Washington Street Update

E1The American Planning Association recently designated Washington Street in Hoboken as a “Great Street”. That’s pretty good. However, since Washington Street is the main street in the central business district for Hoboken, the city can’t just rest on its designated laurels. They have been working on options to make a new and (we hope) improved Washington Street.

 

The final plan has been unveiled. It encompasses almost a complete make-over for the area. The entire corridor will be re-surfaced, but with a few changes. One of the most space-affecting features is a two-lane bicycle path that will be separated from the flow of traffic, and custom bike racks.

 

New traffic signals will be engineered with an eye toward increasing average speed from 6-8 mph to 8-12 mph. This will include pedestrian countdown signal heads. The designers believe the efficiency of movement will be enhanced by the use of designated loading zones with time restrictions, numbered parking spaces for quicker and easier parking and payment, and spaces designated for short-term parking.

 

Our landscaping will receive an overhaul also. Damaged or missing trees will be replaced, and the tree pits will be improved for the purpose of promoting healthier trees, as well as a more pleasant appearance. Light poles will be replaced at intersections with glare-reduction lighting. Even the benches and trash receptacles will be replaced. The bus shelters will be redesigned in “portal” style.

 

The aging infrastructure is being re-designed to capture water runoff. This will be diverted to rain gardens at the corners and to those new street tree pits. This is an important part of the plan because of the flooding issue.

 

Not everyone approves of every aspect of the design. Some people believe that the bike path is too wide, sacrificing space that would be better used for auto and bus traffic. They think that since the use of bicycles in this area is seasonally affected, not so much space should be allotted them.

 

Another area where disagreement appears is the parking situation. Some think that there will be fewer parking spaces available after the changes are made, which will aggravate an already serious problem. Here’s a link to information on the plans for Washington Street.

 

What do you think of the plan?

Edward

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