By CLAIRE LOWE
Staff Writer

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP – Gathered along the eastbound side of Black Horse Pike, several members of the New Jersey Department of Transportation, along with local officials, announced the construction of nearly 5,000 feet of sidewalks in the busy commercial area, as well as along Route 9 in Pleasantville Tuesday, Oct. 18.

NJDOT Commissioner James S. Simpson was joined by Pleasantville Mayor Jesse Tweedle and Assemblymen John Amodeo and Vince Polistina to highlight the sidewalk installation as part of its Complete Streets program, which New Jersey adopted in 2009. The policy was ranked strongest in the nation by the National Complete Streets Coalition.

“As you know, in the Christie administration and the NJDOT, safety is a top priority,” Simpson said. “These new sidewalks … will definitely improve pedestrian safety.”

He said sidewalks are to be built in four locations on the Black Horse Pike and Route 9.

The $386,000 project includes 1,400 feet of sidewalk that was installed between Route 9 and Doughty Road; 1,600 feet of sidewalk that will be installed from Hamilton Commons to Wrangleboro Road; and 1,200 feet of sidewalk that will be installed along the Festival at Hamilton shopping plaza. The developer of the new Gravelly Run Shopping Center on the eastbound side of the Black Horse Pike across from Hamilton Commons, Benderson Development, will install sidewalk in front of its development.

Pleasantville Mayor Jesse Tweedle said Tuesday he is happy about the DOT’s response to requests for his city.

“We’re here to show support,” he said. “We have expressed numerous concerns about the Black Horse Pike to the Department of Transportation and they have addressed our concerns.”

Amodeo and Polistina said they are excited to see projects for pedestrian safety coming to South Jersey.

“It’s a good day here in Atlantic County District 2,” Amodeo said.

He said the project will keep residents safe, especially in areas where the traffic is so heavy.

“We realize how busy the traffic is behind us,” he said.

“This administration, Commissioner Simpson and the entire cabinet have a real focus on Atlantic County,” Polistina said. “They recognize how important this county is to the state.”

Simpson said he expects the state projects to be completed by November. Improvements also include high-visibility crosswalks at various intersections near those sidewalks.

He said these projects will help give pedestrians a safe route between retail locations and also aim to reduce the already tragic statistics of pedestrian fatalities on New Jersey roads. According to Simpson, there were 93 pedestrian fatalities in the state this year through October and 141 total pedestrian fatalities in the state during 2010.

Simpson said education, enforcement and engineering – what he called “E cubed” – all play a role in helping drive fatalities down.

The Complete Streets policy takes into consideration all aspects of transportation and is now a priority in New Jersey’s infrastructure, he said.

The DOT has identified a number of high-risk locations in the state, including a four-mile stretch along the Black Horse Pike from Egg Harbor Township into Pleasantville, where safety improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists are part of a “safe corridor” project.

“When it comes to complete streets, New Jersey is leading the way,” Simpson said.

The Complete Streets program encompasses several programs including Safe Routes to School grants, Safe Streets to Transits grants, Bikeway grants, Transit Village grants, Centers of Place grants and more.

Kate Slevin, executive director of Tri-State Transportation Campaign, said in response to the DOT announcement that the move was a first step forward for New Jersey.

“Atlantic County residents know well the hazards of the Black Horse Pike, which is why Tri-State Transportation Campaign, AARP New Jersey, and many local residents came together to perform a safety audit of the road this summer. Commissioner Simpson pledged to personally inspect the road, and we're glad to see that he has followed through on his promise,” Slevin said.

“It's also great news to hear the commissioner's strong support for NJDOT's Complete Streets policy, and his commitment to improve other dangerous corridors throughout the state,” he continued. “We couldn't agree more that, to use his words, ‘A Complete Streets policy is a necessity’ that promotes safety and healthy lifestyles, and also saves taxpayer dollars.”

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