Safe Corridors take effect on
New Jersey roadways

New law continues Governor’s highway safety efforts

TRENTON – State Transportation Commissioner Jack Lettiere today reminded the public that the new “Safe Corridors” law doubling fines on nearly 130 miles of state roadway would take effect on February 15, 2004.

Signed into law by Governor James E. McGreevey in July 2003, the initiative doubles fines for a variety of driving offences, including speeding and aggressive driving, on sections of Routes 1, 9, 22, 40, 46, 47, 73, and 206. The highway sections were designated as “Safe Corridors” based on statistics showing a crash rate 50 percent over the state rate and 1,000 or more crashes over three years.

“It is our responsibility to do everything within our power to ensure that New Jersey’s roads are made as safe as possible, and we will take whatever technological, engineering or enforcement steps are necessary to accomplish this goal,” said Lettiere. “Safe Corridors demonstrates our zero tolerance for anyone who jeopardizes the well-being of New Jersey motorists.”

Those stretches of roadway designated as “Safe Corridors” are as follows:

Route 1
· Just north of the Route 1 Toll Bridge in Trenton to Carnegie Center Boulevard in West Windsor. (MP .06 – MP 10)

· From Henderson Road in South Brunswick to just north of Old Post Road in Edison. (MP 20 – MP 30)

Route 9
· From Pine Boulevard in Lakewood to Washington Road in South Amboy. (MP 100 – MP 130)

Route 22
· From Orr Drive in Branchburg to King George Road in Green Brook. (MP 30 – MP 40)

· Just west of New Providence Road in Mountainside to just west of the Route 1/9 interchange in Newark. (MP 50 – MP 60)

Route 40
· From Cologne Avenue in Hamilton Township to Genoa Avenue in Egg Harbor Township. (MP 50 – MP 60)

Route 46
· From Down Street in Netcong to just east of West Main Street in Rockaway. (MP 30 – MP 40)

· Just west of New Road in Parsippany-Troy Hills to Valley Road in Clifton. (MP 50 – MP 60)

Route 47
· Just south of Route 49 in Millville to just north of Arbor Avenue in Vineland. (MP 40 – MP 50)

Route 73
· Just south of William Feather Drive in Voorhees to Linwood Avenue in Maple Shade. (MP 20 – MP 30)

Route 206
· From Opossum Road in Montgomery to just north of South Bridge Street in Somerville. (MP 60 – MP 70)

Although there are only 13 “Safe Corridors,” the Commissioner of Transportation has the authority to designate others as necessary, as well as remove those that show improved safety levels. The Department of Transportation will continue to monitor all highway data and review the initial “Safe Corridors” within a year to chart the program’s progress.

“As this program moves forward, we will closely monitor the safety level of these corridors and act accordingly. This is just an initial list and more may be added as our data warrants,” said Lettiere. “Other states such as California and Oregon have shown positive results a year after instituting similar safety programs and we are looking forward to these results in New Jersey.”

In addition to the “Safe Corridors” program, the Department of Transportation has taken has taken the lead on a number of projects that increase safety for motorists traveling on New Jersey highways such as the expansion of a statewide “Safety First” sign program highlighting the #77 Aggressive Driver hotline and other safety messages; establishment of Safety Impact Teams to investigate necessary improvements along state highways; expansion of the 100-mile safety barrier program, allocation of $20 million for engineering and technological highway improvements, addition of 500 miles of raised pavement reflectors over the next two years; recorded driver safety public safety announcements; and expanded driver education programs.