Dear Neighbor,
Happy Black History Month! As we enter February here are your latest updates.
Major Vision Zero Milestones
As your Councilman, I have worked on and supported major Vision Zero efforts undertaken by Mayor Bhalla’s administration that have made our streets safer. Impressively, Hoboken has gone seven consecutive years without a single traffic-related fatality. What’s more, from 2022 to 2023, the city saw an 18 percent reduction in injury crashes and a 62 percent decrease in severe injuries from cars. This is a major milestone and kudos go out to Mayor Bhalla and Transportation Director Ryan Sharp for achieving these important goals.
2023 Vision Zero upgrades include:
- 14 new intersections with multi-way stops, including six identified as high-crash zones in the Vision Zero Action Plan.
- 418 new delineators enhancing intersection visibility thst daylight 31 percent of our intersections citywide, focusing on intersections near parks, schools, public housing, or senior buildings.
- 61 crosswalks restriped with high-visibility, long-lasting markings.
- Upgrades to 27 curb ramps enhancing ADA accessibility.
- A new raised crosswalk on 5th Street at Stevens Park improving pedestrian visibility and slowing vehicles.
- New 15 MPH speed limits in school zones covering 67 blocks.
- 6 new curb extensions reducing crossing distances, improving intersection visibility, and slowing vehicle turning speeds.
- 3 curb extensions incorporating green infrastructure near ResilienCity Park.
- Resurfacing 15 blocks
 This year, the Vision Zero work continues. One important effort will be Hoboken’s collaboration with Hudson County on a public planning process for a comprehensive Vision Zero upgrade to Willow Avenue from 11th to 16th Streets — a dangerous 5th Ward road serving the Wallace School, Fox Hill, Walgreens, Trader Joe’s and Northwest Hoboken.
Also in 2024, the Bhalla administration will go through the final steps of the federal aid review process for Sinatra Drive Redesign Project. The Sinatra Drive project will include extensive pedestrian safety improvements, a two-way protected waterfront bikeway connecting the protected bike lane network at 11th Street and 4th Street, over 100 new street trees, enhanced lighting, and other streetscape improvements between 4th Street and 11th Street on Sinatra Drive. You can read more about the Sinatra Drive Project here.
To learn more about the City’s Vision Zero initiatives, click here.
The HOP is More Popular Than Ever
As your Councilman, I have worked to improve the service on the City’s popular HOP bus service. HOP ridership recently achieved a major milestone, surpassing 1,000 rides a day for the first time since 2019, pre-COVID! Riders enjoy the City’s free service and expanded operating hours during the morning rush, that the Mayor initiated in his firm term in office.
This year the City will introduce two new electric HOP buses, making the HOP experience greener — reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing the City’s fuel expenses. You can learn more here.
Hoboken’s First Recreational Cannabis Dispensary
On Monday, The Station (located at 86 River Street) became Hoboken's first recreational cannabis dispensary. Since October, The Station has been a medical cannabis dispensary, adding recreational sales this week. The local 2% sales tax on local dispensary sales the City Council approved creates important new revenues benefitting all taxpayers.
800 Monroe Resiliency Park Update
In January, AECOM presented to the City Council a final design concept for 800 Monroe Resiliency Park. The park is envisioned to offer a range of recreational amenities with three tennis courts, designated dog runs (for small and large dogs), a passive central lawn space, and more. Beyond its recreational and passive features, the park incorporates state-of-the-art stormwater retention facilities capable of retaining 430,000 gallons, in a neighborhood historically prone to flood. I was proud to partner with the Mayor and City Council to finalize and adopt this final design, which will provide a major quality of life benefit to the local neighborhood. You can read more about this important project here.
Coffee with Cohen … the home edition
On Wednesday, I hosted my 95th Coffee with Cohen community event with special guest, Caleb Stratton, Chief Resiliency Officer and Assistant Business Administrator for Hoboken.
We discussed Rebuild by Design updates, what we can expect for 2024 concerning upcoming resiliency parks and our waterfront, initiatives Director Stratton believes have the biggest impact on Hoboken’s long-term resiliency, integrating resiliency with the City operations, and a number of community updates. More than 60 people have watched this event, which you can watch here. This event, and many past Coffee with Cohen events — are recorded and hosted on my Facebook page and can be seen here.
Staying Up To Date and Seeking My Assistance
I issue this newsletter every other Friday. You can stay up to date by following me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. If you have any questions, or I can be of assistance to you or your family, please do not hesitate to contact me at HobokenPhil@gmail.com.
Phil Cohen
Hoboken City Councilman
Hoboken, New Jersey
HobokenPhil@gmail.com
(862) 234-9053
P.S. You can learn more about me and my ideas for Hoboken (as well as read this newsletter and prior newsletters) on my website philcohen.org.
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Paid for by Phil Cohen for Hoboken City Council |
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