2 Busy Intersections Near Newark Schools Get Safety Upgrades – Newark, NJ Patch

NEWARK, NJ — Essex County has beefed up traffic safety at two busy intersections in Newark with some key upgrades.

New traffic signal equipment was installed at the intersections of Broadway & Carteret Street, and Broadway and Kearny Street in Newark’s North Ward, county officials announced Tuesday.

There are public schools near each location: Luis Munoz Marin Elementary School is at the intersection of Broadway & Carteret Street, and Newark Technology High School is at the intersection of Broadway & Kearny Street.

According to county officials:

“The equipment includes LED traffic signals, modern poles, high-visibility crosswalks and roadway striping, and pedestrian countdown timers that can be activated by pushing the crossing button. As an added safety feature, when the crosswalk button is pushed, the intersection provides a dedicated pedestrian crossing by having the lights turn red in every direction to stop all motor vehicle traffic through the intersection. LED lights are brighter, easier to see, more energy efficient and last longer than traditional bulbs. Sidewalks, curbs and roadway pavement was replaced only where it was disturbed by the construction or broken. The signals also are outfitted with GPS clocks to ensure they remain coordinated with other traffic signals along Broadway.”

County officials added:

“The new traffic signals installed at the intersections of Broadway & Carteret Street and Broadway & Kearny Street are part of a larger traffic signal improvement project that also included two intersections in Belleville, two intersections in Bloomfield, two intersections in Irvington and one intersection in Maplewood. NV5 from Parsippany received a professional services contract for $468,840 to design the upgrades at all locations. Assuncao Brothers, Inc. from Edison was awarded a publicly bid contract for $4,825,659 to perform the construction work at each intersection. Essex County received a $5,054,693 grant from the Federal Local Safety Program to fund the project. The Essex County Department of Public Works monitored the project to answer questions and avoid delays from occurring.”

Several educators and students at the two schools said the upgrades are much appreciated.

“The traffic signal in front of Luis Munoz Marin School means a lot to the students and their families,” Luis Munoz Marin Elementary School Principal Kenneth Mantalbano said.

“This will increase student safety and decrease the amount of anxiety our students feel walking to school and having to cross Broadway,” Mantalbano added.

Student Council President Emnija West agreed, saying that the traffic light will “help keep students and the community safe.”

Students and staff at Technology High School also praised the improvements.

“Technology High School is grateful to finally receive this traffic signal. We appreciate all the work that is being done to keep our students safe,” Newark Technology High School Principal Edwin Reyes said.

“As the student representative on the Board of Education, I am always thinking about what our students need,” Newark Technology High School Senior Kimberly Gonzalez said.

“Seeing this makes it real for me what can be accomplished,” Gonzalez said.

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said the traffic signals will help hundreds of students get to school and cross the street more safely.

This project also demonstrates what different levels of government can accomplish when we work together,” he said, noting that New Jersey state senator Teresa Ruiz brought the need to improve the intersection to his attention.

“Every morning I would call our public works department about the need for a light in front of these two schools,” Sen. Ruiz recalled. “This project shows what happens when people listen.”

Ruiz represents the state’s 29th District, including Newark.

“This is being done for the safety of our children,” said Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin, who also represents the 29th District. “It’s an example of what can be accomplished with every level of government works together.”

Her peer in the 29th District, Assemblywoman Shanique Speight, agreed.

“As a mother of four, the last thing we want parents to worry about is the safety of their children going to and from school,” Speight said. “With these new traffic signals, they will be able to cross Broadway more easily.”

The traffic improvements also got a round of applause from two Newark city council members.

Newark City Council President Luis Quintana said the upgrades put the safety of children first.

“The students will greatly benefit from this,” Quintana said.

North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos said the chosen locations are two of the busiest drop off and pick up locations at any of the city’s public schools.