The New Jersey Safe Routes Resource Center (NJSRRC), funded by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) with support from the Federal Highway Administration, achieved numerous successes in 2025. Notably, the center held the annual New Jersey Safe Routes Academy during the NJ Bike & Walk Summit on Saturday, March 29th, at Princeton University in Princeton, NJ. The Center also continued its statewide training efforts through the NJ Crossing Guard Training and Resources program, a collaboration between NJDOT and the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety. Additionally, the Safe Routes Resource Center’s partnership with NJ’s Regional Safe Routes to School Coordinators, based at all eight Transportation Management Associations (TMAs), continued to thrive. Below is a summary of the Resource Center’s highlights in 2025:
Technical Assistance
- Recognized 355 schools and municipalities through the NJ Safe Routes to School Recognition Program in coordination with NJDOT and the eight Transportation Management Associations in New Jersey. Certification is valid for three years. There are currently over 1,000 schools and municipalities recognized under NJDOT’s NJ Safe Routes to School Recognition Program.
- Developed and posted seventeen (17) new SRTS videos:
- Snap to Safety – Roundabouts
- Snap to Safety- Bike Corral & Racks
- Snap to Safety- Pedestrian Refuge Island
- Snap to Safety- Raised Intersections & Speed Humps
- Snap to Safety- Curb Extensions
- Respect the Vest: Endgame
- Respect the Vest: Talking Dog
- Respect the Vest: The Hand Off
- Velocidad
- Uso del Silbato
- Ruidos en las Calle
- Road Geometry Fix – Spanish
- Intersecciones Senalizadas
- Giros Vehiculares
- Geometria de la Calle
- Deslumbramiento por el Sol
- Cruces de Varios Tramos
- Published 20 Safe Routes Scoop Blog articles for the newsletter, including:
- Evaluating Traffic Safety of Children in School Zones: A New Report
- Celebrate Bike Month and New Jersey Walk and Bike to School Month this May
- From Policy to Pavement: A Recap of the 2025 Safe Routes Academy
- How a YouTube Rabbit Hole Led Me to Fight for Safer Streets in My Community
- NJDOT Congratulates the 2025 New Jersey Safe Routes to School Recognition Program Winners
- Students Take the Lead as Governor Murphy Signs New Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Law
- Back to School, Back to Safety: Let’s Keep the Roads Safe for Everyone
- RJW Barnabas Health: Neurodiversity, Autism, and Bicycling
- Celebrate Walk and Bike to School Month this October
- Protecting Young E-Bike Riders: Advice for Parents, Students, and Communities
- Turning Ideas into Action: The Nikhil Badlani Foundation Youth Advisory Board Summit – New Jersey Safe Routes
- Highlights from New Jersey’s October Walk and Bike to School Month – New Jersey Safe Routes
- Safe Routes Throughout New Jersey – Monthly updates of events and programs coordinated by all 8 NJ TMAs
- Reviewed Sustainable Jersey (SJ) and Sustainable Jersey for Schools Actions:
- School and school district submissions for three (3) SJ for Schools actions (Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety & Promotion Initiatives, Safe Routes to School District Policy, School Travel Plan for Walking and Bicycling)
- Municipal submissions for five (5) SJ 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)
- Updated website resources:
- NJ Safe Routes Resource Center website has been viewed 38,864 times by 13,586 users
- NJ Crossing Guard Training & Resources Program website has been viewed 12,625 times by 5,247 users
- Responded to 45Help Desk requests submitted to srts@ejb.rutgers.edu or (848) 932-7901
Education and Training
- Hosted the annual Safe Routes Academy, which was held in person during the NJ Bike & Walk Summit on Saturday, March 29th, at Princeton University in Princeton, NJ:
- Presented at conferences, webinars, and summits:
- TRB 2025: “How Can We Ensure Traffic Safety Funds Improve Safety? A Conversation with Transportation Engineering Professionals.”
- TRB 2025: “Assessing Pedestrian Stress with Biometric Sensing and Survey Responses.”
- 2025 TransAction Conference: “Improving Walking and Bicycling Safety in School Zones.”
- 2025 NJ Sustainability Summit: “Improving Walking and Bicycling Safety in School Zones.”
- National Crossing Guard Working Group Meeting with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Resources
- Finalized the following reports:
- Student Arrival and Departure Tallies in New Jersey
- Voices from the Crosswalk: Insights from Focus Groups with School Crossing Guards
- Strengthening Communities through Collaboration: The Partnership between Sustainable Jersey and the NJDOT Safe Routes to School Program
- How to Retain Crossing Guards: Strategies for Overcoming Shortages and Boosting Job Satisfaction
- How Can We Better Evaluate Traffic Safety of Children in School Zones?
- “About the NJ Safe Routes to School Program” PowerPoint resource.
NJ Crossing Guard Training and Resources
The NJ Crossing Guard Supervisor Training Program and direct training to municipal crossing guards is supported by the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety with funding from Federal Highway Administration. In 2025, the NJ Crossing Guard training program:
- Coordinated two (2) online Crossing Guard Supervisor Trainings
- Presented two (3) direct in person Crossing Guard trainings in Trenton, Passaic, and North Bergen.
- Recorded Spanish Language version of the “Crosswalk Heroes: Challenging Crossings” video and video segment
- Developed the “Support Your Crosswalk Hero” video series
- Finalized the “New Jersey crossing Guard Training Program 2025 Report.”