A proposed budget amendment aimed at improving street safety in Jersey City has emerged following the tragic death of a six-year-old boy last month, who was struck while riding his bike downtown. Councilman James Solomon is set to introduce a plan to transfer more than $1 million from the city’s surplus to the Department of Infrastructure. This funding is intended to enhance safety measures across neighborhoods, enabling the department to create safer intersections, analyze hazardous streets, and ensure pedestrian safety.
“This moment demands meaningful action,” Solomon stated earlier this week. He emphasized that the Department of Infrastructure has faced chronic underfunding, which has hindered efforts to achieve Jersey City’s Vision Zero goals. Notably, the Chief Engineer position has remained vacant for almost a year, further complicating safety initiatives.
In the aftermath of the boy’s death, community members rallied outside City Hall and attended the council meeting on June 25, 2023, advocating for a reduction in the neighborhood speed limit from 25 miles per hour to 20 miles per hour. They also called for enhanced traffic enforcement and more funding for infrastructure improvements. At the meeting, Solomon confirmed that a study regarding the proposed speed limit change is already in progress. According to a spokesperson for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, municipalities must conduct such studies and submit their findings for review if the proposed changes affect local roads near state highways.
During the same council meeting, Councilman Dan Rivera requested a special meeting to further discuss traffic safety, insisting on the attendance of Public Safety Director Jim Shea. Although no public meetings have been scheduled, a recent gathering of the Jersey City Police Department’s North District Captain’s Meeting included Shea and other officials, focusing on policing improvements.
In his push for the budget amendment, Solomon reiterated the necessity of pressure on Shea to prioritize traffic safety. “We will continue to demand the Mayor and Public Safety Director prioritize traffic enforcement, but we cannot wait for them to act, which is why we are moving this amendment forward now,” he said.
Additionally, Mayor Steve Fulop recently announced plans for major street redesigns around two key intersections: Summit and Baldwin Avenues, and Martin Luther King Drive and Ocean Avenue. He indicated that officials are also reviewing the speed limit proposals and exploring potential no-turn-on-red restrictions.
The City Council has yet to approve its upcoming budget, which Fulop has proposed at $744.57 million in expenditures without a tax increase. The council’s last session before the anticipated adoption vote took place on June 17, 2023. Although the brief meeting allowed for questions, there were no indications of potential changes to the proposed budget.
As Jersey City grapples with these pressing safety concerns, the proposed measures aim to foster a safer environment for all residents and address the urgent need for improved traffic regulations and infrastructure.
