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 construction inspection work would cost about $162,000; that estimate includes preparing plans for DOT review and paying for required on‑site inspection during construction.

Public safety officials and union leaders urged the council not to proceed. Jack Black, president of the Jersey City Fire Officers, said union analysis — including an enhanced GIS review provided to the council — shows the changes would add minutes to some fire responses and change which companies arrive first on scene. "This is a bad idea. It's a dangerous idea and should not be approved," Black said.

Jack Collins, president of Local 1066, the uniform firefighters, said the unions' concern is the effect on life‑safety outcomes: "Fire doubles every 30 seconds in burning. ... Some of these, there are 3 minute response time increases. Imagine the size of a fire." He and other speakers urged the council to choose an alternate corridor where one‑way conversions and bike facilities would not impede large emergency vehicles.

A Department of Public Safety representative told the council the department's official position is opposition because the conversions "will increase response time. We would rather not have it," but added that the department will operate in whatever street environment the council decides to create.

City engineers said they would push to meet the DOT deadline if the council chose to move forward, but stressed there is no guarantee. The remaining steps include choosing a consensus configuration, completing technical design, submitting plans to the DOT for review, circulating the plans internally, advertising bids, and awarding a construction contract. The engineer also noted the DOT program rules require that grant funds be used on the corridor originally proposed; if the city declines the corridor it must reapply in a future round for a different location.

Council members pressed staff about communications with affected neighbors and business owners. Council members and staff described meetings with the council district, nearby businesses (one council member said the Stop & Shop on Central Avenue objected), the police and fire departments, and the local business improvement district. Several council members said community engagement had been insufficient and asked for more time to find compromise options.

The council did not vote during the caucus. Staff said if the council directs design procurement, the city will proceed to solicit the engineering services and attempt to meet the DOT schedule; if the council declines, the city would not use the current grant on that corridor and could reapply in a later round for another street.

The matter is scheduled for a formal agenda and possible vote at the regular council meeting later in the week, where councilmembers may formally authorize the design contract or hold the item to allow more outreach and analysis.