Newark, New Jersey
MARKET STREET
Michael Lawson, Brad Stuart, and Daniel Dominguez
New Jersey Bike-Walk Coalition Conference Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey February 2013
Newark History
• Founded in 1666, 3rd oldest major city in USA • Newark was an industrial power during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. • “White Flight” resulted in significant poverty and racial tension. • Race Riots in 1967 destroyed Springfield Avenue Business District. • Population of 442,337 at the 1930 census • Population of 277,140 at the 2010 census • Newark is finally growing again after 2010 census
Newark’s Renaissance
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Redevelopment of key economic sections of the Ironbound and Downtown Newark during the past 2 decades.
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Transportation Infrastructure: • • • •
Rail Transit and Industrial Rail Point of interconnectivity for North New Jersey’s major highways Newark Liberty International Airport Port Newark (Seaport)
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Major college node in the University Heights district (50,000+ students)
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Decline in crime rates and increase in redevelopment projects downtown
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Arts & Cultural Events: Prudential Center and NJPAC
Newark’s Renaissance
The Newark of Today and Tomorrow…
Branch Brook Park/ Sacred Heart Cathedral
Broad Street Station NJIT Gateway Project
Science Park
NJIT
University Heights
UMDNJ
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Riverfront Stadium
Newark Museum Rutgers
NJPAC
Harrison River Bend Redevelopment
ECC County Courthouse
Prudential
Seton Hall Law Panasonic Downtown Newark Penn Station Teachers Village Gateway Office Complex Prudential Center City Hall
Ferry Street District
Ironbound Newark Symphony Hall
Lincoln Park/ Coast District
Transportation Hub-Transit Station Location
Red Bull Arena
NJ Performing Arts Center Military Park
University Heights
Essex County Courthouse
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Prudential Headquarters
Four Corners
Gateway Complex Penn Station
Teachers Village Prudential Center
City Hall
Economic Corridor • Market St was once the main economic corridor in Newark. • It was once home to Macy’s, Bamberger’s and many more high end department store/retail establishments. • It continues to be a site of economic activity, but with a much decreased level of activity.
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Historic Four Corners: Broad & Market
Blight and Congestion • The Market St corridor suffers from a combination of blight and congestion. • Once a place of commerce and multi-modal transport, Market St is now a corridor of dangerous intersections and erratic traffic behavior.
Lack of Access
• The Market St corridor lacks accommodations for multiple modes of traffic. • Major Newark bus node, but buses cannot travel effectively due to erratic traffic flow.
• Despite nearby Washington St getting its own Bike Path, Market St has nothing of the sort. • The corridor features large sidewalks, but they are empty, gray, and lack aesthetic appeal.
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The Problems with Market St
Pedestrian/ Bike
• Bike Facilities are being added downtown • Large Pedestrian Sidewalks are present but need more activity
Washington St Bike Path
Large Market St Sidewalks
Market Street
• Project area is along Market Street from the Essex County Courthouse to Newark Pennsylvania Station (Springfield Avenue to Aling Street) • Corridor includes many congested nodes and intersections. • The redesign emphasizes these nodes and makes the corridor multi-modal and safer for pedestrians and cyclists
Elements of Redesign
The focus of the redesign will be to transform the Market St corridor into a place that can properly accommodate multi-modal transportation. This will be done through: • • • • • • •
Buffered bike lanes and bike parking Separated bus lanes Road diet for traffic calming Green Space and Aesthetic Enhancements Curb extensions Pedestrian refuge islands Redesigned Bus Stops for better accessibility
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Essex County Courthouse Plaza
1 2 Washington Street
Sections 1 & 2 • Nodes:
Essex County Courthouse Plaza/ Roundabout Washington Street Plaza/ Green Spaces
• Improvements:
Roundabout, Curb Extensions, Green Space, Bike Lanes, Bus Lanes, Better Crosswalks, Street Furniture
Section 1
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Essex County Courthouse Plaza
Essex County Courthouse Plaza could be…
Section 1 Issues & Solutions
• Problems: • •
There are three concrete traffic islands to guide traffic awkwardly through the intersection. The crosswalks are well marked and painted, but it is a zigzag pattern and is a disservice to all pedestrians, especially the disabled.
• Solutions: • • •
Elimination of all traffic islands and crosswalks. Replace entire intersection with a signalized roundabout to accommodate pedestrian crossing. Creation of a pedestrian area in the center of the roundabout with greenery, areas to sit down, and a small center fountain or piece of art.
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Section 1 Proposal
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Section 1 Proposal
Section 2
Section 2 Issues & Solutions • Problems: •
The intersection has too many turning lanes to attempt to accommodate car, but it creates such an awkward set up that it is a poor-quality intersection for all modes of transportation.
• Solutions: •
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Elimination of the Washington St left turn lanes on the lower portion of the image. Reclaim that space from the street and turn it into urban green-space with seating. Permit cars to still turn left, but from the remaining left-most lane on Washington St. Realign crosswalks in a more symmetrical manner to better accommodate pedestrians. Add pedestrian islands in the center of the crosswalks. Create bike lane along the few blocks of Washington St that currently lack a bike lane. Connect new bike lane with new Market St bike lane, as well as the existing Washington St bike lane.
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Section 2 Proposal
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Section 2 Proposal
Four Corners
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Beaver Street
4 Mulberry Street
Sections 3 & 4 • Nodes:
Four Corners Historic District Mulberry Street/ Championship Plaza Beaver Street Pedestrian Zone
• Improvements:
Pedestrian Refuge Islands, Curb Extensions, Urban park, Bike Lanes, Bus Lanes, Better Crosswalks, Street Furniture
Section 3
Section 3 Issues and Solutions
• Problems: • • •
There are 3 lanes moving in each direction. The lane closest to the curb accommodates parking, moving cars, and bus stops. Traffic Flow is so erratic that it is unsafe to bicycle on this stretch of road.
• Solutions: • • • • •
There is a lot of off street parking in the vicinity, eliminate on street parking. Lane diet. Reduce standard traffic lanes to 10 feet wide. Use additional room to accommodate a 5 foot bike lane going in each direction. With a 3 foot buffer. Create a dedicated bus lane for these two blocks that have a high concentration of bus stops. Pedestrian islands on the crosswalks of the Broad St and Market St intersection that do not have them yet.
BUS STOP
BUS STOP
Section 3 Proposal
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Section 3 Proposal
Section 4
Section 4 Issues & Solutions • Problems: • • •
There are 3 lanes moving in each direction. The lane closest to the curb accommodates parking, moving cars, and bus stops. Severe Urban Blight and underutilization of properties.
• Solutions: • • • • • • •
Eliminate on street parking. Lane diet. Reduce standard traffic lanes to 10 feet wide. Create a dedicated bus lane. Pedestrian islands on the crosswalks of the Broad St and Market St intersection that do not have them yet. Center median with trees and/or shrubs, trees & shrubs on the sidewalks. Redevelopment of parking lot across from “Championship Plaza” into public urban green space with sitting areas- pocket park. Cut-ins for bus stop just east of Mulberry St intersection.
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Section 4 Proposal
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Section 4 Proposal
Beaver Street Pedestrian Zone
• This section is Beaver St. It is a street that bisects Market St on the block located between Broad St and Mulberry St. • Simple, but highly underutilized section that requires a creative solution. Mild level of Urban Blight. Occasionally could be used as pedestrian only area.
Beaver St
What Beaver Street could be….
Alleyway Beautification Project
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www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded &v=SQLYZJElguY
Beaver Street Issues & Solutions
• Problems: • •
Mildly Blighted. Highly Underutilized.
• Solutions: • • • •
Permanently eliminate automobile traffic through Beaver St. Turn into a pedestrian street. Encourage development of cafés with outside seating on Beaver St. Possible section for street-side art gallery or farmer’s market Leave exposed brick street for aesthetics.
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Beaver Street Proposal
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McCarter Highway
Section 5 • Nodes:
McCarter Highway/ Gateway Complex
• Improvements:
Pedestrian Refuge Islands, Curb Extensions, Bike Lanes, Bus Lanes, Better Crosswalks, Street Furniture, Urban Redevelopment
Penn Station Area Redesign
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Section 5 Issues and Solutions
• Problems: • • •
No Multi-Modal connectivity. Gray and bland. Unwelcoming Very long crosswalks at Route 21 intersection.
• Solutions: • • •
Extend bike lanes all the way east to Penn Plaza. Addition of trees and shrubs along sidewalk to add greenery to the built environment. Install pedestrian islands at each of the crosswalks at the intersection of Market St and Route 21.
PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT
Section 5 Proposal
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Section 5 Proposal
Market Street • • • • •
Safety and Economic Revitalization Accommodating Alternative Modes of Travel Bus and Mass Transit Connectivity Connection of Nodes and Downtown Amenities Better intersection Design for Pedestrian Safety
Newark’s Next Urban
Thank You
Newark, New Jersey
MARKET STREET
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