Fire and emergency officials warn Manhattan/Franklin bikeway could slow response times; council weighs DOT grant deadline

The Jersey City Municipal Council on Monday heard competing advice over a state bikeways grant to add dedicated bicycle facilities on Manhattan Avenue and Franklin Street in the Heights.

City infrastructure staff asked the council to authorize a professional‑services contract to advance engineering design work for the Manhattan/Franklin corridor so the city can meet New Jersey Department of Transportation grant requirements. The design package under consideration includes two options: convert both Manhattan and Franklin to one‑way streets, or convert only Franklin to one‑way and leave Manhattan two‑way.

The proposal matters because it is tied to a competitive DOT bikeways grant with a tight schedule. City staff told the council the state has allowed one extension, which currently moves the deadline to June, but the engineering and bidding steps remaining create uncertainty about meeting that timetable. The city estimated the design and required…