Council reviews DOT bridge studies, approves consultant for citywide transportation plan

Jersey City officials presented several transportation items to the municipal council caucus, including requests for resolutions of support for New Jersey Department of Transportation concept-development studies and the award of a professional services contract to develop the city’s updated transportation plan.

The Division of Transportation asked council to adopt a resolution of support for NJDOT’s concept development study to replace the JFK Boulevard Bridge over Route 139; staff noted construction is not scheduled until 2027–28 and raised concerns about proposed temporary traffic staging, specifically a configuration that would leave two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane on Lower 139 during construction. The city included language that it “strongly prefers that two eastbound travel lanes be maintained during construction” and asked that DOT consider staging that reduces local impacts.

The council also reviewed a support resolution for the Baldwin Avenue bridge replacement (a bridge previously struck by a train). Staff reported NJDOT had held a virtual public information session and received 22 public comments; the Division of Transportation recommended approval of the support resolution. Council members pressed staff to continue pressing state and federal rail agencies to finish work and to improve interagency coordination.

Separately, the council authorized a competitively bid contract with the consulting firm Arup to prepare a comprehensive update of the city’s circulation element (the Jersey City Transportation Plan). The project will produce a long‑term strategy for transportation investments, policy recommendations, scenario modeling and public engagement including pop-ups, workshops and stakeholder meetings. The study is funded with a $420,000 grant from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority for the FY 2025–26 subregional studies program. Staff said the plan will examine equity, sustainability, safety and mobility citywide and includes targeted small-area plans for West Side and Journal Square.

Also discussed was an environmental-release authorization tied to a preliminary environmental assessment of the Bergen Arches Corridor; the city must release claims to allow the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and New Jersey Transit to access the property and proceed with Phase I environmental site assessments. Staff described the release as a standard municipal step required to enable property agreements and assessments.

Council members asked whether the plan would address transit corridors, bus rapid transit concepts and signal-priority technology; staff said the circulation element would be comprehensive and provide corridor recommendations, though specific corridor design or state concurrence for signal changes may require additional intergovernmental approvals.