Route 139 Upper is a state highway that divides two densely-populated pedestrian-centered neighborhoods in Jersey City: Journal Square and The Heights. Despite community outrage, the NJDOT completed a redesign of 139 Upper in 2019 that removed numerous pedestrian safety features, increased speeds with widened lanes, and added high-risk channelized turns on a roadway that is used every day by thousands of Jersey City residents and commuters. NJDOT ignored the dense residential context of the area and left residents and commuters with a dangerous highway where reckless speeding and pedestrian collisions are a common occurrence.

In 2009, NJDOT adopted a Complete Streets policy that “requires that future roadway improvement projects include safe accommodations for all users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, transit riders and the mobility-impaired.” In 2017, NJDOT published a Complete Streets Design Guide to assist with this goal. The current design of Route 139 Upper contradicts nearly every recommendation in the design guide and is a blatant violation of the policy.

For years, Jersey City residents and officials have decried the unsafe pedestrian landscape in 139 Upper, the noise and air pollution, and the connectivity barrier that reduces economic opportunities in the area. Two years ago, an Ecuadorian grandmother was killed by a reckless driver on this road, many more crashes have occurred, and on Nov. 21 2023, we had another pedestrian with the right of way hit while crossing at the same intersection.

In 2021, a Jersey City resident created Fix139.com to educate and rally neighbors the state into action. NJDOT officially determined that no improvements are necessary. Yet, everyone who travels and lives here is impacted by these externalities NJDOT perpetuates on an overburdened community.

Route 139U contributes to racial and economic inequity in our state. The surrounding communities are predominantly Hispanic, come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and are not being heard by our state government.

With the help of the RAISE and RCP federal grants, cities are pushing forward efforts to cap or remove highways that have long divided communities and created social and economic devastation for disadvantaged communities. These grants were designed to fix or eliminate facilities that hurt community connectivity and burden communities with noise and air pollution. Route 139U matches every eligibility criteria defined by the federal government.

The NJDOT and state elected officials must cease perpetuating these inequities and address the community’s need for safe, green, multi-modal roadway instead of a highway. Sign this petition to demand action now!

UPDATE 02/12/24

After achieving over 1000 signatures in our campaign to #Fix139, NJDOT leadership has acknowledged the need for short and long term improvements. NJDOT met with Director of Transporation Manzella and will be implementing short term pedestrian safety improvements, including better pedestrian crossing timers, crosswalk restripping, new signs for no turn on red, and new signs for stop for pedestrians. We thank NJDOT for their initial response.

We still need your help to push NJDOT to commit to a long term plan with public input.