We will coordinate with the Engineering Division to determine if ADA ramps can be installed across West Side Ave at this intersection.

That entire area is a disaster and needs a traffic study. The two traffic lights from Clendenny Ave to Communipaw Avenue make that stretch of roadway a horror every day weekends included. The timing is ridiculous. The Communipaw light does not stay green long enough to allow more than 5 cars to turn left or right or proceed straight ahead. Cars are usually back up to Clendenny Avenue this conditions persists for hours particularly around 3pm-5pm. In all of this confusion there is not a single place for pedestrians to cross westside they have to fight their way. So yes put down the walkways, but that won't solve the real problem.

This issue was recategorized from Traffic: Signal, Signage, and Striping Maintenance to Signal, Signage, and Striping Maintenance.

Co-signing the point frank makes above about the light at Communipaw - pocketed left turn lanes are needed here, left-turn arrows, and adjusted timing overall. The intersection is a bottleneck and traffic telescopes for many blocks south on west side avenue. With the unmatched street grids on either side of west side avenue there needs to be better traffic & pedestrian infrastructure at all corners.

I agree with all the earlier points made. Not only is this an unsafe intersection, but it's one of many points along West Side Ave where all traffic gets hung up slowing not only cars but the many busses that use this route. A lot of people need to take the bus and this is one of the reasons it takes so long.

Plus, cars often get backed up on Lexington more then halfway to JFK waiting to either continue straight or make turns. With all the traffic, and the cars parked up to the corner the visibility is very bad for drivers making it extremely unsafe for the many pedestrians who cross there. This whole stretch of West Side Ave badly needs to be reorganized for safer car and pedestrian traffic.

Hello, following up with this concern 2 years later. What ever happened with issue? We absolutely need a crosswalk at this intersection, it is incredibly dangerous to have families crossing West Side without the crosswalk to get to the library! It's a well-trafficked branch, especially after school. Please update us on where this issue stands.

All, we currently do not invite pedestrians to cross this busy corridor at Lexington Avenue because there is a signalized intersection 200 feet away at Clendenny Avenue and utilizing this signalized intersection is a much safer option. We have written an NJDOT grant that was just awarded $3.8M for Westside Avenue from Duncan Avenue to Virginia Avenue that will look into making safe and effective changes to this intersection that will be properly designed and implemented. Adding a handicap ramp and crossing at this moment without a full scale design can not happen safely at this moment and would be inviting an unsafe condition. I assure you all that these well thought and designed plans are in the works but will take time to have approved through the State and get construction started. There is a plan and progress in motion. Thanks.

Thank you for the explanation, Paul. I would strongly urge the city to reconsider the needs of this intersection. The distance from the signalized intersection you mention at Clendenny to Communipaw, which is the next closest north of Clendenny, is .1 mile (google map estimating) - we don't even have crosswalks in between those streets! There are no other stretches alongside the busy west side corridor that has that far between lights! For example, between Boyd & Virginia is about 250 feet. The flow of traffic turning South on to WSA from Communipaw is relentless because we have nothing to break it up. Additionally, walking "just" 200 feet further may be acceptable in the urban planning literature; but realistically, that's an extra 400 feet since you need to do it on both sides. Now we're talking about a significant distance for families with young children, strollers, and those with mobility issues - a significant part of the clientele using a public library! Finally, many children go to the library after school on their own - it's one of the safe indoor places parents have available to us in Jersey City to help bring that gap when your tween gets out of school and when you can pick them up. This means a lot of children may be at this intersection solo. The need for better, safer built environment is urgent here.

I look forward to the urgent needs of Lexington Ave & West Side being a key piece of this plan. Please keep us posted on the public meetings that will be part of this process.

It is also my understanding that under NJ state law, ALL INTERSECTIONS ARE CROSSWALKS (https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/commuter/pedsafety/crosswalks.shtm) unless crossing is banned by sign, and drivers have a legal responsibility to yield for pedestrians whether there is paint or not. I am requesting that the city prioritize the rights of pedestrians instead of encouraging us to be inconvenienced to access public spaces, and add a visual reminder of responsibilities to drivers through the built environment. Again, respectfully, Paul, your response encourages victim blaming. I have a legal right to cross at this intersection, yet essentially you suggest that if I and my children are hit here trying to access our (taxpayer funded) local library, it is our fault for not walking down the street out of our way. (I do not believe you feel this way. But your response is the type of thing that gets weaponized against pedestrians).

I hope our city can truly live up to the values and goals of Vision Zero. Children are pretty high on the list of "vulnerable road users" and I hope we can priority those public spaces that are available for children in our built environment choices.

Paul, telling people to go out of their way because their library is on a street that is too dangerous to cross is completely unacceptable. Almost 40% of Jersey City households don't own a car. You're telling us that the convenience of households with cars is more important to the city than the safety and convenience of those without. Frankly, I'm insulted.

Paul your comment was insulting and embarrassing. You have a library without a crosswalk, it's not rocket science. Do better.

I just came to add a request for a painted crosswalk at this intersection and see that once again our city is deprioritizing pedestrians in their cars-first view of our city.

Paul, this is already a legal place for pedestrians to cross according to state law. Drivers are already required to yield to pedestrians crossing here. What is being asked for is a visible signal to drivers (I.e., a painted crosswalk) to indicate this right-of-way. That is how we can improve pedestrian safety in the short-term while the bigger improvements (believe them when I see them!) are in the works.

I'll also note that it is patently absurd to tell pedestrians "just walk an extra 400 feet!" That comment is so ignorant to the transportation experience of the most vulnerable road users in our city. I'm not saying anything not already said above, but it needs to be said.

Following up on this thread, as we were told in October that a grant was comng through to begin looking at this corridor. Are there upcoming public meetings where we can weigh in on this huge safety issue?

There will be a virtual public meeting about the proposed safety improvements funded through the NJTPA grant on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 from 6:30pm-8:00pm. Please see information here: https://www.njtpa.org/Get-Involved/Info-Resources/Calendar/2022/February/Public-Meeting.aspx

Flyers with this information will be distributed more widely soon.

Due to the timing of when we can use the grant funds for construction, we will be seeking to make short-term improvements as well.

Please copy and paste the link into your browser if the link does not work:

https://www.njtpa.org/Get-Involved/Info-Resources/Calendar/2022/February/Public-Meeting.aspx

Has there been an update from the public meeting?

Here's a link to the presentation slides that were shared at the recent public meeting, which detail proposed improvements along this corridor:
https://www.njtpa.org/CMSPages/GetFile.aspx?guid=7f6dba6d-f03a-4dc0-a950-014686253805

At West Side Avenue and Lexington, crosswalks with ADA ramps are proposed along with flashing pedestrian walk signs (called Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons). Depending which design moves forward, there could also be either bike lanes or curb extensions that would narrow the roadway for vehicles.

Please use this link: https://www.njtpa.org/CMSPages/GetFile.aspx?guid=7f6dba6d-f03a-4dc0-a950-014686253805

Thank you!