In 2024, Jersey City made incremental but uneven progress on its Vision Zero Action Plan (link), which outlines 77 strategic actions across five core themes. While only five actions have been marked as fully implemented, implementation is ongoing for 28 others. However, more than half of all actions (44 out of 77) remain incomplete or have not been initiated at all. This highlights both the scale of the city’s ambition and the urgency needed to accelerate delivery across departments and partner agencies. Persistent barriers — including COVID-19 delays, funding constraints, coordination challenges, and institutional inertia — appear to be stalling many initiatives. Still, the broad distribution of ongoing efforts across all five themes provides a foundation that can be built upon with stronger leadership and accountability.
Jersey City formally adopted its Vision Zero Task Plan in 2019, committing to the goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities and severe injuries by 2026. Acknowledging the ambition of this pledge, there were nine traffic-related deaths on city streets in 2024, underscoring the need to significantly intensify implementation efforts in the final half year of Mayor Fulop’s administration to reach the original “Vision Zero” goal.
In this post, we review the status of some of the most impactful Vision Zero objectives based on information from the 2024 report. And propose some recommendations to further advance the goal of zero deaths on Jersey City’s roads.
| Total Actions Across all Vision Zero Themes | 77 |
| Implemented | 5 |
| Implementation Ongoing | 28 |
| Incomplete | 22 |
| No Action | 22 |
Theme 1: Design Safer Streets
This theme has seen the most progress, with 13 out of 17 actions either underway or implemented. Key efforts include traffic calming strategies, infrastructure improvements at intersections, and stronger requirements for pedestrian access in construction zones.
Several important foundational actions, such as implementing a citywide 20 mph residential speed limit and conducting a comprehensive sidewalk gap analysis, have yet to begin. Overall, while the city is actively working on most street design initiatives, few have been fully implemented, and momentum must be sustained to deliver visible, on-the-ground changes.
| Action | Lead Partner | Status |
| 1.1 Incorporate the current Speed Hump program into a broader Traffic Calming Policy that includes raised intersections, traffic circles, diverters, forced-turn channelization, etc. | Divisions of Traffic & Transportation | Implemented |
| 1.5 Increase visibility of crossing pedestrians with painted curbs, flex posts, and bike corrals. | Division of Engineering | Implementation Ongoing |
| 1.6 Update Standard Engineering Details to strengthen requirements to maintain pedestrian and bicycle access through construction zones. | Divisions of Traffic & Transportation | Incomplete |
| 1.2 Develop a neighborhood slow zone program to allow neighborhoods to request treatments to slow motor vehicles to 15 to 20 mph using traffic calming features, signs, and markings. Explore the feasibility of implementing a 20 mph speed limit for all residential streets. | Divisions of Traffic & Transportation | No Action |
| 1.16 Conduct sidewalk network review to identify gaps and prioritize improvements. | Division of Engineering | No Action |
Theme 2: Promote a Culture of Safety
Despite being the largest category with 26 actions, this theme has struggled to gain traction. Only two actions are implemented, and eight remain in the planning or incomplete stages. Eight more have not been started at all. Notable stalled items include public education campaigns, curriculum development for schools, and employer engagement. Efforts to change travel behavior and traffic norms require consistent communication and sustained community outreach — areas that appear under-resourced at present. Renewed focus on cross-agency collaboration and public-facing efforts is needed to meaningfully shift the city’s safety culture.
| Action | Lead Partner | Status |
| 2.17 Work toward a partnership with transit, rideshare, taxi and other services to provide transportation alternatives near commercial corridors, for large events, and for people unfit to operate a vehicle. | Department of Administration | Implemented |
| 2.18 Establish one public location for regular Vision Zero updates, ongoing projects, and crash and safety data | Division of City Planning | Implemented |
| 2.14 Increase programming to promote bicycle use and awareness, including supporting an annual Open Streets event and encouraging other walking and cycling events. | Mayor’s Office | Implementation Ongoing |
| 2.2 Conduct a public education campaign to change norms about how people view traffic safety. | Mayor’s Office | No Action |
| 2.3 Launch a high-visibility enforcement campaign at new traffic calming devices and along the All Roads HIN targeting failure to yield to pedestrians, aggressive driving, speeding, and red light running on City, County and State roadways. | Police Department | Incomplete |
| 2.5 Incorporate transportation safety as a stated priority in the Jersey City Public Schools Strategic Plan with specific strategies aimed toward improving travel to and from schools. | Board of Education | No Action |
| 2.7 Develop a communications strategy to get the word out to residents about upcoming VZ events, campaigns, and potential safety issues and locations to focus on. | Mayor’s Office | No Action |
| 2.8 Explore establishing a Task Force subcommittee to oversee outreach and a Citizen Advisory Committee. | Mayor’s Office | No Action |
| 2.10 Create/use existing mandatory traffic safety curriculum for elementary schools to teach and encourage traffic safety behaviors. | Board of Education | No Action |
| 2.19 Add Vision Zero and traffic safety component to Ward health educators’ educational materials. | Department of Health and Human Services | Incomplete |
| 2.21 Provide traffic safety tips for older adults. | Department of Health and Human Services | No Action |
| 2.23 Continue enforcement efforts targeting distracted and impaired driving with a focus on the HIN. Explore education and warnings to target drowsy driving. | Police Department | Incomplete |
| 2.25 Work with major employers to take the Vision Zero pledge and disseminate Vision Zero information to employees. | Mayor’s Office | No Action |
| 2.26 Hold transportation safety hackathons to engage residents on potential safety improvements. | Safe Streets JC | No Action |
Theme 3: Embed Vision Zero in City Practices
Out of 17 actions, only one has been implemented, and more than 75% remain either incomplete or not started. Efforts to embed Vision Zero into day-to-day city operations—such as through training programs, updated procurement procedures, and safety-focused budgeting—have largely stalled or remain partially implemented. The city has made some progress on fleet safety upgrades and parking enforcement tools, but critical actions like expanding crossing guard programs and securing dedicated transportation safety funding remain unfulfilled.
| Action | Lead Partner | Status |
| 3.12 Deploy smaller vehicles for street sweeping and snow removal. Inventory the existing vehicle fleet and current staffing levels to assess the need going forward. Secure funding to procure smaller vehicles and provide the needed staffing. | Department of Public Works | Implemented |
| 3.3 Establish Rapid Response Team to implement quick-build safety countermeasures and direct enforcement and education resources at fatal crash locations. | Mayor’s Office | Implementation Ongoing |
| 3.2 Conduct training for City employees on Vision Zero and the High Injury Network: Frame traffic crashes as a preventable; public health issue rather than an unfortunate consequence of mobility; Emphasize speed as a major factor in road safety and risk; Expand current employee Defensive Driver training; Conduct trainings for all fleet vehicle operators. | Department of Administration | No Action |
| 3.5 Update vehicle procurement procedures to ensure that safety equipment is included on all new vehicles. | Department of Administration | Incomplete |
| 3.6 Secure a stable transportation funding source dedicated to safety. | Department of Administration | Incomplete |
| 3.16 Expand the City’s crossing guard program and increase training for crossing guards. | Police Department | No Action |
| 3.17 Procure equipment to support increased enforcement against parking violations, including license plate readers, ticketing tool, and e-permitting. | Parking Enforcement | Incomplete |
Theme 4: Enforcement, Law, and Policy
This theme has seen the least progress. None of the nine actions are complete, and more than half have not been started. A few actions—like expanding the police department’s Traffic Safety Unit, and increasing enforcement of parking restrictions at corners—are underway but not yet fully implemented. Crucial policies, such as regulating truck routes and enforcing Vision Zero practices in officer training, still lack formal plans or timelines. This lag in enforcement and policy reform limits the effectiveness of physical and cultural interventions in other themes.
| Action | Lead Partner | Status |
| 4.9 Increase enforcement of parking restrictions at corners and within 25 ft. of crosswalks at intersections on the pedestrian and bicycle HINs. Continue directed patrols on major corridors throughout the city to keep corners clear of parked cars and within 25 ft. of crosswalks. | Parking Enforcement | Implementation Ongoing |
| 4.1 Develop a state legislative agenda to allow the City greater flexibility in promoting roadway safety. | Law Department | No Action |
| 4.2 Evaluate City laws and ordinances to identify revisions to improve safety for all modes. | Law Department | No Action |
| 4.3 Develop a strategy for all Vision Zero enforcement campaigns in order to foster good will and address equity concerns that can arise from increased enforcement. Establish police enforcement data reporting policy to supplement campaigns. | Police Department | No Action |
| 4.5 Expand the Traffic Safety Unit within the Police Department and increase overall traffic enforcement staffing. | Police Department | Incomplete |
| 4.6 Develop a plan to ensure trucks use designated truck routes rather than local routes. | Police Department | No Action |
| 4.7 Promote increased awareness among JCPD officers and staff. Incorporate Vision Zero into Captain’s Meetings and explore ways to enhance bicycle education as part of officer recruitment and training. Work with BikeJC to increase awareness of bike safety issues among JCPD officers and staff. | Police Department | Incomplete |
Theme 5: Planning and Leveraging Data
With one action completed and most others underway or partially complete, this theme is progressing moderately well. Noteworthy efforts include updates to development regulations, the creation of a street design guide, and a pilot project to detect near-miss collisions. However, access to crash data from hospitals remains a gap, limiting the ability to accurately target high-risk intersections. Continued investments in data-sharing, analysis, and integration across agencies will be critical for the city to make evidence-based decisions that reduce traffic injuries and fatalities.
| Action | Lead Partner | Status |
| 5.4 Engage the State and County as Vision Zero partners by highlighting the high percentage of fatalities that occur on State and County roads. | Mayor’s Office | Implemented |
| 5.5 Collect before-after traffic data for every traffic calming installation. | Divisions of Traffic & Transportation | Implementation Ongoing |
| 5.1 Develop a street design guide that clarifies City policy related to travel lane widths, pedestrian infrastructure, bicycle facilities, traffic calming, and other relevant details: Include a countermeasure selection tool to guide Vision Zero engineering projects; Clarify the need for pedestrian crosswalks across all legs of intersections; Provide guidelines for selecting bicycle facilities based on vehicle speeds and volumes; Update standard engineering details accordingly. | Division of City Planning | Incomplete |
| 5.2 Update development regulations and design standards to reflect Vision Zero principles: Ensure street design standards reflect safety best practices for all road users; Require development projects on the HIN to make specific modifications to improve identified safety issues; Promote alternative transportation options for new developments through transit impact fees, carsharing, bikeshare, and other mobility options; Train planning staff on how to apply these principles to site plan review process; Evaluate safety needs for new school facilities. | Division of City Planning | Incomplete |
| 5.7 Conduct a pilot project to assess feasibility of advanced detection techniques to estimate the frequency and type of near-miss collisions within signalized intersections. | Divisions of Traffic & Transportation | Incomplete |
| 5.8 Provide HIPAA-compliant hospital data to inform the HIN and crash analysis. | Department of Health and Human Services | No Action |
Recommendations and Next Steps
In the wake of the tragic death of a 6-year-old Jersey City boy after he was hit by a UPS truck making a left turn, it is clear that more can and must be done to continue to improve safety for all, and fulfill the city’s original Vision Zero goal by 2026.
In the two years preceding the implementation of Vision Zero (2016-2018), there was an average of 3.67 road deaths per year. That number has since declined to roughly 2 road deaths per year (2022–2024) on city roads, reflecting meaningful progress—though significant work remains to achieve the ultimate goal of zero traffic fatalities, especially as traffic enforcement by the JCPD clearly lags. The wild COVID years show how important enforcement is to meeting the goals of Vision Zero and the importance of shifting trips from cars to transit.
Furthermore, even though Jersey City’s population has grown, so has the share of households who are living without a car, increasing from 38% to 43% of the population. Now more than ever, ensuring the safe coexistence of pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers must be treated as a core priority for the city.
Beyond urging for the continuation of the Vision Zero action items summarized above, Better Blocks NJ would particularly emphasize the following demands from Jersey City and the state government in Trenton:
- Fix 6th & Jersey and Prioritize Permanent Safety Upgrades
- Immediately address known danger zones like 6th & Jersey with hardened infrastructure including curb extensions, protected crossings, and raised crosswalks.
- Pre-approve funding for upgrades at intersections in the city’s High Injury Network.
- Lower the Default Speed Limit to 20 MPH Citywide
- Implement this change without delay to reduce crash severity and improve pedestrian survivability.
- Implement this change without delay to reduce crash severity and improve pedestrian survivability.
- Fully Enforce Traffic Laws With a Dedicated JCPD Unit
- Staff and fund a specialized traffic enforcement division with at least 4 full-time officers.
- Conduct citywide sting operations targeting speeding, phone use, fake/no plates, and failure to stop at signs/lights.
- Publicly announce enforcement campaigns to deter violations.
- Enforce penalties for repeat offenders; tow vehicles with over $300 in unpaid tickets.
- Deploy Automated Parking Enforcement Cameras
- Use smart camera technology to ticket vehicles blocking crosswalks, bike lanes, fire hydrants, and bus stops.
- Use smart camera technology to ticket vehicles blocking crosswalks, bike lanes, fire hydrants, and bus stops.
- Fix or Replace the WOTS App
- Provide a functional, transparent tool for residents to report and track unsafe conditions and hazards.
- Provide a functional, transparent tool for residents to report and track unsafe conditions and hazards.
- Fund and Implement the Bicycle Master Plan
- Build out a connected, protected bike network for residents of all ages and abilities.
- Allocate dedicated funding and staffing for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects.
- Adopt a Citywide Daylighting Ordinance
- Enforce 25 feet of clear curb space at every intersection crosswalk—free of parked cars, dumpsters, or visual barriers.
- Enforce 25 feet of clear curb space at every intersection crosswalk—free of parked cars, dumpsters, or visual barriers.
- Implement Safe Signalization at All Intersections
- Make Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs) standard citywide.
- Ban or calm left turns at select, high-risk intersections.
- Expand Public Transit and Oppose Turnpike Expansion
- Collaborate with NJ Transit and the Port Authority to improve transit service.
- Actively fight NJ Turnpike widening, which brings more traffic and pollution to local streets.
- Fully Staff the City Infrastructure Team
- Ensure the transportation department has the engineers and planners needed to deliver projects quickly, equitably, and at scale.
Please join us for a rally on June 23 to demand safe streets now in Jersey City.
