Red Bank's Front Street Due for Upgrades

Navigating Front Street in Red Bank has always been a dicey proposition for both drivers and pedestrians. The roadway near Broad Street is congested and cars and pedestrians seem to pop out of every available opening. With walking and driving both a challenge, Monmouth County has introduced road plans it hopes will improve the situation for all parties.

At Red Bank’s council meeting Tuesday night, representatives from Monmouth County presented a roadwork plan that is designed to improve the section of Front Street from English Plaza to Riverview Medical Center.

County Engineer Kevin Nugent outlined the $600,000 plan and its numerous improvements, including a new light at Globe Court, a widening of sections of Front Street’s sidewalks, and a new solar-power blinking pedestrian-crossing sign on the road outside of the hospital.

The most significant improvement, however, would be made to the intersection at Front and Broad Streets. According to the county’s plans – Front Street is a county road, hence its involvement – a raised table will be installed at what is currently a dangerous intersection.

The raised table will, that’s right, raise the road. The road through the intersection will be the same height as the sidewalk. Think of it as an extended speed hump of sorts. Nugent said it’s designed to slow traffic down somewhat – not hamper it – about five miles an hour. It also gives drivers increased visibility of the intersection and those walking in it.

“What we wanted to do was not make it a vehicular route, primarily,” Nugent said. “We understand there are a lot of pedestrians and we want to make it as safe for them as possible.”

From January, 2005, to December, 2008, Nugent said there were 109 vehicle accidents and another 13 pedestrian accidents reported along the section of Front Street the county plans on improving. Many of those accidents took place in the intersection of Front and Broad.

Councilwoman Sharon Lee asked whether the raised road would pose a problem to ambulances coming and going, often in a rush. Nugent said the plan was developed after discussions with representatives with the hospital. Any delay would be little more than a second or two, he said.

“A lot of these improvements seemed aimed at increasing pedestrian safety, but that is a busy road,” Councilman Mike DuPont said.

Nugent said visibility is the key, as well as bringing the road and sidewalks into compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act regulations. The elevated roadway and bumped out sidewalk will help accommodate everyone.

Nugent said $500,000 of the improvements would be paid for with federal grant funding divvied out to municipalities by the New Jersey Department of Transportation through the Local Safety and High Risk Rural Road Program. The remaining costs have not yet been accounted for.

The plan will be submitted to the DOT in May. Nugent said the idea is to avoid the busiest parts of the summer season by starting work at the end of the season or early in fall. It is unclear how long work would take, but Mayor Pasquale Menna did say that Front Street businesses have been in support of a project that would help improve their streetscape.

Council President Arthur Murphy also gave his approval.

“It’s been a long time in the works and I’m glad to see it come to the table, finally,” he said.