Description
Very dangerous crossing Newark Ave and Waldo Ave, especially during rush hour. Oftentimes, when waiting to cross, cars speed along Newark Ave with complete disregard for the neon yellow Pedestrian Crosswalk sign. Equally dangerous are cars turning right onto Newark from Waldo - the other I was crossing from the north side of Newark towards Waldo when a car traveling down Newark towards downtown stopped to let me cross BUT another car on Waldo turning right on Newark did not see me and started springing forward. I was pushing an infant in a stroller and had to stop real quick. Even the car that had stopped for me was honking its horn. This cross-walk is really dangerous for pedestrians, and I think there needs to be a traffic signal added because the drivers really have zero regard for any crosswalk signage.
also asked...
A. New Traffic Signal
40 Comments
RRC <small class="fwn">(Verified Official)</small>
NJislander (Registered User)
magnolia123 (Registered User)
Ninol (Registered User)
magnolia123 (Registered User)
JoeB (Registered User)
NF (Registered User)
magnolia123 (Registered User)
Ninol (Registered User)
Acknowledged Traffic – Jennifer C (Verified Official)
Paul (Registered User)
JCpete (Registered User)
The least that needs to be done is to add a stop sign at the intersection of Newark & Pavonia Ave (going eastbound) and add a RAISED crosswalk that doubles as a speed bump. That would at least slow down traffic but there are still too many cars who are looking to turn onto Newark ave quickly who don't look for crossing pedestrians.
Ideally, a traffic light would be added that allows crossing time for pedestrians when the button is pressed that stops ALL traffic for enough time to cross.
The crosswalk at the bottom of the hill (Newark & 7 St.) is equally as dangerous. There needs to be speed bumps added halfway down the hill that stretch completely across the street.
Slowing traffic on this stretch of road would also help to alleviate the congestion entering downtown occurring daily now which is horrendous for air quality and pedestrian/cyclist safety.
Andy (Registered User)
I agree with the comments shared by others, drivers on Newark almost never stop.
To make matters worse, drivers on Waldo who are turning right onto Newark are always looking to the LEFT for oncoming cars, they rarely look RIGHT towards the crosswalk. I've had a couple close calls where someone turning from Newark almost hit me.
magnolia123 (Registered User)
Traffic – Jennifer C (Verified Official)
Traffic – Jennifer C (Verified Official)
Traffic – Jennifer C (Verified Official)
magnolia123 (Registered User)
J (Registered User)
NF (Registered User)
magnolia123 (Registered User)
magnolia123 (Registered User)
RRC - Diane (Verified Official)
magnolia123 (Registered User)
magnolia123 (Registered User)
magnolia123 (Registered User)
GERRIE (Registered User)
JCpete (Registered User)
Closed Traffic – Jennifer C (Verified Official)
Reopened WalkRunBikeJC (Registered User)
Thanks for the follow-up @jennifer c. Can you please help us better understand what the speed radar feedback sign does? Does it simply inform the driver of how fast they're driving or does it generate a ticket for speeding? Will the data be captured and used for a traffic study?
These are all steps in the right direction, but we need to make speeding down this stretch of Newark unappealing and virtually impossible. Speed bumps, narrower lanes, and protected bike lanes, in conjunction with traffic enforcement, are really critical to addressing the issue fully.
Rich (Registered User)
Acknowledged Traffic – Jennifer C (Verified Official)
Concerned07306 (Registered User)
concernedneighb0r (Registered User)
RRC - Samantha (Verified Official)
Merche (Registered User)
ChadThunder (Registered User)
There're plenty of pedestrians crossing the street.
NJislander (Registered User)
ChadThunder (Registered User)
user862 (Registered User)
I cross at this crosswalk every day multiple times a day and agree - even with the flashing lights, almost nobody stops. You will stand there for a year if you don't eventually try to get in the intersection and face the traffic, which is typically going 40 mph+.
And when somebody finally does, it's usually the people turning right onto Newark off of Waldo (who have no signal facing them!) who are trying to gun it as well, at the exact moment that you are, because they see a break in the traffic where they have a chance to merge...
I have almost been hit at this intersection many many times. And I am always paying full attention, looking 360 degrees around me. Interestingly, this spot is dangerous both during the day (when drivers are going to notice the flashing lights less) and at night - when the flashing lights are more obvious (at least to people coming down Newark) but they are less likely to see the Pedestrians.
In general, almost all drivers seem to completely disregard the flashing lights, and do not even slow down. They are typically flying *downhill* here, which does not help.