Beacons to make roadway safer for pedestrians in Fair Lawn

Fair Lawn - Crossing Broadway in the borough will be safer and easier with the recent installation and activation of pedestrian safety beacons in the busy crosswalk near the Broadway Station.

Safety beacons were recently installed near the Broadway Station in Fair Lawn.
Funded by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) with the support of borough officials from Fair Lawn and Elmwood Park, the Broadway Improvement Corporation (BIC) and other state and local officials, the safety beacons are the latest step in ongoing implementation of the Vision Plan for Broadway, which was unveiled in 2008. The station serves hundreds of riders each weekday.

"Moving this project forward involved extensive coordination on behalf of the BIC with multiple bureaus of NJDOT, two supportive municipalities and PSE&G," said Mark Gordon of Urbana Consulting.

The BIC selected Urbana to co-author its Broadway Vision Plan and rehired the company to assist in implementing it.

The flashing strobe beacons (a.k.a. rapid flashing beacons) have a push button panel, enhanced lighting and two sets of beacons on each side of Broadway. The purpose is to attract the attention of drivers to stop their vehicles while pedestrians, including commuters, are using the crosswalk. It was approved by the Federal Highway Administration as an acceptable traffic control device in 2008.

New Jersey law requires motorists to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk with or without safety beacons. Representatives of the BIC are hoping to spread the word about the newly installed beacons in the hope that people will understand and recognize the need to stop for pedestrians in compliance with the law - a friendly reminder from the local business community.

"I have lived and worked in Fair Lawn for 40 years and crossing Broadway has always been difficult," said BIC President Bob Beshlian. "I know that other local businesses and commercial property owners in the Broadway District are as pleased and proud as I am that we have begun to improve pedestrian safety through the implementation of another element of the Vision Plan."

The crosswalk and pedestrian island installed in early 2009 meant pedestrians no longer had to climb over a highway median guardrail to cross Broadway near the train station. Cross-hatching of the crosswalk and implementation of no standing areas adjacent to it were implemented in September of 2009. Elmwood Park and Fair Lawn approved municipal agreements for flashing strobe beacons late in 2009. In June 2010, the BIC successfully reached out directly to PSE&G to expedite completion of a pre-requisite electric service letter. Construction of underground bases for the flashing beacons commenced in November. The beacons were activated on June 1.

"As a lifelong resident of Fair Lawn, I understand the necessity of improving pedestrian safety along Broadway," said State Sen. Robert M. Gordon, a former Fair Lawn Mayor. "Therefore, I am extremely pleased to see all the safety measures implemented through the Broadway Vision Plan. The Vision Plan creates a safer environment for pedestrians and motorists and in doing so, will help attract more customers for Broadway businesses."

Appropriate compliance (motorists stopping at the crosswalk) with the flashing beacon warning system requires education and enforcement for the new safety device. Local business leaders have reached out to the Fair Lawn and Elmwood Park police departments to request that they hand out informational notices and warnings to motorists during a two-week introductory period. Subsequent to that, periodic police enforcement of existing state traffic laws should reinforce appropriate driver compliance.

"Making Broadway more pedestrian friendly for commuters and the people who live and work in the area, as well as the people who shop and dine locally is good for the Broadway District and good for Fair Lawn," added Fair Lawn Mayor Lisa Swain.

Keith Kazmark, borough clerk of neighboring Elmwood Park, said pedestrian safety near the Broadway Station is important beyond the local community.

"Thousands of people from throughout Bergen County and beyond count on Route 4, including the Broadway District, to access mass transit at the station and for their daily commute to work, school and other activities," he said.