Description
As a result of the construction start on the Kushner towers on the east side of Bergen Ave. & JFK Boulevard at Journal Square, pedestrians have been pushed off the sidewalk into a narrow 5-ft. path. Complaints to Hudson County resulted in widening the path between the north crosswalk and the PATH station and setting back the construction fence at the two crosswalks.
This is being posted on both the Hudson County and Jersey City SeeClickFix websites because both have jurisdiction over the pedestrian walkway. Jersey City is responsible for the south crosswalk and Bergen Ave. Hudson County is responsible for the north crosswalk and JFK Boulevard.
The flimsy 6-ft. plastic barriers installed along the east side of the intersection will never stop an errant car traveling at 40MPH. There are (20) 6-ft. barriers spanning from south of the south crosswalk to north of the north crosswalk. This is where pedestrians are most vulnerable to errant cars turning left to proceed northbound on JFK Boulevard and where they have the least protection.
NONE of the plastic barriers are completely filled with water. 10 are maybe 2/3 full and the other 10 are empty. These barriers are supposed to be interlocked and pinned together through the holes in the ends. I counted a total of 6 pins.
Most of the empty 6-ft. barriers can be moved out of place by shoving them sideways. This will not protect pedestrians from an errant vehicle. ALL of these flimsy barriers should be replaced by NJ concrete barriers.
On the east side of the intersection, the north and south crosswalks are 12’ wide. The distance between them is 80’. At the north side of the north crosswalk, the south 6-ft. plastic barrier blocks 3’6” of the crosswalk. At the south side of the south crosswalk, the north 6-ft. plastic barrier blocks 9” of the crosswalk.
The Kushner contractor only used 20-ft. NJ concrete barriers. 10-ft. and 12-ft NJ barriers are readily available. The contractor must be compelled to install NJ concrete barriers along the entire length of the pedestrian walkway without restricting the width of the crosswalks.
also asked...
A. 6. Traffic: Other Traffic/Safety Study Request
10 Comments
Jersey City, NJ (Verified Official)
jerseyflea (Registered User)
jerseyflea (Registered User)
jerseyflea (Registered User)
Following are dimensions of the existing 6-ft. plastic barriers and how they can be replaced with NJ concrete barriers.
NORTH BARRIERS
20’ Existing 20-ft. NJ concrete barrier
25’6” Length of existing 4 x 6-ft. plastic barriers
-22’ South end of existing NJ concrete barrier to north side of north crosswalk
3’6” ► South 6-ft. barrier blocks crosswalk
20’ ► REPLACE 4 x 6-ft. plastic barriers with (1) 20-ft. NJ concrete barrier
MIDDLE BARRIERS
80’ Distance between crosswalks
79’ Length of existing 13 x 6-ft. plastic barriers
80’ ► REPLACE 13 x 6-ft. plastic barriers with (4) 20-ft. NJ concrete barriers
SOUTH BARRIERS
18’9” Length of existing 4 x 6-ft. plastic barriers
18’ South side of south crosswalk to 20-ft. NJ concrete barrier
0’9” ► North 6-ft. barrier blocks crosswalk
38’ South side of south crosswalk to south end of 20-ft. NJ concrete barrier
36’ ► Replace 4 x 6-ft. plastic barriers & 20-ft. NJ concrete barrier with (3) 12-ft. NJ concrete barriers
SUMMARY OF CHANGES NEEDED:
REMOVE all (20) 6-ft. plastic barriers
RELOCATE (1) 20-ft. NJ concrete barrier from south of south crosswalk to north of north crosswalk
INSTALL (4) 20-ft. NJ concrete barriers between crosswalks
INSTALL (3) 12-ft. NJ concrete barriers south of south crosswalk
jerseyflea (Registered User)
Hudson County SeeClickFix Issue ID: 13029952
https://seeclickfix.com/issues/13029952
jerseyflea (Registered User)
jerseyflea (Registered User)
Multiple W1-6 One-Direction Large Arrow Signs (2009 MUTCD Section 2C.12) could be installed on the NJ concrete barriers between the south and north crosswalks.
The change in traffic direction would then be unambiguous and the NJ concrete barriers would better protect pedestrians.
Traffic Engineering - Doug Carlucci (Verified Official)
jerseyflea (Registered User)
Wow, it only took 4 months to get a response! Did someone make a New Year's resolution?
A new sliding fence gate for the construction site was installed between the two crosswalks. 4 or 5 of the flimsy red & white plastic barriers were removed to accommodate the gate entrance.
Now there is not even the pretense of protecting pedestrians in the most vulnerable section of the walkway. That's where eastbound cars on JFK Blvd. turn north to follow JFK.
Engineering - Althea (Verified Official)
This issue has been marked as a duplicate of issue 13029952.
If you are already receiving notifications regarding this issue,
you will now receive updates regarding issue 13029952.