehicle. The corridor is also an essential connection between Bound Brook’s residential neighborhoods and the downtown commercial district, including the Bound Brook Train Station.
The lessons learned by all participants during the workshop can be applied to other roadways in Bound Brook. The field audit form and a list of potential funding resources can be found in this report’s appendices. These resources can be used to conduct other walk audits within the Borough.
Read full report: Bound Brook: Vosseller & West Maple Avenue Walkable Community Workshop (2023)
