The City of Hoboken and Hudson County will hold a virtual meeting this month to present their preferred design for Willow Avenue safety improvements that are part of ongoing Vision Zero efforts.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Making our streets safer is about protecting the people who use them every day, whether they are walking, biking, taking the bus, driving, heading to school, or heading to senior housing,” Hoboken Mayor Emily Jabbour said in a statement.
“The proposed improvements to Willow Avenue are built on the feedback our community has provided, and they will create a safer, more comfortable experience for everyone. I encourage you to join us to learn more about the preferred design, and I appreciate your input.”
The virtual public meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16th, at 6 p.m. and anyone interesting in attending can register here.
The collaborative design effort highlights safety improvements for all modes of transportation along Willow Avenue from 11th Street to 16th Street.
Both Hoboken’s and Hudson County’s Vision Zero plans note that the corridor experiences higher-than-average crashes and injury rates compared to the rest of the City and County roadway network.
“We look forward to this virtual meeting regarding safety improvements for Willow Avenue. Local input always plays a vital role in the development of improved safety plans,” added Hudson County Executive Craig Guy.
“These infrastructure enhancements are a crucial element to Hudson County’s Vision Zero Action Plan, as we continue to ensure our roadways are safe for pedestrians, bikers, and motorists.”
The preferred design will reduce pedestrians’ exposure to vehicles by 20 percent through new safety improvements like added curb extensions and signal timing changes, officials said Friday
The design also includes a protected two-way bike lane on the eastern side of Willow Avenue, which will connect to the Green Circuit currently under construction along 15th Street. Other features include back-in angle parking and new bus stops.
Additional safety improvements proposed in the plan include the following:
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Increased and updated lighting can reduce nighttime pedestrian injury crashes at intersections by up to 42 percent.
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High-visibility crosswalks can reduce pedestrian injury crashes by up to 40 percent.
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Medians and marked crosswalks can reduce pedestrian crashes by 46 percent.
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Pedestrian refuge islands can reduce pedestrian crashes by 56 percent.
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Advanced yield or stop markings and signage can reduce pedestrian crashes by up to 25 percent.
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Adding bicycle lanes can reduce crashes up to 49 percent on city streets.
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Protected bike lanes can increase bike ridership by at least 21 percent protected bicycle lanes can reduce crashes for all roadway users
The preferred design was developed through a public engagement process that included an in-person design session in May 2025, a virtual public information meeting in June 2025, and multiple meetings with the Wallace Elementary School community, city and county representatives, and residents of Fox Hill Gardens.
This project is funded through a grant administered through the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) that covers design costs and $1.4 million in construction costs.
