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Resident urges Bergen County to adopt complete-streets policy and deploy quick-build safety fixes
Summary
At a public-comment period, a Bergen County resident urged commissioners to adopt a complete-streets policy, use temporary quick-build materials such as flex posts and bollards, and delegate some roadway projects to municipalities to accelerate safety improvements described in the county's Local Safety Action Plan (LSAP).
Resident Patrick DeRoma told the Bergen County Board of Commissioners during public comment that the county's Local Safety Action Plan needs faster, physical safety interventions and a policy shift to prioritize people walking and cycling. "In short, people want changes that make roads safer. They want those changes to be more than just signs and paint, which we know don't really do much," DeRoma said.
DeRoma said 72 people attended a Zoom presentation of the Bergen County Local Safety Action Plan and many expressed frustration with the plan's timeline and reliance on paint and signage. He recommended three near-term steps: adopt a complete-streets policy; deploy temporary quick-build materials such as flex posts, plastic bollards or cones to mimic protected infrastructure; and delegate some county-road projects to municipalities so towns can act more quickly.
The county's engineering staff and the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) review process were identified in his remarks as constraints that lengthen implementation timelines. DeRoma said the combination of limited county engineering capacity and state approval requirements results in projects that may take many years to reach construction.
DeRoma urged the commissioners to use the LSAP as an opportunity to change how county road projects are planned and executed, saying residents do not want to wait decades for safety improvements. "The LSAP presents us with an opportunity to get serious about improving our roadways, making our community safer and more comfortable to walk and cycle in. And it's my sincere hope that we do not waste it," he said.
There was no formal board action recorded on the LSAP during the meeting; DeRoma's remarks were part of the public-comment period and were not followed by a vote. The transcript shows DeRoma's comments ran roughly three minutes and focused on near-term, temporary infrastructure and a policy change (complete streets) to shorten future project timelines.
