NJ Safe Routes Resource Center: 2022 Year in Review

The NJ Safe Routes Resource Center, supported by the New Jersey Department of Transportation through funds provided by the Federal Highway Administration, enjoyed many successes during the year, including:

Technical Assistance

• Recognizing 270 schools and municipalities through the NJ Safe Routes Recognition Program in coordination with NJDOT and the eight Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) in NJ
• Developing and posting videos
  • Take the Lane: Avoid the Door Zone
  • Demonstrating the Need: Installing Temporary Roadway Projects
  • 8 Steps of the Crossing Guard Procedure
  • Use of the Stop Paddle (Crossing Guard training video)
  • NJ’s Safe Passing Law (PSA) (in process)
  • Driveway Safety & How to Keep Kids Safe (in process)
• Publishing 16 Safe Routes Scoop Blog articles for the newsletter, including:
  • New Jersey Ranked #4 in Active Transportation for Children and Communities by National Safe Routes Partnership
  • Applying Proven Safety Countermeasures to NJ Safe Routes to School Projects
  • Congratulations to the 2022 Winners of the NJ Safe Routes to School Recognition Program!
  • Getting to Know [one article for all 8 TMAs]
  • Partnering with Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst to Teach Afghan Refugees Walking and Bicycling Safety
• Partnering with NJDOT to lead and advance Strategic Highway Safety Plan actions related to vulnerable road users, automated speed enforcement, and crossing guard and student safety.
• Updating websites
  • The NJ Safe Routes Resource Center website has been viewed 20,176 times by 8,395 users as of November 5, 2022.
  • The NJ Crossing Guard Training & Resources Program website has been viewed 17,639 times by 6,316 users as of November 5, 2022.
• Responding to 62 Help Desk requests submitted to srts@ejb.rutgers.edu or (848) 932-7901 as of November 5, 2022.
• Reviewing 3 actions (Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety & Promotion Initiatives, Safe Routes to School District Policy, School Travel Plan for Walking and Bicycling) for Sustainable Jersey for Schools and 5 actions (Safe Routes to School, Complete and Green Streets for All Policy, Bicycle and Pedestrian Audits, Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, Bicycle and/or Pedestrian Improvement Projects) for Sustainable Jersey Actions.
• Posting social media on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Education and Training

• Coordinating three Transportation Alternatives (TA) Set-Aside Program grant trainings which included updates to grant resources and hosting and recording webinars which were shared with the NJ Local Aid Resource Center.
• Hosting the annual Safe Routes Academy with four webinars every Thursday in September.
  • Cost-Effective Treatments: Testing Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Improvements Through Temporary Demonstration Projects
  • TA Set-Aside Grants Training Webinar
  • Prioritizing Safety Through Conducting Walkability & Bikeability Assessments
  • Developing School Travel Plans to Make Walking & Bicycling Safer
• Working with the NJ Bicycle & Pedestrian Resource Center to host New Jersey Complete Streets Training sponsored by NJ Department of Transportation.
• Presenting at conferences and summits, including:
  • The NJ Planning and Redevelopment Conference (Safe Routes for All)
  • NJDOT Research Showcase (Factors Influencing the Fatality of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Involved Crashes in New Jersey)
• Coordinating 3 Crossing Guard Supervisor Trainings through regional police academy locations.
• Coordinating 12 monthly meetings and creating 6 trainings for TMA Safe Routes to School Coordinators:
  • New Coordinator Training (3)
  • Roundtable discussion regarding SRTS Expansion to High School
  • Peer-to Peer Learning
  • NJ Safe Routes Recognition Program Training

Research

• Researching topics to inform decisions and policy, including the following reports:
  • Journal Article: Factors Influencing the Fatality of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Involved Crashes in New Jersey (under peer review for publication in the Journal of Safety Research)
  • Narrative Report: Automated Speed Enforcement
  • Vulnerable Road User Laws, The State of Knowledge and Implications for Transportation Planning
  • Proposed Updates to the NJ Residential Site Improvement Standards
  • Equity Emphasis Areas for NJ SRTS Program
  • Expansion of Safe Routes Programs to High Schools (in process)
  • Youth Micromobility Education (in process)
  • Encouraging Safe Walking and Bicycling to and From School Throughout New Jersey: 2021 Summary

Check out the 2022 accomplishments of the NJ Bicycle & Pedestrian Resource Center here!