NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson
When the word “transportation” is mentioned, New Jersey residents for the most part think of cars and trucks or trains and buses and their daily commute. I have spent most of my adult life as a business owner, with locations in the Garden State. That experience has given me the perspective of a motorist.
After becoming Commissioner of Transportation, I relocated near Trenton to one of the most walkable towns in the state, where the freedom from relying on a car for shopping, dining, entertainment and the occasional train trip to the “Big Apple” is second to none.
As a pedestrian, I’ve seen first hand drivers speeding down local streets showing a lack of regard for pedestrians and bicyclists. I see the need for more Complete Streets. That means more and improved sidewalks, better markings at crosswalks to put motorists on alert, bike paths where needed, intersection improvements including countdown pedestrian signals and accessible curb cuts at crosswalks to accommodate the mobility impaired.
Last year, 141 pedestrians and 13 bicyclists were struck and killed by vehicles on New Jersey roads. Through October 25 of this year, the pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities had reached 99 and 13, respectively. Of this year’s 112 fatalities, five of the victims were under the age of 18 and a total of 20 were under age 30.
That’s why we are promoting New Jersey’s award-winning Complete Streets policy, and why NJDOT is helping counties and municipalities learn what Complete Streets is all about and how they can benefit by adopting their own policies.
Our Complete Streets policy requires that all major NJDOT roadway projects in the future include accommodations for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users and the mobility impaired. Any exceptions to our policy must be explicitly requested and justified. Pedestrians and high-speed interstate freeways are not a good mix, so we generally would not include sidewalks in such projects. The opportunities for desirable and safe improvements, however, are almost limitless.
The advantage of inserting a dialogue about all users at the earliest stages of project development is that it provides the designers and the engineers the best opportunity to create solutions at the best price. It is easier and cheaper to build it right the first time than to retrofit the project later.
A local Complete Streets policy raises awareness among residents, elected officials and the private sector. When projects are proposed, pedestrian, bicycle and transit accommodations are no longer an afterthought – they become an integral feature of the overall investment plan. Since NJDOT adopted its policy, 13 municipalities and one county have followed suit.
Through our Pedestrian Safety Initiative, we have invested nearly $15 million since 2007 on building more than 33 miles of sidewalks. The importance of this initiative is evidenced by the fact that we doubled that program’s budget in FY 12 to $4 million.
The Christie Administration supports Complete Streets through a number of NJDOT programs and Local Aid grant opportunities. Safety experts in the Department are in the process of assessing high-risk areas on state highways and propose improvements under our Pedestrian and Bicycle Safe Corridor program. I am personally chairing a committee to reduce pedestrian fatalities at the state’s 314 railroad grade crossings.
We are putting the final touches on a Complete Streets video and will be offering regional workshops in the spring to local and county officials to introduce the benefits of Complete Streets and how to design for it.
Seven different Local Aid grant programs administered by NJDOT have provided funding in recent years to counties and towns to help them invest in projects that improve safety and access for pedestrians, bicyclists and others who share our roads.
Like other parents in my community, I push a stroller with my two young children in it and frequently witness inattentive drivers who ignore crosswalks without stopping for pedestrians as the law requires. Every day I see how all of us can make our communities and our state even safer for those non-motorists who share the streets and roads.
Education, Enforcement and Engineering, which I call “E to the third power” or “E-cubed,” can and will make New Jersey safer for everyone. Motorists need to slow down and respect the law. Pedestrians and bicyclists must obey the rules of the road. I urge local governments to adopt Complete Streets policies and join us in this important effort to engineer safety into New Jersey’s road network. Together we will save lives.
Look, I get it. I walk anywhere within 1.5 miles from my home rather than drive. I also run on Montclair’s streets (as the sidewalks can be more treacherous than the streets)….but enough. We have drilled it through pedestrian’s heads that they can cross the street anywhere at any time – and yeah, I get it, right of way- but there are SERIOUS safety issues. I live in Montclair, and I KNOW to expect people crossing ALL over Watchung Plaza not even pausing at the end of the curb. I can expect this on Walnut Street as well at any number of intersections. Yes- they have the right of way- but what happened to “Stop and Look Both Ways”? Now we, as drivers have to expect people to just cross, as a runner- I’m happy just jogging on the corner waiting for traffic to pass- I can NOT COUNT how many drivers have slammed on their brakes expecting me to dart into traffic. Just this morning I was behing a cop who did just that, on Park Street, but the girl was just pacing on the phone while waiting for the bus (I assume).
We installed these fancy countdown pedestrian cross walk lights uptown- then damn near BEG people to cross whenever they want with signs and well publicized sting operations. What was the cost of the lights? What’s the point when you constantly remind people they can cross whenever they like?
In addition to all this – we have crossing guards all over the place within BLOCKS of all schools- our children don’t really have to cross the street by themselves until they have graduated high school! And they clearly don’t know how, so bless them when they move out of town.
As a runner, a walker, AND a driver…enough.
Look- I couldn’t live with myself if I hit someone, and I really don’t want to – but in Montclair, the odds of an accident happening are increasing, not decreasing with pedestrian “awareness”.
Jay walking tickets anyone??
Sure, pedestrians need to be cautious and pay attention.
But part of this is to get motorists to slow down! It might not be so much of problem if people really travel at 25mph, and not 35+ as is so often the case. There’s lots more time to react to peds and bikes if you’re moving at 25. Another problem is folks who get right up on the bumper of the car in front. Leave some room like you were taught in driver ed!
I’ve lived in Montclair for a little over a year and I’m still surprised by the disregard for pedestrians who attempt to cross at crosswalks. I often wait, standing in the crosswalk with a stroller and toddler, while dozens and dozens of cars pass by.
The irony is that I usually use the cross walk at Claremont and Greenwood and there’s a very noticeable stop sign with a reminder that it’s the law to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk. It’s particularly disappointing when I have the children with me in the crosswalk and people make eye contact with me as they fly past.
For now, whenever cars do stop, I make sure to wave thank you and give them a big smile- I’m hoping positive reinforcement helps. I definitely applaud James Simpson’s efforts to make our streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists! Thank you!