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

• 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 History

• Redevelopment of key economic sections of the Ironbound and

Downtown Newark during the past 2 decades. • Transportation Infrastructure:

• Rail Transit and Industrial Rail • Point of interconnectivity for North New Jersey’s major highways • Newark Liberty International Airport • Port Newark (Seaport)

• Major college node in the University Heights district (50,000+ students)

• Decline in crime rates and increase in redevelopment projects

downtown • Arts & Cultural Events: Prudential Center and NJPAC

Newark’s Renaissance

Newark’s Renaissance

The Newark of Today and Tomorrow…

University Heights

Broad Street Station

Ironbound

Lincoln Park/ Coast District

Harrison

NJIT

Rutgers

Newark Museum

ECC

Prudential

Prudential Center

Seton Hall Law Panasonic

Newark Penn Station Gateway Office Complex

NJPAC

Red Bull Arena

Newark Symphony Hall

UMDNJ

Riverfront Stadium

City Hall

Teachers Village

River Bend Redevelopment

Ferry Street District

Branch Brook Park/ Sacred Heart Cathedral

NJIT Gateway Project Science Park

Downtown County Courthouse

Transportation Hub-Transit Station Location

University Heights

Essex County Courthouse Prudential Headquarters

NJ Performing Arts Center

Four Corners

Teachers Village

Prudential Center

City Hall

Gateway Complex

Penn Station

Military Park

• 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.

Economic Corridor

Historic Four Corners: Broad & Market

• 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.

Blight and Congestion

• 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.

Lack of Access

The Problems with Market St

• Bike Facilities are being added downtown • Large Pedestrian Sidewalks are present but need more

activity

Pedestrian/ Bike

Washington St Bike Path Large Market St Sidewalks

• 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

Market Street

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

Elements of Redesign

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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

Essex County Courthouse Plaza

Washington Street

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Essex County Courthouse Plaza

Section 1

Essex County Courthouse Plaza could be…

• 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.

Section 1 Issues & Solutions

Section 1 Proposal

Section 1 Proposal

Section 2

• 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: • 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.

Section 2 Issues & Solutions

Section 2 Proposal

Section 2 Proposal

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

Beaver Street

Mulberry Street

Four Corners

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Section 3

• 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.

Section 3 Issues and Solutions

Section 3 Proposal

BUS STOP

BUS STOP

Section 3 Proposal

Section 4

• 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.

Section 4 Issues & Solutions

Section 4 Proposal

Section 4 Proposal

• 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 Street Pedestrian Zone

Beaver St

What Beaver Street could be….

Alleyway Beautification Project

www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SQLYZJElguY

• 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.

Beaver Street Issues & Solutions

Beaver Street Proposal

Section 5

• Nodes: McCarter Highway/ Gateway Complex

• Improvements: Pedestrian Refuge Islands, Curb Extensions, Bike Lanes, Bus Lanes, Better Crosswalks, Street Furniture, Urban Redevelopment

McCarter Highway

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Penn Station Area Redesign

• 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.

Section 5 Issues and Solutions

Section 5 Proposal

PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT

PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT

Section 5 Proposal

• 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

Market Street

Newark, New Jersey MARKET STREET

Thank You

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