Materials from the NJTPA’s Complete Streets Demonstration Library helped to reimagine an intersection plagued by poor sight lines and no crosswalks with temporary redesigns to introduce safer crossings, art, and more walkable street design in the Essex County communities of Orange and East Orange.
The quick-build projects at South Essex Avenue and Tony Galento Plaza in Orange and South Harrison Street in East Orange implemented recommendations from the Essex County Freeway Drive and Station Area Safety and Public Realm Study. Part of the Subregional Studies Program in the 2016-2017 cycle, the study addressed access and circulation issues in and around the East Orange, Brick Church, and Orange train stations, Route 280, Freeway Drive East and West, and the NJ TRANSIT elevated rail line.
The partnership included local community leaders along with the City of East Orange, City of Orange, Equitable Cities, thirdspacepARTners, USDOT Thriving Communities Program, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Community Connectors grant program, and artists Gina Velazquez and Steve Green.
In 2024, Street Plans launched two pilot projects to test safer, more accessible street designs, which were shaped by community input via the subregional study. Learn more about the project at freewaydriveforall.org.
During the three- to six-month duration of the temporary installations, visitors will have the chance to learn more about the project and complete an evaluation survey. Posters at the sites feature a QR Code that directs people to the Freeway Drive for All website and survey.
Demonstration library materials also were recently used in Garwood, where the Borough and EZ Ride partnered to install two curb extensions at the north corners of Center Street and Willow Avenue. The effort shortens the crossing for pedestrians and brightens up the downtown business area. The bump-outs were 5 feet wide, resulting in a 10-foot shorter — and safer — pedestrian crossing, from 50 feet to 40 feet.
The Borough conducted an art contest for children to create the design within the curb bulb-outs. Garwood and EZ Ride coordinated a community paint day in June to involve residents in installing the new street design.
The demonstration project solicited community involvement and feedback. The Borough also applied for and was awarded a Sustainable Jersey grant to permanently install this project and paint bike lanes along Center Street to Unami Park.
The NJTPA’s Complete Streets Demonstration Library supports and encourages the use of temporary demonstrations to enable communities to evaluate the impact on street performance and safety, educate residents about safer street designs, and collect feedback. Learn more about our Demonstration Library here.