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The local group advocating for safer streets for all who use them will received its second state recognition this weekend.

In October the Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition was awarded a Champion Award during the State Department of Transportation’s Complete Streets Summit.

Now the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition will recognize the advocacy group as its Local Advocate of the Year winner during its Saturday summit at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor.

The annual summit brings bicycle and pedestrian advocates together with elected officials; transportation and urban planners; bike shops; cycling, walking, fitness and health experts; and recreation, trail and club leaders.

“We will be expressing our appreciation to our Mayor and Council for helping Asbury Park evolve into a statewide leader for safe, inclusive and accessible streets,” founding member Doug McQueen said.

The local group was among the early advocates of the state’s $19 million Main Street Road Diet, which will reduce the four lane highway between Allenhurst and Ocean Grove to two lanes buffered by bicycle lanes and parking, with a center two-way left turn lane.

“The road diet is a key piece of the City’s traffic calming and bicycle/pedestrian plans,” said the City’s Transportation Manager Michael Manzella [at right with group during the bike sharing launch]. “This configuration for Main Street is a pilot – it will be tested and measured over a 2-year period to make sure it works for the City.”

The project kicked off this week and is due to be completed in Spring 2020.

In its totality, NJDOT will be replacing 18 traffic signals with new pedestrian signals, poles and traffic signal cabinets. Other improvements include the replacement of electrical utility poles, curb upgrades for ADA compliance at every intersection, upgrades of underground utilities, drainage improvements, lighting improvements and possible sidewalk replacement, officials have said.

The Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition formed during the summer of 2015. Its steering committee is comprised of Paula ‘Polli’ Schildge, Pam Lamberton, McQueen, John Grant, Eric Galipo, Chris Lanni, Joe Grillo, Tracy Rogers, Rick Lambert, and Michael Kushner.

The advocacy group also hosts educational events; sets up information tables at local events, festivals, walks, and runs; administers a bicycle rodeo with the school district; and conducts community bicycle rides throughout the city.

“It’s going to be a great honor to receive this award,” Schildge said. “APCSC was invited to do a breakout panel about forming a Jersey Shore Complete Streets Coalition.” 

The goal of the Jersey Shore Complete Streets panel will be to think about improvements to our pedestrian, bike and transit networks beyond our municipal borders, said McQueen [shown bottom left with Schildge.

Other panels include: Legislation Affecting Bike Riders and Pedestrians, Getting to Vision Zero, Green Streets and Complete Streets, Equity in Transportation, Using the Complete Streets Guide Suite, Analyzing Bike Rider and Pedestrian Crash Data to Find Hotspots, Bike Parking and Mass Transit, Bikeshare Demo [weather permitting], and Safe Routes Academy.

Being held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition Summit’s keynote speaker will be Oboi Reed, an urbanist and advocate for equitable streets in minority and traditionally underserved neighborhoods, McQueen said.

“Mr. Reed’s talk about community equity should be very relevant to Asbury Park,” McQueen said.

For more information about the Summit, click here. For more about Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition, visit their website and Facebook page.

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