Brick council adopts Complete Streets policy and Vision 0 safety initiative to pursue grants

The Brick Township Council voted unanimously July 20 to adopt a Complete Streets policy and the Vision 0 initiative, measures the mayor and council members said will guide road planning and improve safety while unlocking eligibility for state and federal grant programs. The resolutions passed by roll call after council members described the policies and answered public questions.

Councilwoman Travers, who led the floor discussion in favor of the measures, said the change is rooted in data and safety. "Supporting Vision 0 is a simple choice because the goal is simply reducing serious injuries and fatalities on our roadways," she said. "It opens the door to grant opportunities that can help our town begin making meaningful safety improvements." Her remarks emphasized that Vision 0 targets high-risk areas using engineering data and that Complete Streets is a planning approach that considers pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders and motorists.

Mayor Lisa Creighton said passage does not require immediate construction or one-size-fits-all changes. "A yes vote does not approve a specific construction project or require immediate changes to any roadway," she said, adding the policies provide a framework for future decisions and for applying for competitive grants. Councilwoman Reyna, who also supported the measures, reiterated that the policies do not compel bike lanes on every street. "My yes is not for bike lanes on every road in Brick or surveillance on any cookie-cutter plans for our community," Reyna said; her comments framed the vote as a way to pursue targeted grants and safety improvements.

Council members and the mayor said the policies position Brick to collaborate with county and state transportation partners and to apply for funding that requires a Complete Streets policy as a prerequisite. The council recorded unanimous yes votes in favor of both resolutions.

The council did not approve any construction projects or specific grant applications as part of the vote; next steps will include staff-led planning to identify candidate projects, possible traffic audits, and grant applications. The administration said any individual project would come before the council separately for funding or design approvals.