Seaside Heights Borough, 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 improve the pedestrian experience along a section of Central Avenue in Seaside Heights. This report calls for: adopting a Complete Streets policy or ordinance; implementing a road diet; providing and maintaining high-quality pedestrian infrastructure; adding lighting; and addressing deficiencies in signage and striping. The plan also highlights the possibility of completely reimagining the corridor by constructing a new central green. Implementing the recommendations will require detailed engineering study, funding, and the support of local, county, and state officials.
The recommendations in this report were developed through a Walkable Community Workshop (WCW) that was held on August 23, 2022, which is a collaborative effort with municipal employees and Borough stakeholders. The Central Avenue corridor under consideration is a county-managed roadway, which bisects Seaside Heights from north to south. The corridor continues north into Toms River and south into Seaside Park. While the center of activity in Seaside Heights is the boardwalk, Central Avenue is fronted by a mixture of small businesses and residential properties. During the course of this project, the Borough used preliminary study recommendations to apply for a Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside grant.
The lessons learned by all participants during the workshop can be applied to other roadways in Seaside Heights. 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: Seaside Heights: Central Avenue Walkable Community Workshop (2023)
