10 signatures reached
To: Bergen County Executive James Tedesco
Safe Streets for Bergen County
Dear Mr. Tedesco and County Officials,
I understand that a Local Safety Action Plan (LSAP) has been developed for Bergen County and is currently in the process of being considered by the County, with a planned adoption in early 2026. I am writing today to express my support for the adoption of this LSAP in the strongest possible form to ensure the safety of all road users, and urge the County to push for actual infrastructure changes, including but not limited to curb bump-outs, raised crosswalks, and protected bike lanes; not just signs and paint.
Our roadways are public spaces meant for everyone to use, and should not prioritize drivers above the safety of all other users, as they too often do today. Active transportation and public transit need to be a larger part of our overall transportation network in the future, and that cannot happen without significant changes to our infrastructure. The LSAP that is currently under consideration is a vital tool in the process of making that happen.
Some changes may take time, but there are many that can be done quickly and cheaply. The county should begin implementing as many of these solutions as possible in the short term while working towards a longer-term vision with more permanent infrastructure changes. Some examples of safety improvements that can be implemented quickly are:
Quick build traffic calming: https://visionzeronetwork.org/use-these-tools-to-save-lives/
Installing plastic flex posts and armadillos offers a quick, low-cost way to calm traffic now, with the option to replace them with permanent infrastructure when the roadway is resurfaced during regular maintenance. They can be used to implement curb extensions, centerline hardening, chicanes, bike lanes, and other proven safety countermeasures that make our roads safer and more accessible for everyone.
Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI): https://highways.dot.gov/safety/proven-safety-countermeasures/leading-pedestrian-interval
LPIs require nothing more than adjusting the timing of a light to give pedestrians a head start during light changes, thus making them more visible to drivers. It provides a meaningful safety improvement for pedestrians and should be widely implemented around Bergen County.
The county should take a leading role in promoting the adoption of safety improvements wherever possible and enable towns to implement improvements on county roads in their towns so as to not overwhelm county engineering resources while still providing improvements on a timeline that matches the need. Furthermore, the County should formally commit to Target Zero by 2040 to be aligned with the state of New Jersey and adopt a Complete and Green Streets Policy.
Safer infrastructure benefits all of us; it saves lives while promoting active transportation. This directly supports the mental and physical health of our residents, both in the form of exercise and reduced pollution from cars, promotes the health of our planet by reducing the emissions that are fueling the climate crisis, and promotes affordability by dramatically reducing transportation costs for residents and municipalities alike while stimulating local economies.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to seeing future changes that improve safety for all road users.
I understand that a Local Safety Action Plan (LSAP) has been developed for Bergen County and is currently in the process of being considered by the County, with a planned adoption in early 2026. I am writing today to express my support for the adoption of this LSAP in the strongest possible form to ensure the safety of all road users, and urge the County to push for actual infrastructure changes, including but not limited to curb bump-outs, raised crosswalks, and protected bike lanes; not just signs and paint.
Our roadways are public spaces meant for everyone to use, and should not prioritize drivers above the safety of all other users, as they too often do today. Active transportation and public transit need to be a larger part of our overall transportation network in the future, and that cannot happen without significant changes to our infrastructure. The LSAP that is currently under consideration is a vital tool in the process of making that happen.
Some changes may take time, but there are many that can be done quickly and cheaply. The county should begin implementing as many of these solutions as possible in the short term while working towards a longer-term vision with more permanent infrastructure changes. Some examples of safety improvements that can be implemented quickly are:
Quick build traffic calming: https://visionzeronetwork.org/use-these-tools-to-save-lives/
Installing plastic flex posts and armadillos offers a quick, low-cost way to calm traffic now, with the option to replace them with permanent infrastructure when the roadway is resurfaced during regular maintenance. They can be used to implement curb extensions, centerline hardening, chicanes, bike lanes, and other proven safety countermeasures that make our roads safer and more accessible for everyone.
Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI): https://highways.dot.gov/safety/proven-safety-countermeasures/leading-pedestrian-interval
LPIs require nothing more than adjusting the timing of a light to give pedestrians a head start during light changes, thus making them more visible to drivers. It provides a meaningful safety improvement for pedestrians and should be widely implemented around Bergen County.
The county should take a leading role in promoting the adoption of safety improvements wherever possible and enable towns to implement improvements on county roads in their towns so as to not overwhelm county engineering resources while still providing improvements on a timeline that matches the need. Furthermore, the County should formally commit to Target Zero by 2040 to be aligned with the state of New Jersey and adopt a Complete and Green Streets Policy.
Safer infrastructure benefits all of us; it saves lives while promoting active transportation. This directly supports the mental and physical health of our residents, both in the form of exercise and reduced pollution from cars, promotes the health of our planet by reducing the emissions that are fueling the climate crisis, and promotes affordability by dramatically reducing transportation costs for residents and municipalities alike while stimulating local economies.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to seeing future changes that improve safety for all road users.
Why is this important?
Current street designs are dangerous, especially for those outside of a vehicle. They encourage driver speeds in excess of posted speed limits causing crashes that frequently injure or kill our most vulnerable road users, despite being a public space that should be welcoming and accessible by all. We want changes in our road designs so that residents of Bergen County feel comfortable and safe using any form of transportation they choose, whether they are walking, biking, driving, or taking public transit.