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Residents say dangerous driving near Costco and Starbucks; council says engineering and police are addressing it

Bayonne City Municipal Council · September 21, 2025
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Summary

A Bayonne resident presented video evidence of vehicles driving against traffic in a commercial entrance near Costco and Starbucks, urging immediate safety fixes. Council members acknowledged the problem, said engineering staffing was briefly disrupted, and pledged follow‑up and implementation planning.

A Bayonne resident told the City Council on Sept. 17 that drivers are repeatedly using an eastbound lane to reach a traffic light, creating head‑on and cut‑through maneuvers that make the intersection hazardous. The resident said he had recorded video and repeatedly contacted city engineering and police without seeing adequate remediation.

Why it matters: councilors said the site is a known safety concern tied to new development and commercial entrances. They described interdepartmental work among engineering, public works and the police department and said an engineering staffing issue had temporarily limited follow‑up. Council members urged residents to report incidents with photos or video and said a plan — including possible intersection modifications — is in progress.

Resident testimony and council response: Tom Solari described multiple incidents of wrong‑way driving and said the city has been slow to act despite prior complaints. He asked why the traffic light and other measures were not in place earlier. Councilors acknowledged past engineering and project‑assignment disruptions but said the items had been addressed this week and Lieutenant Conte (police) and public safety staff were monitoring the area. One council member reiterated that the council has a duty to consider ramifications each time a development is approved and that staff must factor safety into approvals.

Next steps: councilors said they will follow up with the police and engineering departments, encouraged residents to send photos and video when incidents occur to help dispatch investigations, and said implementing physical changes is a matter of funding and project scheduling.