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Cycling advocates press county for signage and updated bike/trail plans; county engineer says plans are underway
Summary
Cycling groups and Union County Connects urged the county to install MUTCD-approved safe passing signage, update the county bicycle master plan and release the parks master plan; County Engineer Rick Mateus said the Safe Streets and Roads for All plan is about 70% complete and the bicycle master plan update is underway with consultant review.
Cycling advocates and trail groups told the Board of County Commissioners the county needs to do more to protect cyclists and pedestrians, including installing approved signage and updating planning documents, and county leaders said work is in progress.
John Pisco, president of All On Cycling Club of New Jersey, told commissioners the club runs about 30 group rides a week in Union County and has more than 500 paid members. He urged the county to install MUTCD-approved signs to make drivers aware of New Jersey—s safe passing law (passed in February 2022) and the state—s four-foot safe-passing guidance for drivers approaching vulnerable road users. "By installing these official road signs throughout our community, we'll significantly increase driver awareness, save lives," Pisco said.
Representatives from Union County Connects — Secretary Ellen Margarita and founder Michael Dory — praised the county—s recent rail-trail conversions and the East Coast Greenway realignment work and pressed for a published update to the 2020 parks and recreation master plan and an updated bicycle master plan (the county—s bicycle plan had not been updated since 2007, the speakers said). Dory asked when the county would release the updated parks master plan and requested a named project manager and quarterly public progress reports. He also asked about a $100,000 feasibility study for the Central Rail (CNJ) from July 22, 2021 and whether that report is complete and available.
County Engineer Rick Mateus told the board the Safe Streets and Roads for All project is roughly 70% complete and that the county anticipates a final plan around December or January. He said the bicycle master plan update is underway via the East Coast Greenway consultant; the county has received a first draft for construction plans and will provide first-round comments, which must also go through NJDOT review. Mateus said the Rahway Valley Rail Trail TAP grant work has seen recent progress: a consultant proposal has been accepted by NJDOT and the contract will flow through the county to continue work.
Mateus also said requests for specific bike-lane projects (for example, a Westfield county-road bike lane) will be revisited after the master plans are complete so the county can set policy and standards consistently. Advocates said better signage and an up-to-date bike plan are cost-effective ways to reduce fatalities and near misses among cyclists in the county.
