REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK

Make streets more pedestrian-friendly

Thursday, April 06, 2006

H udson County has the densest population in the state, traffic-jammed streets, and some of the worst roads in the Garden State. Few should be surprised that a Tri-State Transportation Campaign report released on Tuesday show - by percentage of total traffic deaths -that Hudson is the state's worst county for pedestrians.

People on foot make up a state-high 37.9 percent of those killed in traffic incidents. The report also found there were 33 traffic-related fatalities in Hudson County last year, up from 19 in 2004.

The numbers used in this report were issued by the State Police. Unfortunately, they were only preliminary. They were used by the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, a group created "as a response to mounting economic and environmental costs of automobile and truck dependence, including the destruction of open space by highway-driven sprawl development."

Pointing out fatalities helps the organization's agenda. It is correct that when it comes to pedestrian deaths, one is too many. In fact, a Jersey Journal review found six pedestrians killed in Jersey City last year, twice the number reported by the State Police - and the advocacy group.

Pedestrian safety should be a priority for local police departments. Besides cracking down on speeding and erratic drivers, there should be little tolerance for double parking and those who park at crossing lanes and other areas that block both pedestrians' and motorists' views. Hit-and-run drivers should face more serious penalties. More common sense should be displayed by pedestrians. Some deaths were contributed to by people climbing over highway dividers or jaywalking.

Do not look for vehicle traffic in this county to decrease. If anything, expect more. While Jersey City is second only to Newark when it comes to mass transit, the service is deteriorating. Bus routes are disappearing and those that exist use fewer buses.

In Jersey City, one area that has improved pedestrian safety is at the bend on Kennedy Boulevard at Journal Square. New traffic lights have electronic crossing signs that numerically count down the seconds remaining before a light change. This should be the way to go at all heavily used intersections.

There should also be a countywide debate on how to make mass transit do a better job at improving our lives.