Traffic Mural, Improvements Near Belleville School; More May Follow

BELLEVILLE, NJ — There’s no doubt that the cherry blossom mural that now graces the intersection of Holmes and High streets in Belleville simply looks cool. But it may also help to make the busy roadway near Belleville Middle School safer for drivers, pedestrians and bicycle riders, too.

Nearly two dozen members of the Belleville High School Arts Club recently rolled up their sleeves and used temporary paint to leave a massive cherry blossom at the intersection. The project was done as part of a partnership between the Belleville Public School District and the municipal Green Team.

The project got a boost from the Complete Streets Technical Assistance Program, which supports municipal government efforts to advance Complete Streets initiatives in northern New Jersey. Belleville is one of seven towns to participate in the program, which is funded by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority.

“The Green Team is grateful to receive this project assistance and understand as a community we must all work together to increase awareness of crosswalk safety for pedestrians and develop safe habits driving in these critical areas,” said Gabrielle Bennett-Meany, Green Team coordinator.

Along with painted bump outs, repainted crosswalks and other important touches – which were done earlier this year – the new mural are intended to create a safer experience for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists, Belleville town officials said:

“The enhancements work in concert. The bump outs – delineated by reflective traffic bollards – will act to extend the sidewalks, thus creating a shorter crosswalk. The bump outs will also narrow the street, which typically makes motorists slow down. The colors of the cherry blossom will alert motorists to instinctively slow down. Repainted latter-style crosswalks will be easier for approaching motorists to see.”

For now, the brightly colored, highly visible installation is only temporary. But there’s a chance it could become permanent, officials say – and also spread to other locations in town.

Belleville Police Chief Mark Minichini said the police department will be comparing traffic data near the intersection collected before and after the creation of the demonstration project.

If the improvements are successful, they could become permanent, and inspire similar installations at other locations in Belleville. In addition, a printed report showing how the enhancements worked could be submitted by the school district and township in applications for further grant money, township officials said.

The safety improvements could also dovetail into a school travel plan that would create more orderly drop off and dismissal periods at Belleville schools, officials added.

Belleville Councilman and Green Team member Vinny Cozzarelli said the hope is that the effort leads to a safer intersection, as well as encouraging more students to walk and bike to school.

“One of the Green Team’s core values is sustainability,” Cozzarelli said. “Fewer cars on the road adds up to less greenhouse gas emissions, and that has great benefits for our environment. With warmer weather arriving, it would be the perfect opportunity for students to walk with their friends to school.”

School Superintendent Richard Tomko applauded the students who diligently worked with brushes and rollers for several hours to bring to life the cherry blossom – just in time for the spring bloom. Read More: Spring Is Here, Essex County (And So Are The Cherry Blossoms)

“At the heart of the project may have been school safety, but I also saw a lot of school spirit,” Tomko said.

“The students worked hard and we appreciate their ongoing efforts to fill our schools and our town with art – even on an asphalt canvas,” he added.

The township is soliciting feedback on the temporary mural, as well as other improvements completed at the intersection in March. Take the survey here.

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