If you think county officials aren’t aware of how hard it is to get around in Hudson County, this week’s roster of resolutions passed by the freeholders should help ease the public’s mind.
In a series of moves to find alternatives that won’t cost the millions light rail will, the freeholders authorized small but significant changes that could possibly unclog some of the main traffic arteries and cure some of the problems created by previous “cures.”
A pilot project that would enhance alternatives to business travel around the county moved ahead as the Hudson County Board of Freeholders passed a resolution at their Nov. 15 meeting that would help connect Secaucus, West New York and Harrison into a “cyber network.”
In other action, the freeholders also moved to resurface roadways along Kennedy Boulevard from 18th Street to 67th Street in North Bergen, Union City and West New York. They also passed a resolution that would deal with problem conditions near Roosevelt Stadium in Union City.
Going cyber in Secaucus, UC and Harrison
The freeholders will allow the county’s Office of Strategic Revitalization to begin a study of alternative transportation options such as tele-commuting, tele-conferencing and community network stations in Secaucus, Union City and Harrison.
This, according to Acting County Administrator Laurie Cotter, is an outgrowth of the Hudson County Cyber District Study done last year, which found a rich technology infrastructure throughout the county, but significant problems in traffic congestion.
The pilot study is funded from a variety of sources, with $150,000 from the New Jersey Department of Transportation, $35,000 from the original state Cyber District Study grant money under Gov. Christine Whitman and $20,000 in matching funds from Hudson County.
This pilot study would try to find quick and cost-effective access to services and work opportunities needed in these three communities, so as to keep residents here from climbing into their cars.
The study also will look to pinpoint transportation and communication centers in the three communities. The county hopes to point out the newly emerging commercial centers that are popping up in the more distant corners of the county.
The study also would seek to increase the public transportation options and examine non-polluting vehicles for people who might use gas-guzzling vehicles to get around the county. It would also seek ways to improve the skills of a workforce that may need education in language skills and other areas in order to take advantage of job markets in shopping and transportation.
Each of the three communities presents different problems and opportunities, according to the project description. “Harrison is a primarily industrial city stemming from its location across from Newark,” it states. “The majority of the township consists of viable or former industrial property, near or adjacent the PATH regional rail line and the Harrison train station.”
Harrison is slated for widespread redevelopment, turning some of the vacant industrial property into a stadium and other commercial and residential development.
Secaucus is described at a mix of traditional neighborhoods, auto-oriented shopping, and office and manufacturing facilities. Route 3 – which has direct access to the Lincoln Tunnel – cuts the town in half and creates “a significant physical barrier” with Paterson Plank Road as the sole connection between the north end and the rest of the town. Secaucus also lacks significant rail connections. It does, however, have a strong network of cyberconnections that include Town Hall, the town library, the local hospital and other locations. The plan would make use of this as well as attempt to create innovative solutions involving bus transportation and private vehicles.
Union City, the report notes, is one of the few towns in Hudson County that lacks access to either the Hudson or the Passaic river waterfront. It has a dense mix of buildings, contains ethnic populations, and uses primarily north-south corridors such as Bergenline Avenue – which also contains its principle commercial corridor. Public transportation consists primary of buses, although the report notes the light rail line is slated to pass through Union City in the future, providing the people with a means of accessing jobs elsewhere in the county, as well as access to educational opportunities. Language and low levels of education are barriers to many people in Union City, the report said.
Selecting sites in all three towns
The pilot study for the three towns will establish and support a steering committee, select particular study sites within each community, map existing functions, characterize community needs and interests, revise existing cyber profiles, develop network station plans, develop plans for alternative transportation, and develop a budget and possible fund sources to implement the plans.
Direct connection to some form of public transit will be critical to setting up a pilot site in these communities, as well as the ability of that site to sustain other forms of communication within the county such as internet connections.
“The network will improve the linkages between the three cities and between the cities and various key service provides located elsewhere in the county,” the report said, citing Hudson County Community College as one such service provider.
The pilot project hopes to find alternative, shorter routes to jobs and other services, and thus reduce congestion among existing traffic lanes to the rest of the county. County officials hope that this restructuring of transportation will help revitalize some of the traditional downtown areas and strip commercial or retail malls, as well as increase opportunities for education and jobs for the general public.
“We will be focusing on alternative means of operating without adding to traffic,” Cotter said.
A solution to a solution
One particular ironic note was the backup recently caused at Kennedy Boulevard and Fifth Street along the North Bergen-Jersey City border. Earlier this year, the county and state celebrated the opening of a traffic bridge that allowed traffic to move smoothly across the main freight line and Tonnelle Avenue. For years, trains in excess of 100 cars have clogged the Secaucus Road link and caused backups on Tonnelle Avenue.
“By allowing traffic to pass through that area, we created another backup at the top of the hill,” said Bill Gaughan, who served the duel distinction as the Jersey City Councilman for the Heights section affected and as the chief of staff for the county executive.
To cure this congestion, Gaughan said the county will eliminate some parking along Fifth Street – which is the continuation of Secaucus Road when it reaches North Bergen – and extend the lane allowing traffic to move forward. Currently the interchange has two lanes. One lane allows traffic to turn left onto JFK, and the other allows traffic to go straight or make a right. These lanes would be extended from the existing 133 feet to 191 feet. To help clear traffic more quickly, the county will also increase the length of the light for those on Fifth Street so that cars will not back up as often or linger there for so long.
The freeholders also authorized the resurfacing of Kennedy Boulevard from 18th Street to 67th Street, an area that has not been resurfaced since 1993. In some cases existing curbs and sidewalks may require replacing as well.
The county has also decided to investigate safety changes for Kennedy Boulevard near Roosevelt Stadium in Union City, which has had a high number of traffic accidents.