The "SW Traffic Improvement Plan" is a NEW plan developed over the last year by the City of Hoboken. The plan was recently approved by Hoboken City Council and calls for a range of improvements, including:
· Adding traffic signals to 3 new intersections on Observer Hwy (@ Harrison St, Jackson St, and Madison St);
o Significant safety improvements for all modes of transportation
o Much easier to travel east-west between New York Ave/Ravine Rd in the Heights and continue eastbound on Observer Hwy
o Drivers will now be able to turn in any direction at Madison St/Observer Hwy (no more right turn only!)
· Re-striping Jersey Ave near the Hoboken/JC border from two lanes (one each direction) to four lanes (two in each direction);
o No more having to merge from two lanes to one lane just before entering Hoboken
o Harrison St onto Newark St/Jersey Ave becomes nearly free-flow with addition of second lane that begins at Harrison St
· Converting Paterson Ave from two-way to one-way westbound between Monroe St and Harrison St;
o This will remove the “5th leg” of a 5-legged intersection at Monroe St/Observer Hwy/Paterson Ave, which will translate into 20% extra green time for Observer Hwy and Monroe St
· Restriping Harrison St from one lane to two lanes between Paterson Ave and Observer Hwy;
o This will help accommodate additional volume being diverted from Paterson Ave after Paterson Ave becomes one-way for two blocks
· Restriping Jackson St from one lane to two lanes between Newark St and Observer Hwy;
o Doubles the lane capacity and queuing capacity on Jackson St
· Converting the Harrison St approach to Newark St from stop sign control to yield control and prohibiting left turns at all time;
o Harrison St will become nearly free-flow onto Jersey Ave/Newark St as a result
· Adding a dedicated right turn lane from Observer Hwy/Newark St onto Madison St;
o Substantially reduces likelihood of right-turn traffic onto Madison St backing up Observer Hwy
· Adding a second turn lane on Madison St between Newark St and Observer Hwy.
o Extra capacity and ability to go left, right, or straight at Madison St should take pressure off of Jackson St as more westbound drivers opt to use Madison St instead of turn right on Jackson St
Cumulatively, these improvements are estimated to reduce delays in SW Hoboken by an average of 25% during peak periods. Travel time improvements should extend into Jersey City as well, and will definitely benefit Jersey City and Union City residents traveling through SW Hoboken to the Heights or Holland Tunnel area. For example, if someone is driving from Jersey City Heights through SW Hoboken and back into Jersey City near the Holland Tunnel, the SW Traffic Improvement Plan model estimates that this trip will be reduced by up to two minutes. That may not sound like much, but it’s pretty significant.
NOTE: The HPNA has requested that Jersey City performs a Traffic Study to see how these changes would affect our neighborhood.
Attached:
A PDF of the 2017 SW Traffic Improvement Plan
Concept Plan from the 2010 Hoboken/JC Connectivity Study showing the location of the proposed connector road.
