Montclair, New Jersey, is taking a comprehensive approach to transportation and street safety, combining municipal long-term planning, community engagement, and innovative programs to make our streets safer and more accessible for everyone. From the launch of the Vision Zero initiative to the expansion of cycling infrastructure and support for community programs like the Bike Bus, the township is working to reduce traffic fatalities, prevent serious injuries, and create streets that serve all residents. These efforts prioritize ways of getting around without relying solely on cars, including walking, biking, rolling, or bussing options, while also accommodating drivers and transit users. By encouraging safer, more practical alternatives to car travel and designing streets with everyone in mind, Montclair aims to improve public health, reduce congestion, gasoline emissions and foster a more connected and equitable community.
🎧 Tune in to the latest episode of the Montclair Pod! We sit down with David Folkeflik & Jacob Nieman to explore Montclair’s transportation systems and share ideas for making our town safer for everyone.
The Vision Zero push
Montclair launched its Vision Zero initiative with an ambitious goal: eliminating all traffic-related deaths and serious injuries on township roads by 2028. The strategy reflects a broader shift in how communities think about street safety, emphasizing that traffic fatalities are preventable and that road systems should be designed to protect people even when mistakes on the road happen. At its core, the initiative prioritizes human life and health in transportation planning and recognizes that speed is one of the most significant factors in the severity of crashes.
To guide the effort, the township formed a Vision Zero Task Force in 2023 made up of municipal officials, engineers, planners, and community advocates. The group has focused on analyzing crash data, identifying high-risk corridors and intersections, and implementing early safety measures such as lowering speed limits on township roads to 25 miles per hour and 20 miles per hour in school zones. The task force has also pursued federal funding and introduced traffic-calming improvements, including new four-way stop intersections, reflective delineators, and road redesigns intended to slow traffic and better protect pedestrians and cyclists.
2024–2025 statistics show significant safety improvements across Montclair Township. While 2026 has just begun and new data isn’t available yet, it’s clear our community will continue finding innovative ways to make our streets even safer. See below for a detailed map of 2024-2025 improvements.
14 new multi-way stop intersections added in 2024–2025, joining 20 existing stops across Montclair Township.
38 reflective traffic posts installed to improve visibility and help calm traffic.
6 new rapid flashing pedestrian beacons installed, adding to 23 existing crossings.
Several intersection upgrades and painted curb extensions added to improve pedestrian safety.
Some traffic signal improvements completed in Upper Montclair.
Many safety upgrades were completed alongside 2024 street repaving projects.
Improvements are spread across all four wards, targeting safety concerns town-wide.
Complete streets program
Montclair’s street safety efforts are deeply rooted in its long-standing commitment to the Complete Streets approach, a planning philosophy that designs roads for all users. It’s not solely focusing on cars, it’s including pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and people using other mobility devices to get around town. The township has been a leader in this movement for more than a decade. In 2009, Montclair became the first municipality in New Jersey to adopt a Complete Streets policy, inspiring similar initiatives across the state. Today, over 180 municipalities, eight counties, and the New Jersey Department of Transportation have adopted comparable policies guiding road planning and redesign.
Montclair reinforced that commitment in May 2025 by adopting an updated Complete and Green Streets policy through ordinance O-25-13. The update emphasizes stronger coordination between township departments, Essex County officials, and transportation planners, while prioritizing the safety of vulnerable road users, especially pedestrians and bicyclists. The policy also establishes new structures for planning and evaluating roadway projects, including the creation of a Vision Zero Advisory Committee, requirements for pedestrian and bicycle safety action plans, and annual progress reporting.
Earlier this year, the township appointed Jacob Nieman to help lead those efforts. Nieman said the ultimate objective is straightforward, even if achieving it will take time: eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries on Montclair streets. Rather than relying on a single project, the approach focuses on integrating safety improvements into everyday municipal work. When streets are repaved, for example, the township can redesign intersections, upgrade crosswalks or add traffic-calming measures. Officials say the strategy is intended to gradually transform local roads into safer, more accessible spaces for everyone who travels through Montclair.
Equity is a central focus of Montclair’s Complete Streets program. Nieman explained that a prioritization matrix helps ensure safety improvements reach all wards, including historically underinvested areas like the South End and Fourth Ward. The matrix uses crash data, risk factors, and community input to identify the most dangerous streets, factoring in transit hubs, schools, parks, and traffic generators to target interventions where they’ll have the greatest impact. Nieman also engages directly with residents by walking the streets with local advocates and listening to concerns to really understand conditions firsthand and ensure upgrades benefit all parts of town, not just the wealthier parts.
Crashes highlighting Flaws in the infrastructre
Traffic safety has become a growing concern in Montclair following a series of crashes across the township, including a fatal pedestrian collision in October 2023 that killed 83-year-old resident Vivian Folkenflik at the intersection of Park Street and Bellevue Avenue. The tragedy drew attention to broader patterns of traffic incidents in the town.
Vivian’s son, David Folkenflik had documented repeated safety concerns to township officials for years, noting risky maneuvers like aggressive left turns at busy intersections that put both drivers and pedestrians at risk. Despite his efforts, sustained action was slow. A later township-commissioned study revealed 28 serious collisions at the Bellevue Avenue & Park Street intersection over a six-year period, with right-angle crashes making up the majority. Engineers attributed many incidents to outdated traffic signals and limited visibility, which made it harder for drivers and pedestrians to interpret right-of-way.
The study recommended upgrades including modern overhead traffic signals, improved timing, and pedestrian safety features. Montclair implemented these changes, and residents say the intersection is noticeably safer. Yet Folkenflik emphasizes that ongoing attention is needed, and initiatives like Vision Zero must be paired with practical interventions to protect people on the streets.
In addition to major infrastructure upgrades, Montclair has begun testing low-cost, effective safety measures. These include painted intersection murals that encourage drivers to slow down, reflective pylons that narrow lanes and make turns more cautious, and lane markings that improve visibility for pedestrians. Such interventions, inspired by successful examples in Glen Ridge, NJ, and Long Beach, CA, demonstrate that both large and small changes can significantly reduce risks while the township continues pursuing broader safety goals.
According to local police data, Montclair recorded more than 1,300 reported crashes in 2024 alone, a number that has remained relatively consistent in recent years. The combination of data, community advocacy, and thoughtful street design underscores the township’s ongoing challenge: ensuring that Montclair’s streets are safe, accessible, and responsive to residents’ concerns.
The bike lane debate
Bicycling is becoming a central part of Montclair’s broader effort to redesign its streets for safer, more sustainable transportation. The township’s SAFE (Streets Are For Everybody) Complete Streets Implementation Plan lays out a framework for building a connected network that supports pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders and drivers rather than prioritizing cars alone. The plan calls for a range of improvements including bike lanes, shared road markings, and redesigned intersections all designed to make cycling a practical way to travel between neighborhoods, downtown districts and transit hubs. Local advocates say the goal is not simply to add isolated bike lanes but to create a continuous network that encourages residents to bike safely for everyday trips around town.
Recent community proposals have focused on major corridors where safer cycling infrastructure could also address traffic safety concerns. One prominent idea is the proposed Grove Street Greenway, a protected bike lane that would run the length of Grove Street and potentially extend through Elm Street and Orange Road toward the South End business district. Supporters say the project would connect schools, businesses, parks and transit while linking to the planned Essex–Hudson Greenway regional trail. Advocates also note that Grove Street has been identified as one of Montclair’s more dangerous roads, arguing that protected bike lanes and narrower travel lanes could slow traffic and reduce crashes while creating a safer corridor for cyclists and pedestrians alike.
Montclair’s Bike Bus is a community‑led effort that encourages families to bike together to school safely and joyfully. Organized by local parents and volunteers, the bike bus follows set routes and schedules each week, with adults riding alongside children to provide structure, support and visibility on town streets. The concept is designed to make cycling accessible for kids of all ages while building community, promoting healthy habits and increasing awareness of active transportation in Montclair. Riders can join along the route, and the group emphasizes safety with designated roles such as route leaders and “sheepdogs” who help keep the group together and navigate intersections. Participants also follow a safety pledge that includes basic biking rules like wearing helmets, signaling turns and stopping for pedestrians which all reinforce skills that contribute to safer streets for everyone on the road.
Montclair’s own crash data shows that bicyclists have been disproportionately affected by traffic violence, with bicyclists involved in a notable share of injury crashes in recent years even though they represent a smaller portion of overall traffic. According to Vision Zero data, pedestrians and bicyclists together accounted for about 23 % of total crashes between 2021–2023, and all recorded traffic fatalities during that period were among pedestrians or cyclists, underscoring their vulnerability on town streets. These figures help explain why efforts to add protected bike lanes, calmer traffic corridors, and improved intersections are central to Montclair’s broader strategy for safer, more equitable streets.
Parking and congestion pressures
Parking has long been one of Montclair’s most persistent urban challenges, shaped by the township’s popularity, dense housing, and thriving downtown economy. Demand often exceeds supply, with thousands of residents and commuters historically waiting for municipal parking permits near train stations and commercial areas. At one point, nearly 3,000 people were on permit waitlists while officials issued tens of thousands of tickets annually to enforce strict regulations. Much of the demand stems from Montclair’s housing stock, as many apartments and rental buildings lack on-site parking, leaving residents dependent on municipal lots, parking decks, and limited on-street permits.
Redevelopment and growth in Montclair’s downtown have reshaped parking planning and management. Large projects, such as the Orange Road Deck, were designed to serve multiple uses, including nearby residential developments, businesses, and the MC Hotel. Planners increasingly promote shared-parking strategies, where multiple uses rely on the same spaces at different times of day rather than building separate lots for each development. This approach aligns with Montclair’s Complete Streets framework, which balances parking needs with walkability, transit access, and safer street design instead of simply expanding supply.
Recent redevelopment projects, including those around the Lackawanna train station area, highlight how parking interacts with broader community goals. As small businesses, housing developments, and historic preservation efforts shape downtown, planners must carefully balance access for residents, commuters, and visitors without compromising the character of the neighborhood. Proposals for new garages or redevelopment sometimes generate controversy, particularly when construction threatens existing storefronts or alters neighborhood streets.
The persistent parking crunch is also a key reason Montclair is pushing for non-car transportation options, from improved biking and pedestrian infrastructure to enhanced public transit connections. By encouraging residents and visitors to walk, bike, or take transit instead of driving, the township aims to reduce pressure on limited parking, improve traffic flow, and create safer, more accessible streets that work for everyone.
Exploring a Montclair Shuttle
Discussions about a jitney or local shuttle service have been a recurring topic in Montclair and neighboring Glen Ridge as officials and residents look to improve mobility within and beyond township borders. In Montclair, public engagement around a potential shuttle has been underway for well over a year. To gauge interest in relaunching local shuttle bus service, the township conducted a summer 2025 survey that received more than 2,000 responses which is quite a robust turnout representing all four wards. A strong majority of respondents said they’d be willing to pay a $1–$2 fare to ride, signaling broad community support for the idea.
The survey highlighted gaps in local public transportation and strong interest in a shuttle that would serve a wide range of travel needs, including commuting to and from NJ Transit stations, grocery shopping, trips to medical appointments, dining and entertainment, school transportation, and better connections to business districts and community destinations.
A separate analysis of the survey showed that nearly 9 in 10 respondents said they are likely to use a Montclair jitney, and that almost all current NJ Transit bus users reported they would use a local shuttle which underscores the serious demand and future ridership for a dedicated jitney service in town.
What’s next for montclair streets?
Montclair continues to invest in transportation safety, active mobility, and sustainable planning. From Vision Zero initiatives to bike lanes, shuttles, and multimodal transit options, the township is gradually transforming its streets to protect all residents, reduce traffic risks, and provide alternatives to car dependency. The ongoing challenge will be balancing growth, safety, and accessibility while preserving the character and livability of the community.
