Hoboken Will Get Repaved Roads, Bike Lanes and New Parking Meters This Year

Photo: @CityofHoboken

Hoboken officials have plans to repave roads, create bicycle lanes, and tackle parking problems this year.

In her State of the City address earlier this week, Mayor Dawn Zimmer outlined some of the road improvement and parking projects expected to begin this year.

They include repaving projects, improvements to pedestrian safety, the creation of a plaza on Washington and Newark streets, a bike-share system, and a city-wide meter system for visitor parking.

Revenue generated from that new meter system will be used for other infrastructure improvements, including street repaving and construction of new garages, according to her prepared remarks, posted on the city’s website.

In her speech, Zimmer said the city has twice as many cars per square mile as Manhattan.

But, she said, there have been improvements to the city’s parking system and more are on the way.

City officials have eliminated the waiting lists in most municipal garages, which are cheaper than most private garages in the city, she said.

Residents whose cars aren’t in the garages between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on most weekdays (because those residents drive to work) can buy a new “Monthly Limited” option that is 30 percent cheaper than the regular monthly rate.

Other parking options include vacation rates for residents ($5 a day for up to 14 days a year) and business owner and employee rates ($5 for up to 12 hours.)

The city also plans to install new meters on the visitor sides of streets, city-wide, she said.

Drivers who hold parking permits will still be able to park for free, but everyone else will have to pay to park.

This spring the city will also start a bike share system in every neighborhood.

Last year, the city had the lowest number of pedestrian accidents in at least eight years, but to further enhance safety, flashing LED stop signs will be installed at some intersections, Zimmer said.

Police have also tripled the size of the Traffic Bureau, doubled its hours of operations, created an 18-officer bike patrol unit, and expanded patrol presence on nights and weekends.

She also outlined other improvements planned for city streets:

Observer Highway:

This spring, it will be repaved, and a two-way bike lane will be installed from Marin Boulevard to Hoboken Terminal. Officials also plan to create shorter crossing distances to make the road safer.

Newark Street:

One block east of Washington Street will be converted from asphalt to cobblestone. A plaza, with trees, tables, and chair will be created at the corner of Washington Street. Curb extensions will be installed to reduce crossing distances for pedestrians.