Governor Jon Corzine’s Pedestrian Safety initiative
benefits Rowan University students
Improvements completed along busy Route 322 in Glassboro

(Glassboro) -- NJDOT Commissioner Stephen Dilts joined guests at Rowan University today to highlight a pedestrian safety project that is benefitting thousands of students and staff who cross busy Mullica Hill Road (Rt. 322) each day.

The recently completed work complements more than 180 pedestrian safety projects statewide which have been completed, are under way or have been funded through Governor Jon S. Corzine’s $74 million Pedestrian Safety Initiative. The projects include new sidewalks, lighting, reconfigured intersections and traffic-calming measures tailored to meet local conditions and needs.

“We created and funded this comprehensive Pedestrian Safety Initiative to prevent accidents and promote safety for the millions of New Jersey school children, bicyclists and pedestrians who share our streets and roads with motorists every day,” Governor Corzine said. “ By investing in engineering improvements, enforcing pedestrian safety laws, and changing the way we educate drivers, we are making our communities safer.”

“Governor Corzine is putting safety first with this initiative that recognizes the potential for accidents in what is the most densely populated state in the nation,” said NJDOT Commissioner Stephen Dilts. “We’re creating concrete solutions to protect children, pedestrians and cyclists through sidewalk and intersection improvements as well as education that encourages safe driving and walking habits”.

The $450,000 Route 322 project, designed to help thousands of students, faculty, staff and visitors to safely cross a nearly one-mile segment of Rt. 322 where it bisects the campus, was completed prior to the September start of the academic year. About 10,000 full-time and part-time students are enrolled at Rowan University.

The project included nearly 1,200 linear feet of new sidewalks, ADA curb ramps, three new brick crosswalks, an in-pavement lighted crosswalk, overhead flashing lights marking pedestrian crossings and a new bus pullout, among other improvements based on assessments and recommendations by the NJDOT Pedestrian Safety Impact Team.

The project was a collaborative effort involving Rowan University, Glassboro Borough and Gloucester County officials. It was funded through the state Transportation Trust Fund.

Governor Corzine created a five-year, $74 million Pedestrian Safety Initiative in 2006 that includes specific programs aimed at improving safety at busy intersections, along routes used by school children and streets near transit hubs - utilizing a three-pronged strategy (pdf 189 kb).

Under the initiative NJDOT has built 60 pedestrian safety projects involving the construction of 48,000 linear feet of new sidewalks, enhanced crosswalks and numerous intersection improvements including pedestrian countdown signals.

A total of 104 Safe Routes to School grants have been awarded since 2005, reaching 192 K-8 schools in 83 municipalities. Another 20 grants have been awarded to fund Safe Streets to Transit improvements.

In addition, the New Jersey driver’s manual now has an enhanced section about the “Yielding to Pedestrians” law. NJDOT distributes “Drive Safely” and “Walk Safely” tip sheets in English and Spanish at workshops and community meetings statewide.