Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla and Commissioner Anthony Romano today announced that the City of Hoboken and Hudson County are beginning construction on Vision Zero pedestrian safety improvements and traffic signal upgrades at the intersection of 11th Street and Willow Avenue. The project includes the following:
-Four new concrete curb extensions, that will reduce pedestrian crossing distances by up to 38% across Willow Avenue
-ADA-compliant curb ramps with detectable warning surfaces at all corners
-High-visibility crosswalks at all approaches
-New, modern traffic signals with 12" LED signal faces.
“I thank Hudson County for working with my administration on prioritizing infrastructure improvements and pedestrian safety upgrades, that will help Hoboken achieve its goal of eliminating traffic-related injuries and deaths by 2030,” said Mayor Bhalla. “The new traffic signals and curb extensions will improve pedestrian safety in an area that attracts some of our most vulnerable residents including school children and seniors. I appreciate the assistance of County Executive Tom DeGise and Commissioner Anthony Romano in securing funding for the project and helping move it forward.”
“Growing up on the next block on Willow Avenue, this street has special meaning to me, and I’m proud to work with Mayor Bhalla and his team to make it safer for our residents,” said Commissioner Romano. “This is an important intersection that we recognized needed improvements, given its location right next to a school and near our senior populations. I look forward to working with the City on additional improvements on County roads in the future.”
“The intersection at 11th and Willow is the intersection closest to the Wallace School, where hundreds of kids and their parents cross the street each school day, and the location where we are planning an affordable housing development for our seniors,” said Phil Cohen, Fifth Ward City Councilman. “Thanks to Mayor Bhalla, County Executive DeGise and Commissioner Romano for making this important investment in the 5th Ward to protect our kids and our seniors.”
Construction on the traffic signal upgrades and pedestrian safety improvements at 11th Street and Willow Avenue is scheduled to begin on Thursday, March 25, and is expected to continue for approximately 12-14 weeks. Construction includes necessary drainage work to construct the curb extension, electrical underground work for the new traffic signal, installing the wiring and installing new poles, and powering the new traffic signal with PSE&G. Temporary no parking signs will be posted in areas surrounding the project to accommodate the construction.
In August of 2019, Mayor Bhalla signed an Executive Order officially launching the Vision Zero safety initiative, immediately establishing a Vision Zero Task Force and creating a Vision Zero Action Plan, the City’s roadmap for achieving the elimination of traffic-related deaths and injuries by 2030.
Image source: Google Maps
