The NJTPA has selected four municipalities to participate in the Complete Streets Technical Assistance Program, an initiative designed to improve safety and accessibility for all travelers. Fort Lee, Leonia and Pompton Lakes will assess corridors to recommend safety improvements, while Ship Bottom will create a bicycle plan.
The Complete Streets Technical Assistance Program supports municipalities by providing them with the knowledge, skills and resources to develop Complete Streets-related solutions. Technical assistance is provided with support from Sustainable Jersey and the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University.
Complete Streets balance the needs of drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, emergency responders, goods movement and stormwater management based on local context. They help improve health and safety for people walking and biking and create better places to live, work, play, learn, and do business. When streets are not complete, they can have negative impacts on public health, safety, the local economy, and the environment.
Fort Lee
Fort Lee will conduct a Complete Streets corridor assessment focused on a half-mile segment of Main Street in the heart of the borough’s central business district. The assessment will document existing conditions, explore potential improvements, and develop recommendations to enhance safety and accessibility for people walking, biking, driving, and using transit, while also identifying opportunities to reduce stormwater runoff along the busy corridor.
“Complete Streets policies play an important role in helping communities become safer and more connected for everyone—whether people are walking, biking, driving, or using transit,” said Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco III, who represents the county on the NJTPA Board of Trustees. “Investments like the improvements along Fort Lee’s Main Street corridor help support local downtowns, make it easier to get around day to day, and enhance quality of life for both residents and visitors throughout the region.”
Leonia
Leonia Borough will conduct a Complete Streets neighborhood assessment to identify appropriate locations for traffic calming and safety improvements. The assessment will focus on local north–south roads and other areas impacted by significant cut-through traffic related to the borough’s proximity to the George Washington Bridge. The project will document existing conditions, engage local stakeholders, and develop recommendations to improve safety for residents, pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
“Complete Streets investments are critical to protecting neighborhood quality of life and ensuring that local roads are safe, calm and accessible for everyone who uses them, whether they are residents walking to school, seniors crossing the street, cyclists traveling through town or drivers moving through the region,” County Executive Tedesco said. “Leonia’s assessment will help address cut through traffic and roadway safety challenges created by its proximity to the George Washington Bridge, while advancing practical, community focused solutions that strengthen neighborhoods and improve daily mobility.”
Pompton Lakes
Pompton Lakes will conduct a Complete Streets corridor and neighborhood assessment along Wanaque Avenue in the borough’s downtown center. The assessment will explore opportunities to improve safety, walkability, bicycle access, stormwater resilience, and overall downtown vitality. The project will document existing conditions, engage community stakeholders, and develop recommendations that reflect the unique needs and character of Pompton Lakes.
“Complete Streets investments are essential to creating safer, healthier and more vibrant downtowns and neighborhoods, and to ensuring that our transportation system works for people of all ages and abilities,” said Passaic County Commissioner and Secretary of the NJTPA Board of Trustees John W. Bartlett. “By taking a comprehensive look at Wanaque Avenue, Pompton Lakes is positioning itself to improve walkability, strengthen local businesses, build stormwater resilience and enhance overall community safety, while preserving the unique character that makes its downtown a true center of community life.”
Ship Bottom
Ship Bottom will develop a bicycle corridor plan to explore cycling route alternatives to Long Beach Boulevard, the primary north–south roadway through the borough. The plan will develop bike improvement recommendations and will place particular emphasis on wayfinding and signage to guide visitors, seasonal residents, and bicycle commuters to the best routes.
“Complete Streets planning is essential for coastal communities like Ship Bottom, where limited roadway space and heavy seasonal traffic demand safe, practical transportation options for residents, workers and visitors alike,” said Ocean County Commissioner Frank Sadeghi, who represents the county on the NJTPA Board of Trustees. “By developing a dedicated bicycle corridor plan and improving wayfinding and signage, Ship Bottom is taking a proactive, community focused approach to improving safety, reducing congestion and creating a more connected and accessible transportation network for everyone who travels through the borough.”
This marks the fifth time NJTPA has offered the Complete Streets Technical Assistance Program. To learn more about the program, visit https://njtpa.org/complete-streets-technical-assistance.