A plan the mayor’s office circulated to convert two Greenville corridors into one-way streets — described in a staff presentation as proposals to convert MLK Drive and Bergen Avenue to one-way operation with dedicated bus lanes — sparked a large public meeting and sharp exchanges at a Jersey City Municipal Council caucus on Aug. 18, 2025. Infrastructure staff told the council they were asked to present concepts at a community session; hundreds attended and some speakers used profanity and threatened staff, the director said.

The issue matters because the proposed redesign would change traffic circulation on two major corridors and could affect transit, emergency access and neighborhood circulation. Council members and residents said they received a social-media announcement from the administration before technical analyses were available, which inflamed the public response.

City infrastructure staff said the presentation showed dedicated bus lanes but no bike lanes on the two streets, and that the concepts were preliminary. “We showed a conversion of MLK And Bergen Avenue into 1 way streets with dedicated bus lanes on both streets. No bike lanes were proposed on either of the streets,” the director said. The director told council members the community meeting included “insults and profanity” and that one speaker referenced “messengers getting shot,” and added: “Threats of violence are never acceptable. Personal attacks and verbal abuse directed at staff cannot be normalized.”

Council members said the administration’s social-media post created a perception that a final decision was imminent. Council President Waterman told the audience the council had not yet received any formal plan, and that “as of right now to the public, we have not received anything concerning the one-way direction.” Multiple council members pressed administration representatives for a detailed plan and for time to review data before any item is placed on the council agenda.

Several council members acknowledged community anger about how the proposal was rolled out. Councilperson Solomon urged that residents be given clear, study-backed explanations before any action: council staff and consultants have not completed core analyses, he said, and that lack of data contributed to the heated meeting. At the caucus several members called for better engagement protocols and for staff safety at public appearances.

No council action was taken at the caucus; council members said the administration retains the authority to place an item on the council agenda, and the council retains the authority to vote for or against any proposal once it is formally introduced.

The infrastructure director told council members the community meeting had been recorded and the department would provide the presentation materials and follow-up responses. Council members requested the administration share any finalized study and a timeline before the matter is scheduled for a vote, and several said they would arrange follow-up community briefings that include the neighborhood groups who asked questions at the meeting.

Ending: The caucus closed without a formal vote on the street conversion. Council members urged calmer engagement at future meetings and asked the administration to provide a full package of analysis and outreach materials before the council considers any ordinance or resolution on one-way conversions for MLK or Bergen Avenue.