Conditions are dangerous for people outside of cars.
Driving is prioritized, and we have more development coming, so we’ll have more traffic, and the problem will continue.
The city needs to reduce car dependency, offering more accessibility and mobility options (like 24/7 jitney service), and making walking and biking safer.
TOGETHER, WE CAN BUILD A SAFER FUTURE ON NEW JERSEY’S ROADS
In January, 2025 Governor Murphy signed the bill to create the NJ Target Zero Action Plan to end traffic deaths by 2040. The NJ Target Zero Working Group (the task force) was immediately established.
As Director of Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition I am a part of that committee, which has been meeting and working diligently for 6 months.
Testifying at the NJ Senate Transportation meeting for the Target Zero Commission meeting.
to end traffic deaths by 2040.But after 6 months, the city of Asbury Park has yet to establish the task force. We have to get going NOW.
We need your help Asbury Park!
We all deserve the right to equitable mobility, which can be achieved by implementing policies, and building infrastructure to enhance the health of our communities, and most importantly, to save lives.
2040 is only 15 years away…
We know from experience in our city that it can take many years to see implementation of basic, simple, painted traffic calming measures, so we have to get going NOW to achieve the 2040 goal.
Urge AP city leadership to set up the Asbury Park Vision Zero Task Force NOW so we can get to work to achieve the goal of zero traffic deaths in AP by 2040 and to support the NJ goal:
Your input will help make Asbury Park, and NJ roads safer.
Mayor: john.moor@cityofasburypark.com
Deputy Mayor: amy.quinn@cityofasburypark.com
Council member: eileen.chapman@cityofasburypark.com
Council member: yvonne.clayton@cityofasburypark.com
Council member: angela.ahbez@cityofasburypark.com
City Manager: John.Hayes@cityofasburypark.com
Assistant City Manager: cassandra.dickerson@cityofasburypark.com
Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition is part of The Task Force: NJ Target Zero Commission Working Group.
We invite you to share actionable items that support the Target Zero Commission Goal and the Safe System Approach, for consideration in the development of the NJ Target Zero Commission Action Plan, focused on ending traffic fatalities in NJ.
This form is designed to gather your ideas on policies and strategies that will drive statewide improvements, with a focus on broad solutions rather than specific geographic locations.
Please feel free to share this form with colleagues and other interested parties. This form may be used multiple times; please include only one idea for each submission.
Target Zero Commission Goal:
Eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roadways in the State by 2040.
You may submit constructive ideas using the Safe System Approach Focus Areas:
Safer People – Encourage safe, responsible driving and behavior by people who use our roads and create conditions that prioritize their ability to reach their destination unharmed.
Safer Roads – Design roadway environments to mitigate human mistakes and account for injury tolerances, to encourage safer behaviors, and to facilitate safe travel by the most vulnerable users.
Safer Vehicles – Expand the availability of vehicle systems and features that help to prevent crashes and minimize the impact of crashes on both occupants and non-occupants.
Safer Speeds – Promote safer speeds in all roadway environments through a combination of thoughtful, equitable, context-appropriate roadway design, appropriate speed-limit setting, targeted education, outreach campaigns, and enforcement.
Post-Crash Care – Enhance the survivability of crashes through expedient access to emergency medical care, while creating a safe working environment for vital first responders and preventing secondary crashes through robust traffic incident management practices.
“Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition applauds the signing of this bold legislation, which will bring about implementation of road safety measures to prevent crashes, injuries, and save the lives of vulnerable road users: anyone outside of a car, and ensure safety for drivers themselves,” said Polli Schildge, Founding Member and Director, Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition. “Crashes, injuries, and fatalities are a human health crisis, affecting everyone, and disproportionately communities like those in Asbury Park, where many residents of all ages must walk and roll for daily transportation. The signing of the New Jersey Target Zero Bill signals a commitment to provide safe, equitable access for everyone on streets and roads in New Jersey.”
You might have learned about the pending demolition of the historic Holy Spirit Church in Asbury Park.
I hope you are on the mailing list, and got the email about this important issue. If not, please email apcompletestreets@gmail.com to be included on our mailing list.
Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition supports maintaining the character of neighborhoods, public spaces, a vibrant connected city, and affordable housing.
The reconfiguration of the interior of the Holy Spirit Church building for community use, and residential units (plus affordable units), would be a springboard to the AP Transit Village designation which was awarded in 2017.
This iconic structure is part of Asbury Park’s character (like many other buildings that have been destroyed, or are at risk of demolition). We have already lost so many structures. The city must adopt an ordinance to preserve historic structures so that the integrity of neighborhoods is maintained now and for the future.
It is not acceptable to destroy this historic building in favor of six market rate houses, and parking, although the developer will do so if he is allowed by this council.
Original plans were modified to address parking concerns and further adjustments can be discussed, but parking should not be the reason to kill an opportunity for a unique arts & cultural space and destroy a historic landmark in the process. *Please note – There are solutions to the parking issue, which we will be happy to discuss furtrher if you’d like to email apcompletestreets@gmail.com
Affordable units in the preservation plan are more important – and necessary – than six market-rate houses (i.e. single-family mansions).
Ongoing concern regarding the city offering PILOTs may also be addressed.
If you believe that Holy Spirit Church should be preserved, please email apcompletestreets@gmail.com, and include the three elected city leaders who voted against the preservation plan. Voice your support for preservation of Holy Spirit Church:
for their votes in favor of preserving the church.
Read on…
Holy Spirit Church
There is no point blaming anyone – the pastor, the diocese, the judge, the city council, the developer.
We only hope that it’s possible for the city to go back to the drawing board with the developer.
Re PILOTs: There is no longer a need to attract developers with this kind of incentive. We need leaders with business and negotiating acumen.
Re. taxes and school funding: The church paid zero taxes. The preservation proposal will pay more in absolute dollars than the six huge market rate houses will: The marginal amount of school funding lost on an abatement with this preservation plan wouldn’t even make a significant dent in the school budget shortfall. The city could make a budget allocation to the schools that reflects the difference of the abated school funding.
Re. Parking: The City has never addressed parking in this neighborhood, and tends to address parking everywhere in a piecemeal manner. Diagonal spots on one side of the numbered streets would add spots.
A parking solution
There is discussion of a parking garage, hopefully with retail and residential as part of the project, as part of the Transit Village, built away from the biz district, with 24/7 shuttle (year round), bike share, better infrastructure for walking and biking AP can be the perfect model as a truly walkable, rollable city.
Dense, walkable development – meaning infrastructure, transit options, housing, and community amenities (like some proposed for the church), allows people the opportunity, and encourages the desire not to drive.
This image showing the proposal for the 6 houses is the opposite of what a city would want in a vibrant neighborhood – gentrification. We believe that we can work together to find a solution in the best interest of the city now and in the future.
Proposed houses for the Holy Spirit site
Asbury Park needs an Historic Preservation Ordinance NOW.
There would be no going back if this huge, iconic structure is demolished in favor of these types of houses, and would potentially lead the way for more demolition throughout the city.
Forever changing the character of a neighborhood would be tragic.
It makes no sense to look backward, to be angry, or to blame.
The question is what cam be done now?
Please email apcompletestreets@gmail.com and our city leaders.
Keynote speakers include: ✅Fran K. O’Connor, NJ Department of Transportation
✅Charles L. Marohn Jr., founder and president of Strong Towns, and named one of the 10 Most Influential Urbanists of all time.
Hope to see you there!
Notification: Your invitation
The public is invited to the first meeting of NJ’s first-in-the-nation Target Zero Commission is tomorrow morning at 10am
If you can’t make it in person, you can also leave a written comment by March 21st.
See details:
What: Target Zero Commission First Meeting When: Thursday, March 6th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Where: NJ Transit Headquarters, Two Gateway, 283-299 Market Street, Newark, NJ 07102 *Note* Meeting attendees are required to obtain a guest pass from the 2 Gateway Security Desk, go through police security screenings, and then sign in for the meeting with staff at the reception table outside the Board Room. Please allow extra time. Agenda:
Introduction of Commission Members
Safe System Approach Presentation
Public Comment
Next Steps
A member of the Governor’s Office will also be in the audience on Thursday; if you wish to attend and/or send a comment, please help us by completing this form so that we may know to expect you.The purpose of the public comment period is for the Commission to receive valuable information from the public on agenda matters, not answer questions.
Speakers must register to speak outside the Board Room when they arrive for the meeting.
Each individual speaker will have three (3) minutes to provide comments.
If representing an organization, one speaker will have five (5) minutes to provide comments for the organization.
Each speaker should tell the Commission their name, and if applicable, the organization they represent, before providing their comments.
Please note that written comments are also encouraged and will be accepted by the Commission. The Commission will give equal consideration to written comments as it does to those comments provided at the meeting.
We’re very happy to report that Asbury Park City Council has adopted the Asbury Park Vision Zero Policy!
Asbury Park joined with other cities in the state making a commitment to end traffic violence resulting in serious injuries and deaths by 2040.
APCSC has advocated for 4 years for a Vision Zero Policy. At last week’s City Council meeting, on February 12, 2025, the City Council adopted the Vision Zero Resolution, following the Governor’s signing of the NJ Target Zero Bill.
Watch the City Council Meeting on APTV: APCSC thanking AP City Council at the 1:00 mark:
“Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition applauds the signing of this bold legislation, which will bring about implementation of road safety measures to prevent crashes, injuries, and save the lives of vulnerable road users: anyone outside of a car, and ensure safety for drivers themselves,” said Polli Schildge, Founding Member and Director, Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition. “Crashes, injuries, and fatalities are a human health crisis, affecting everyone, and disproportionately communities like those in Asbury Park, where many residents of all ages must walk and roll for daily transportation. The signing of the New Jersey Target Zero Bill signals a commitment to provide safe, equitable access for everyone on streets and roads in New Jersey.”
It’s a commitment.
Now the work begins. Asbury Park will establish a VZ Task Force, and develop an action plan in order to implement changes to our road design to mitigate speeding, and save lives.
Traffic violence is a human health crisis. Not only affecting the person who is injured or killed, but entire families are impacted financially, and communities suffer the consequences with the impact on our health care system and services.
We must #slowthecars. More kinetic energy is produced when drivers speed.
“If a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle traveling at less than 30 km/h, the risk of bodily injury will be less than 10%, but this rises to about 50% if the vehicle is traveling at 45 km/h.”
“…when implementation of safe transport system deal with challenges, all activities should focus on speed management. “
With the proliferation of larger and larger SUVs and trucks on city streets, drivers are disproportionately killing more people outside of cars. So it’s even more important that traffic calming methods are implemented to deter speeding.
Resolution Establishing And Adopting Vision Zero Policy And Goal For The City Of Asbury Park
WHEREAS, The City of Asbury Park adopted Resolution 2015-358 establishing a Complete Streets Policy in, which mandated that all public streets be designed to safely accommodate travel by pedestrians and bicyclists as well as motorized vehicles; and,
WHEREAS, traffic-related injuries disproportionately affect children, people of color, people with limited English proficiency, and senior citizens – many of whom regularly rely on non-motorized forms of transportation to move throughout the city; and,
WHEREAS, Vision Zero, a global phenomenon that began in Sweden in 1997, believes in five core principles:
. Cities can prevent traffic deaths;
. Human error is inevitable;
. Cities can prevent serious injuries;
. The entire system, not individual actors, is responsible for safety;
. Saving lives is not expensive; and,
WHEREAS, Vision Zero encourages cities to adopt achievable goals to prevent traffic related severe injuries and fatalities; and,
WHEREAS, cities across the United States, including New York City, Jersey City, and Hoboken have established Vision Zero campaigns establishing the goal of eliminate traffic-related serious injuries and fatalities; and,
WHEREAS, successful implementation of a Vision Zero campaign will require coordinated cooperation between various City departments and community organizations, including the city’s Department of Transportation, Police Department, Department of Public Works, and the Board of Education, and,
WHEREAS, the primary implementation tool for interdepartmental and community coordination is the development of an action plan and a Vision Zero Task Force; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Mayor and Municipal Council adopts the City of Asbury Park Vision Zero Policy with the goal of eliminating traffic related fatalities and serious injuries by the year 2040; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, in coordination with this policy, the city of Asbury Park will develop a Traffic Safety Action Plan and establish a Vision Zero Task Force consisting of members of city staff and local advocates and residents designated by the Asbury Park City Council who meet quarterly to oversee the action plan’s development and implementation in order to reach the aforementioned goal.
Members of Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition look forward to working together with the city to develop an action plan, a Vision Zero Task Force, and implementation measures which will achieve the goal of eliminating serious injuries and deaths on our roads by 2040.
Come to the City Council meeting the meeting tomorrow night 2/12at 6pm to give your input, and to applaud the adoption of the Vision Zero Resolution:
“Ever wonder what folks working for sustainable transportation at the federal level are up against on K Street? For this Streetfilms exclusive event, we were granted unfettered access to Veronica Moss, lobbyist for Automobile Users Trade Organization (AUTO). Veronica gave us a few precious moments inside her SUV to talk about roads, traffic, cyclists, and big cities. After instructing us on proper honking techniques for “old people” and children, she also offered up some choice bons mots. Here’s a sample: “There are not enough roads.” “
Veronica Moss, “We need more roads!”
Do we need more roads in Asbury Park? We welcome comments!
Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition is happy to report that there are upcoming improvements to two major city thoroughfares: 3rd and 4th Ave (school zones), and First Avenue!
Safe Routes To School traffic calming measures around our school zones are finally going to be a reality! APCSC has been advocating, and waiting to see the implementation of measures to slow drivers and make streets around schools safer. Children are the most vulnerable road users.
AP former Transportation Director had designed a plan with input from APCSC for traffic calming plans for school zones including mini roundabouts which were unfortunately shot down in response to outrage from certain city residents on 4th Ave complaining about losing parking – they were completely incorrect, no parking would have been lost – but it set the project back years.
The Safe Routes To School traffic calming plans literally went back to the drawing board, and the new plan was submitted by our current Transportation Director with raised crosswalks instead of mini roundabouts. It’s taken over 3 years to see the plan become a reality, and we believe that these traffic calming measures will be effective.
The final plan was presented at an open house on Thursday, 1/9/25.
Map of traffic calming measures in AP school zone.
First Avenue Improvements mark a response to APCSC advocacy, and show that we are working together to prioritize people walking and rolling. This is a welcome, serious commitment to make streets safe for the most vulnerable road users – anyone outside of cars, which will make streets safer for drivers too.
The Signage & Striping – FIRST AVENUE IMPROVEMENTS include implementation of curb extensions (bump outs) to make crossing distances shorter for walkers, and green markings on new bike lanes.
Have a look at the plans:
Onward!
As always we want to hear your comments and thoughts!
On Thursday, 2/15/24 I was honored to be among other equitable mobility advocates in NJ, all giving powerful testimony in favor of a strong Target Zero Commission, Bill S361 sponsored by Senator Patrick Diegnan .
New Jersey is the most dangerous state for pedestrians, with almost double the national average of fatalities.
Vision Zero NJ was instrumental in making it happen.
Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition, along with other advocacy groups and individuals across the state submitted a quote for the Governor’s Press Release:
“Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition applauds the signing of this bold legislation, which will bring about implementation of road safety measures to prevent crashes, injuries, and save the lives of vulnerable road users: anyone outside of a car, and ensure safety for drivers themselves. Crashes, injuries and fatalities are a human health crisis, disproportionately affecting communities like Asbury Park, where many residents of all ages must walk and roll for daily transportation.
The signing of the New Jersey Target Zero Bill signals a commitment to provide safe, equitable access for everyone on streets and roads in New Jersey.”
-Polli Schildge, founding member and director of Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition
To Asbury Park City leaders~
Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition welcomes the opportunity to work together with Asbury Park leadership to adopt a Vision Zero Policy, and help to enact a VZ ordinance to end crashes, injuries and deaths in the city.
Have constructive dialog, listening and engaging with one another.
