Board weighs two Glen Ridge Avenue bike lane plans
Two concept plans are finally on the table, but the Complete Street Oversight Board still needs a public airing before Glen Ridge Avenue can move to engineering.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — glen ridge avenue bike lane project, old business, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
Members said the project has lingered in design too long and needs a public discussion soon, possibly at a special meeting, before a concept can be chosen.
A long-delayed street redesign is nearing its public test. The Complete Street Oversight Board reviewed two concept plans for the Glen Ridge Avenue bike lane project and spent its time on tradeoffs, not a final choice. Staff said consultants at GPI delivered two options, and the board agreed the next step is public outreach before the township can settle on a design and move toward final engineering and construction.
One concept largely keeps the current approach, with a two-way cycle track on one side of the street. The other would split directions, with one bike lane on each side. Board members questioned whether that would create awkward movements for cyclists trying to reach destinations across the street and noted it could affect parking on both sides. They talked through buffers, lane widths and whether 10-foot travel lanes would better calm traffic while still handling deliveries on a corridor that carries trucks and frequent drop-offs.
The hardest stretch may be near Lackawanna Plaza and Crane Park, where curb space, trees, sidewalks and redevelopment plans all collide. Members said one configuration could cost about eight parking spaces and warned that tree removals would need replanting and careful public explanation. They raised concerns about heavy use of plastic delineators and asked staff to explore lower barrier-style separators instead. No concept was selected. The board plans to refine the questions for consultants, then hold a public discussion, possibly at a special meeting in August.
Old Business: Harrison Avenue Bike Lane and Traffic Calming Improvement Project (Bidding and Phasing)
The Harrison Avenue bike lane and traffic calming project is heading into bidding. Staff told the board that the mayor and council approved moving forward with bids, with a bid opening expected soon.
The township plans to split the work into two phases. Staff said the goal is to finish part of the project this year and carry the rest into next year, rather than wait and lose the current construction season.
The update was about timing and procurement, not design changes. The board did not vote on the item, but the phasing plan gives the township a way to start construction sooner while stretching the remaining work into the next calendar year.
Park Street safety changes tied to grant
Township staff discussed near-term safety changes on Park Street near Montclair High School after a crossing guard was hit. They pointed to narrower crossings and possible speed-control measures, while narrowing a grant application so the Harrison section can move first and other bikeway segments wait.
Students, school staff, and nearby drivers may see phased safety changes depending on grant awards and local costs.
Maple Avenue work nears summer start
Staff said the Maple Avenue improvements bid was accepted by council and work should begin soon after a pre-construction meeting. The update came alongside a broader look at summer road work, with utility and paving activity continuing on Upper Montclair streets and elsewhere.
Maple Avenue improvements have an accepted bid and road work is expected to start soon.
Willow Street stop demo is installed
Staff said the Willow Street four-way stop demonstration is now in place, with line work completed. The board also got updates on a recently installed RRFB, fresh striping near new stop signs, and a signal warrant sent to the county that has not yet drawn a response.
A four-way stop demonstration was installed on Willow Street, with RRFB and striping safety updates townwide.
Residents urge deer-crash safety response
Residents pressed the township to target deer-crash hotspots before the fall breeding season. They argued the board should keep its attention on long-running safety requests and put human safety at the center of any wildlife-related policy discussion.
Drivers and pedestrians could see faster action on crash hotspots and clearer priorities for safety spending.
- Complete Streets Oversight Board. A resident emphasized that the township should respond to longstanding resident safety requests and avoid being distracted by new topics. Another resident clarified concerns about prioritizing wildlife in the Complete Streets ordinance, opposed artificial turf in streetscape contexts, and argued the board’s core mission should remain protecting people, while acknowledging wildlife-collision prevention can support human safety.
- Complete Streets Oversight Board. A resident urged the township to prioritize reducing deer–vehicle collisions and shared research using police crash reports and carcass pickup data. The resident reported 87 deer-related crashes over 3.5 years (out of 3,900 total crashes), identified hotspot corridors, and recommended targeted seasonal/dynamic signage and other measures ahead of the October–November breeding season.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Montclair Township had 11 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEIrvington Avenue and Orange Road/High Intersection: Public Meeting Rescheduled Due to Storm. Staff reported a public meeting on safety changes for the Irvington Avenue and Orange Road/High intersection was disrupted by a thunderstorm and rescheduled. The meeting is intended to gather resident feedback on proposals to make the intersection safer while minimizing impacts on residents.
- GOVERNANCEChurch Street Pedestrianization: Results from June Weekend and Planning for Upcoming Closures. Staff reported the June Church Street pedestrianization weekend was successful and shared BID-prepared data showing increased visits and a 25% increase in dwell time. The board discussed programming, equipment challenges for showing a soccer final outdoors, permitting needs for vendors, resident noise concerns, and upcoming August/September activations.
- GOVERNANCEStormwater and Streetscape Elements: Pervious Pavers, Bioswales, and Maintenance Considerations. Members discussed incorporating stormwater management and streetscape features into projects, including pervious pavers and bioswales, and noted maintenance challenges and the need for resources to sustain such features. The discussion referenced flooding frequency and the long-term benefits of upfront investment.
- GOVERNANCENJTPA offers demo materials as fall traffic pilots advance. An NJTPA representative said towns can borrow temporary traffic-calming materials and get design support for demonstration projects. Staff also reported ongoing consultant work, federal paperwork, and scheduling coordination for multiple fall pilots.
- GOVERNANCEMember Comment: Tracking and Responding to Longstanding Resident Requests. Councilor Damato welcomed the new public member and urged the board to better track and respond to resident requests, noting some issues have been pending for an extended period. He cited Wildwood as an example and asked for clearer communication to residents about whether issues have been reviewed and what tradeoffs are involved.
- GOVERNANCEAdjournment. The board adjourned the meeting by motion and second, with no opposition stated.
- GOVERNANCEApproval of June Meeting Minutes. The board reviewed the June minutes, noted a comment about public comment coverage and council member concerns, and approved the minutes by motion and second.
- GOVERNANCECall to Order, Open Public Meetings Act Notice, Roll Call, and Introductions. The Complete Streets Oversight Board held its July 16 meeting, noted it was advertised in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, conducted attendance, and introduced attendees and guests, including a newly appointed public member and an NJTPA representative.
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