A new guide to better help navigate the streets of Hoboken is in the works. The City of Hoboken announced it launched the first phase of the “Curb Reimagined” project this spring per a recent press release. The resource will provide residents and visitors with information about parking, outdoor dining spaces, and active construction zones while also helping the city understand parking challenges and opportunities. Read on for more about the digital map for curbside spaces in Hoboken and when it will be accessible to the public.
The Curb Reimagined Project
Even though the curb is an often overlooked part of the roadway, any observer in Hoboken can see that it is a dynamic way to see how the streets are used. Whether you’re walking or driving throughout Hoboken, there are a handful of different uses of the curbside space. Food trucks set up shop along several curb spaces in Hoboken. Trucks use the curb to load and unload deliveries every day. Buses need space to stop and pick up commuters along the curb. Of course, parking a car along the curb can be a struggle to find enough space. The project aims to take feedback and data from the public to help better manage curbside space, according to the website.
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The City is working with Kimley-Horn, a team of engineering, planning, and design consultants, and Populus, a technology company that studies mobility, to develop this digital inventory. Populus delivers data in over 100 cities to help manage the future of mobility.
The Timeline
As of June 2024, the City is collecting feedback from the public and learning how they can improve curbside space throughout Hoboken, according to the timeline posted on its website. The next stage happens later on in the summer. The team plans to compile all the data collected and develop recommendations to improve curbside space. They plan to have another community engagement stage in the fall. They will preview draft recommendations and give the public a chance to weigh in again. Following the community’s feedback, they’ll publish a draft of the plan so the public can review it and share final thoughts. The goal is to present a final plan to the Hoboken City Council by the end of 2024.
Once completed, the map will be made available to the public. Residents will be able to access it online so they can see curbside regulations such as limited parking for construction, street cleaning, and more.
The next workshop is being held in person on Thursday, July 11th, at the Hoboken Multi-Service Center at 124 Grand Street. Residents can stop by at any time from 6:30PM – 8:30PM to learn about the project and share your feedback.
A Closer Look
This project to collect data on curb space in Hoboken is another way the City is working towards its Vision Zero goals. The Vision Zero project aims to eliminate all traffic-related injuries and deaths by 2030. While this “Curb Reimagined” project is working towards providing a detailed map of curb space, it’s also going to help the city make the roads safer for both drivers and pedestrians.
Marilyn Baer from the city of Hoboken tells The Hoboken Girl one way this map will help improve safety is “by informing the city’s transportation and parking department to consider installing targeted curbside adaptations or updating existing regulations to help address habitual illegal parking in certain areas of the City, such as in bike lanes or at crosswalks.” With this digital map, the city will view data and see if they need to change loading zone hours or develop additional loading zones to curb double parking.
Marilyn says the issue of double parking across the Hoboken “encroaches on critical view corridors for pedestrians and drivers making it harder for them to see one another and increasing the likelihood of a crash.”
The City says the project aligns with the Vision Zero goals of zero traffic-related deaths or injuries by 2030. “I look forward to working together to balance the growing demand for curbside space in Hoboken with our commitment to Vision Zero,” said Hoboken Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla in a press release.
Clayton Lane from Bike Hoboken is hopeful the project will help the city become more sustainable and provide more parking options for residents.
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“Our curbs also should support climate-friendly mobility options,” Clayton tells The Hoboken Girl. “Transportation accounts for 40% of New Jersey’s greenhouse gas emissions, making our curbs the front lines for fighting climate change.”
As for what the Bike Hoboken group hopes to get out of the study, Clayton shared three points. First, is reducing the demand for parking space, so those who need a parking space can easily find one. Second, he says wants the project to uncover efficient ways to use curb space, “like bike sharing, car sharing, bus waiting areas, pick-up/drop-off zones, EV charging, and outdoor dining.” Finally, Clayton hopes the project will recommend where a network of safe bike lanes will work best in Hoboken and keep those lanes clear of double parking. “Our streets should feel safe for children to ride a bike,” says Clayton.
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To share feedback about curb space outside your front door, your favorite coffee shop, or your office, visit the Curb Reimagined website to fill out the survey. The Hoboken Girl will continue to follow this project throughout each stage and share updates as they become available. Follow @thehobokengirl on Instagram + TikTok for the latest updates, and sign up for our newsletter that shares all of our top stories to your inbox here.
