expected to be completed in the upcoming months.



• Route 45 Traffic Calming and Pedestrian Safety project through downtown Woodbury.  Efforts by the Office of Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs and the Transportation and Community Form office have helped make this project a reality. Currently, Route 45 has four lanes of traffic and on-street parking through downtown Woodbury, making it difficult for pedestrians to access businesses that are located on both sides of the roadway. Over the last few years, several pedestrians and bicyclists have been struck. The improvements to be constructed include converting Route 45 from four lanes to two lanes with a center turning lane, curb extensions, bike lanes and signage. 
  
  
• Route 30 between North Carolina Ave and Pennsylvania Ave. in Atlantic City.  The Office of Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs investigated the need for a pedestrian overpass at this location. Based on pedestrian travel patterns and the possibility of a new flyover, the Office determined that a pedestrian overpass was not feasible at this time.  However, to improve pedestrian safety the Office of Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs has constructed a mid-block crossing with a traffic signal,

pedestrian refuge,  fencing to direct pedestrians to the crossing, sidewalks and thermoplastic brick imprint asphalt.

 

Building on these successes, the NJDOT’s   Fiscal Year 2010 Transportation Capital Program, recently approved by the Legislature, calls for doubling the amount of funding for pedestrian and bicycle improvements; approximately $44 million would be devoted to walking and cycling projects. With this increase in funding, the next 12 months should be a safer year for New Jersey’s bicyclists and pedestrians.

 

New Legislation Changes the Rules

 

Late last year, the New Jersey Legislature passed  a  bill  (A-2731), signed into law the next day by Governor Jon Corzine, which gives municipalities and counties more power to manage local streets and roads without state approval, such as setting speed limits, creating pedestrian crossings and installing stop signs near schools. The new statute allows licensed professional municipal and county engineers to certify various changes to many minor roadways provided they meet the current standards prescribed by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways.  This statute was designed to reduce bureaucratic red tape. Prior to this new law, all street modifications, no