"Jersey City is one of the busiest transportation hubs in the nation, and yet, we continue to raise the bar for creating safer streets and improving mobility," -Mayor Fulop
By: Richard L. Smith
In a momentous achievement for the city, The Honorable Mayor Steven M. Fulop, alongside Jersey City's Transportation Division, proudly accepted the 2023 Complete Streets Excellence and Champion Award from the Department of Transportation (NJDOT).
This prestigious accolade recognizes the Fulop Administration's remarkable accomplishments in implementing the Vision Zero Action Plan, which has resulted in life-saving and injury-preventing outcomes on the city's roadways.
The award presentation this week celebrated Jersey City's extraordinary efforts, which yielded the remarkable achievement of zero deaths on local roads throughout 2022.
This success was achieved by swiftly implementing proven safety countermeasures at high-risk crash locations. Under the Vision Zero initiative, the city continues to prioritize building a safer, more accessible, and more equitable transportation system for all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities.
"We are grateful that the state recognizes our innovative and equitable approaches to these impactful ground-level challenges, which serve as a model for others," Mayor Fulop said.
Jersey City holds the distinction of being the first in New Jersey to adopt the Vision Zero initiative. The NJDOT also commended the city's remarkable progress, highlighting their success in achieving 50 out of the plan's 77 action items.
Since 2018, Jersey City's Transportation Division has implemented nearly 680-speed humps, over 190 No Turn on Red restrictions, added new curb extensions to over 100 intersections, and constructed over 20 miles of protected bike lanes.
Barkha Patel, Director of the Department of Infrastructure, emphasized the city's commitment to a multimodal approach to transportation, stating, "In Jersey City, we have among the highest transit ridership rates in the nation, with nearly half of all residents using public transit for their daily commutes.
Our work centers around enhancing safety for all roadway users through active mobility options, placemaking initiatives, and an efficient transit network accessible from all corners of the city."
Jersey City is one of only three municipalities in New Jersey to be honored with the Complete Streets Excellence Awards, underscoring the city's commitment to creating safer and more accessible streets.
NJDOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti praised the progress made in advancing Complete Streets, saying, "New Jersey has made significant progress in advancing Complete Streets from concept to policy to implementation. We are thrilled to honor those who have worked tirelessly to ensure our roadways are safer for all who walk, roll, or ride."
This recognition not only showcases Jersey City's dedication to improving road safety but also serves as an inspiration for other municipalities looking to create safer and more accessible streets for their communities.
Jersey City continues to lead the way in pioneering innovative transportation solutions that benefit all residents and visitors.