$500,000 to make Red Bank street pedestrian friendly

Jul 28, 2010 — Asbury Park Press

Larry Higgs

Jul. 27, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- RED BANK -- Traffic calming is coming to busy Front Street in the vicinity of Riverview Medical Center, where many pedestrians have to cross the street to get to and from a parking garage.

The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority board approved $500,000 for the Red Bank project on Monday, a part of $2.5 million allocated for six projects in NJTPA's 13-county region, which includes Monmouth and Ocean counties. The authority works with counties and the state Department of Transportation to allocate federal funds for transportation projects.

The project's approval came four days after Monmouth County adopted a complete streets policy, which aims to design roads and bridges for safe use by pedestrians and cyclists, in addition to motorists.

Plans call for the installation of concrete "bump outs" and roadway islands, brick paver-style crosswalks, solar-powered flashing crossing lights, traffic signal upgrades, skid-resistant street surface treatment, pavement markings and other minor roadway reconstruction work.

"This project promises to make Front Street safer for people traveling on bike or foot, particularly in the area of Riverview Medical Center," said Monmouth County Freeholder John D'Amico, a member of the NJTPA Board of Trustees, in a prepared statement. "All of these improvements will help slow traffic and make Red Bank even more pedestrian-friendly."

Newstex ID: KRTB-0137-47402085