Pedestrian safety and mobility improvements completed in Newark
Eastcoast Greenway/Liberty Water Gap trail construction
an example of Complete Streets policy
(Trenton) - NJDOT officials today announced a project to improve pedestrian safety and mobility has been completed in Newark City, Essex County, along a section of the Eastcoast Greenway Trail and Liberty Water Gap Trail.
This $1.3 million project highlights the type of work that is converting New Jersey’s award-winning Complete Streets policy into action. New Jersey’s Complete Streets policy requires all major NJDOT roadway projects in the future to include accommodations for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users and the mobility impaired. It also encourages investment in such accommodations to existing transportation assets where practical. Together, these policy elements form a Complete Streets umbrella for a number of important NJDOT initiatives, programs and Local Aid grant opportunities.
NJDOT’s contractor, H&G Contractors Inc., has installed new sidewalks, ADA-compliant crosswalks, pedestrian countdown signal heads and various other pedestrian safety improvement features along sections of Doremus Avenue, Raymond Boulevard and along the ramps connecting these roadways with Route 1&9T from the Passaic River bridge. A new retaining wall has been constructed and guide rail installed along sections of the new sidewalk to protect and delineate the walkway.
These improvements now provide a continuous walking ‘trail’ through Newark benefitting local pedestrian mobility by connecting Jersey City with Newark’s industrial area near Raymond Boulevard.
The Liberty Water Gap trail is a 130-mile long pedestrian trail that connects two national landmarks at each end: the Delaware Water Gap and the Statue of Liberty. The trail is comprised of six individual, interlinked trails. The segment of the trail towards the eastern terminus that passes through the City of Newark, Kearny Town and into Jersey City is known as the Eastcoast Greenway. Similar pedestrian improvements to the Jersey City and Kearny sections of the Trail have been completed. For more information on the Liberty Water Gap Trail please visit www.libertygap.org
NJDOT adopted its complete Streets policy in December 2009 and earlier this year it was ranked strongest in the nation by the National Complete Streets Coalition. It demonstrates New Jersey’s strong commitment going forward to ensure that the state highway system provides accommodations for all users.
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