City of Hoboken announces:
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Federally-funded Project Will Reduce Congestion and Improve Safety for All Modes of Transportation
Beginning on or about Monday, April 27, 2015, construction will begin on the Observer Highway complete streets redesign project. The improvements along Observer Highway will include new synchronized traffic signals and dedicated left turn lanes that will create a more organized, efficient, and safer driving experience. Between 2010 and 2012, there were an average of 37 crashes per year along Observer Highway. The new design will reduce traffic delays and prevent collisions. Along with these essential changes, the Observer Highway and Vezzetti Way corridor will be converted to a more pedestrian-friendly street with new, redesigned crosswalk signals and other pedestrian safety improvements as well as a two-way protected bike lane.
“I am very proud that this project, fully-funded through grants, will create an attractive and safe gateway into Hoboken for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transit riders of all ages and abilities,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “While the main purpose of this project is to make the street safer, it will also have the benefit of reducing traffic delays along one of our busiest corridors.”
The project, which will also include a redesign of a portion of Newark Street later this year, costs $2.7 million and is completely funded by grants. The majority of the funding was secured by Senator Robert Menendez through a $2 million Congressional earmark for Observer Highway and a $240,000 earmark for Newark Street. Hoboken was fortunate to have access to these funds as cities across the United States are now no longer afforded Congressional earmarks.
“Having too often been stuck in traffic myself on Observer Highway, I know what these much-needed upgrades will mean to such a vital corridor in and out of Hoboken. Complete streets accommodate the needs of all roadway users—not just drivers—and this project will help improve the quality of life for residents, make the city more welcoming for visitors and help local businesses grow,” said U.S. Senator Bob Menendez. “That’s why I fought for and secured $2,240,000 in federal funding for the project. A redesigned Observer Highway will make Hoboken’s infrastructure work better for drivers, transit riders, pedestrians, and cyclists.”
The combined Observer Highway and Newark Street project is being managed by Hudson County.
“We are excited to undertake what truly will be a transformation of the most prominent county roadway in Hoboken,” said Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise. “The thoughtful input of Mayor Zimmer, Freeholder Anthony Romano and city residents has produced a design that will work better for drivers, bikers and pedestrians. Thanks to our legislative delegation in Washington, led by Sen. Bob Menendez, for securing the needed federal funding for us to move forward with this project.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will the project take and when will it begin?
Work is expected to last approximately 6 months on Observer Highway and will take place weekdays from 8am to 6pm. It is expected to begin on Monday, April 27th, 2015.
What impact to traffic will there be during construction?
All efforts are being taken to minimize traffic disruptions. Police traffic directors will be on hand, and the roadway and sidewalks will remain open to cars at all times. Minimal work will be done on the roadway before 9am and after 4pm to minimize any travel delays during rush hour. Some night work may take place during the milling and paving phases of construction in order to minimize traffic disruptions.
Will Observer Highway be repaved as a part of the project?
Yes. The project will include the complete milling and paving of Observer Highway from Hudson Street to the firehouse just west of the Henderson Street intersection.
Will any new traffic signals be installed along Observer Highway?
New traffic signals will be installed at Bloomfield Street and Park Avenue. The outdated signals at Henderson Street, Willow Avenue, and Washington Street will be replaced with modern signals. The timing of all signals will be coordinated to improve traffic conditions.
How will Observer Highway change?
Observer Highway will continue to be a two-way road. It currently has two travel lanes in each direction. The new street will have one travel lane in each direction plus dedicated left turn lanes so that turning cars do not slow down through traffic. New traffic signals will be synchronized to allow traffic to move smoothly and reduce backups.
How will the completed project impact traffic?
A detailed traffic analysis has been conducted indicating that travel times will be improved as a result of the roadway redesign. The creation of dedicated left turn lanes will remove turning vehicles from through traffic, reducing backups and rear-end crashes and improving the efficiency and capacity of the roadway.
The addition of traffic signals at Park Avenue and Bloomfield Street will aid vehicular movement in and out of the City. The timing on all signals will be optimized and coordinated to increase the flow of traffic, particularly during peak hours. With the new roadway configuration and synchronized signal timing, corridor travel times are expected to improve during rush hour.
By optimizing signal timing, increasing left turn queuing capacity, and removing stopped vehicles from through traffic, average wait times at Observer Highway/Henderson Street are estimated to be reduced by 78% during the morning peak and by 59% during the evening peak.
What pedestrian safety improvements will there be?
Pedestrian safety along Observer Highway will be improved through traffic signals with pedestrian countdown timers, a pedestrian walkway on the south side of the street, new concrete pedestrian islands, new ADA curb ramps, replacing select curbs and sidewalks, high visibility crosswalks, and parked cars on either side of the roadway acting as a buffer between traffic and pedestrians. A new sidewalk will be added on the north side of the intersection with Henderson Street, providing safe haven for pedestrians walking on the south side of Newark Street. All pavement markings will be striped in long-lasting, highly reflective thermoplastic which will increase visibility of crosswalks in all conditions and reduce the need for annual restriping of faded paint-based markings. The new configuration will make it significantly easier and safer to walk along or cross Observer Highway.
Will there be improvements for bicyclists?
Yes. Bicycle safety will be enhanced through the creation of a two-way protected bike lane. The protected bike lane will terminate at the easternmost end of Observer Highway near the bus entrance for Hoboken Terminal. A bicycle parking area will be established at the eastern end of Observer Highway to accommodate cyclists riding to Hoboken Terminal. In conjunction with NJ Transit, a protected path will be created along the bus entrance to create a safe entrance for pedestrians from Observer Highway into Hoboken Terminal and the southwestern PATH entrance.
How will parking be affected?
Currently, there are two parking lanes along Vezzetti Way south of Observer Highway. Under the new configuration there will continue to be two parking lanes. One parking lane will be on the north side of Observer Highway and the other parking lane will be on the south side of Observer Highway. During construction, parking along Vezzetti Way will be limited due to the contractor’s construction operations.
Is anything being done about the flooding in the parking area on Vezzetti Way?
As part of the project, drainage improvements will be made to eliminate existing issues that result in pooling of water on the roadway.
How was this plan developed?
The project was planned through a series of community meetings in 2010, 2011, and 2012 and incorporates the goals and recommendations of Hoboken’s Master Plan, Complete Streets Policy, and Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan.
