HOBOKEN – The Department of Transportation and Parking will install additional ‘Don’t Block the Box’ signs and stripes in the road at the intersection of Monroe Street, Observer Highway, and Paterson Plank Road, according to a city press release.
The step is a “short-term measure” while the Subregional Transportation Study, which is centered on Southwest Hoboken, will be worked on until late spring/early summer 2011, according to a release.
“I’m looking forward to the results of the traffic study, but in the mean time, I’m happy to see the Department of Transportation and Parking taking appropriate short term measures to address traffic concerns in this area,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer, in a release. “The improvements will be complete by the end of next week.”
The problems at the intersection were highlighted by new 4th Ward Councilman Tim Occhipinti during his campaign. The intersection to be addressed is near his former campaign headquarters, and a public meeting was held during the campaign about this issue.
Occhipinti thanked the mayor for the upgrade.
“I’m pleased that after my campaign made this intersection a high priority issue the mayor is directing her staff to do something about it,” Occhipinti said on Wednesday. “Additional signage and striping suggestions were made at the public meeting I held to discuss the issue, and I thank the mayor for implementing them.”
Occhipinti asked for a more permanent solution for the future.
“However, I must point out that stripes and signs alone don’t fix the problem,” he said. “We need to restore the rush hour Police Traffic Detail that formerly manned these intersections until a permanent solution to the Southwest Hoboken traffic situation can be implemented. Cuts to police staffing severely curtailed this detail, and the people of the 4th Ward suffer every day because of it. Signs and stripes are welcome additions, but nothing can take the place of law enforcement.”
More improvements should be on the way following the Subregional Transportation Study. – Ray Smith