City of Hoboken & Hudson County to present preferred design for Willow Avenue Vision Zero safety improvements

The City of Hoboken and Hudson County today invited community members to a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, June 16, at 6 p.m. to learn more about the preferred design for the Willow Avenue Vision Zero Safety Improvements Project.

The collaborative design effort highlights safety improvements for all modes of transportation along Willow Avenue from 11th Street to 16th Street. Both Hoboken's and Hudson County's Vision Zero plans note that the corridor experiences higher-than-average crashes and injury rates compared to the rest of the City and County roadway network.

The presentation will feature remarks from Hoboken Mayor Emily B. Jabbour, Hudson County Executive Craig Guy, and the project team. To register for this virtual meeting, please visit HobokenWillowAve.com. The presentation will also be available to view on the project website in the days following the meeting.

The preferred design will reduce pedestrians' exposure to vehicles by 20 percent through new safety improvements like added curb extensions and signal timing changes. The design also includes a protected two-way bike lane on the eastern side of Willow Avenue, which will connect to the Green Circuit currently under construction along 15th Street. Other features include back-in angle parking and new bus stops.

Additional safety improvements proposed in the plan include the following:

• Increased and updated lighting can reduce nighttime pedestrian injury crashes at intersections by up to 42 percent. 
• High-visibility crosswalks can reduce pedestrian injury crashes by up to 40 percent.
• Medians and marked crosswalks can reduce pedestrian crashes by 46 percent.
• Pedestrian refuge islands can reduce pedestrian crashes by 56 percent.
• Advanced yield or stop markings and signage can reduce pedestrian crashes by up to 25 percent. 
• Adding bicycle lanes can reduce crashes up to 49 percent on city streets.
• Protected bike lanes can increase bike ridership by at least 21 percent protected bicycle lanes can reduce crashes for all roadway users.

Collectively, these improvements are designed to increase safety for all road users that travel along Willow Avenue, as based on national best practices.

"Making our streets safer is about protecting the people who use them every day, whether they are walking, biking, taking the bus, driving, heading to school, or heading to senior housing," said Mayor Jabbour. "The proposed improvements to Willow Avenue are built on the feedback our community has provided, and they will create a safer, more comfortable experience for everyone. I encourage you to join us to learn more about the preferred design, and I appreciate your input."

"We look forward to this virtual meeting regarding safety improvements for Willow Avenue," said County Executive Guy. "Local input always plays a vital role in the development of improved safety plans. These infrastructure enhancements are a crucial element to Hudson County's Vision Zero Action Plan, as we continue to ensure our roadways are safe for pedestrians, bikers, and motorists."

The proposed safety improvements are aligned with the City's Vision Zero initiative to eliminate all traffic deaths and injuries by 2030 and Hudson County's goal to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries on County roads by 2034, as well as Hoboken's Street Design Guide.

The preferred design was developed through a robust public engagement process that included input from stakeholders, school officials, and the public, and included an in-person design session in May 2025, a virtual public information meeting in June 2025, and multiple meetings with the Wallace Elementary School community, City and County representatives, and residents of Fox Hill Gardens.

This project is funded through a grant administered through the New Jersey Department of Transportation that covers design costs and $1.4 million in construction costs.

To learn more about this project and register to attend the meeting, visit https://www.hobokenwillowave.com.