In 2023, Jersey City applied for and was awarded a $670,000 New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Bikeway grant to implement a protected bike lane on Manhattan Avenue and Franklin Street. This route was identified as a critical east-west corridor that crosses the high-injury network. It connects two major parks and PS 8, and it is the only east-west route in the Heights identified for a protected bike lane by the Jersey City Bike Master Plan. It provides a route to the future Hudson-Essex Greenway to the west and Hoboken to the east. In short, this project:

• Provides safety and critical traffic-calming infrastructure in a high-injury area, and makes all intersections on the corridor safer.

• Connects the Heights from east to west, and increases the chance for a future connection to Hoboken and the Hudson-Essex Greenway.

• Aligns with Jersey City’s Vision Zero Action Plan to achieve zero road deaths and serious injuries by 2026.

• Aligns with Jersey City’s Complete Streets resolution to ensure public roadways are accessible to all road users of all abilities on all modes.

• Reflects the goals of Jersey City’s Bike Master Plan, which was created in 2019 after extensive community input, with a goal to quadruple cycling by 2025.

• Received overwhelming public support from people who bike or scoot (93% of survey respondents), plus more than 300 petition signatures.

• Implements a proven safety countermeasure recommended by the Federal Highway Administration; protected bike lanes are proven to make streets safer for everyone, including pedestrians and drivers.

• Addresses the 11 motor vehicle crashes that have occurred on the corridor in the past 5 years, 7 of which involved pedestrians and cyclists, including most recently a crash in which a driver struck a pedestrian on Franklin and Hancock on September 16; all of which were entirely preventable.

• Addresses the safety needs of Ward D and Ward C residents, following a survey conducted by Councilman Saleh’s office showing that 70% of respondents want to see protected bicycle infrastructure in the Heights.

• Increased daily bicyclists counts by 8%, which then decreased 8% after it was removed.

• Aligns with New Jersey’s goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Opponents of the project mainly drive (“80% of respondents who drive do not support the project being implemented,” according to the project survey), indicating that concerns about the safety of vulnerable road users was not their main priority. The survey also indicated that overall, respondents felt safer and traffic felt calmer. Learn more at: Manhattan Avenue & Franklin Street bike lane demonstration project

Following the demonstration project, per Jersey City ordinance, the city now requires Council action to move forward before the NJDOT Bikeway grant expires in December 2024.