Final Report 2016

Great Falls Circulation Study Passaic County, New Jersey Great Falls Circulation Study | 1 Disclaimer The preparation of this report has been fi nanced in part by the U.S. Department of Transportation, North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, Inc., Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Highway Administration. This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for its contents or its use thereof. 2016 Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders Theodore O. Best, Jr., Director John W. Bartlett, Deputy Director Terry Duffy Cassandra “Sandy” Lazzara Pasquale “Pat” Lepore Hector C. Lora Bruce James

Passaic County Planning Board Commissioner Miguel Diaz, Chairman Commissioner Joseph Metzler, Vice Chairman Commissioner William Gervens Commissioner Stephen Martinique Commissioner Kenneth Simpson Commissioner Thomas Williamson Commissioner Sam Mirza, Alternate #1 Steve Edmond P.E., County Engineer Theodore O. Best, Jr., Freeholder Director Terry Duffy, Freeholder Cassandra “Sandy” Lazzara, Freeholder Alternate Abdelmageid Abdelhadi, Esq., Planning Board Attorney Michael La Place AICP, P.P., Planning Director

Passaic County Department of Planning and Economic Development Michael La Place AICP, P.P., Planning Director Michael Lysicatos AICP, P.P., Assistant Director Kathleen Caren, Open Space Coordinator Jason Simmons, Senior Environmental Planner Jason Miranda, Assistant Planner Giancarlo Bruno, Planning Intern Deborah Hoffman, Economic Development Division Director Kristen Holton, Executive Assistant, Economic Development Helen Willis, Offi ce Manager Qushonda Hamilton, Administrative Assistant

TABLE OF CONTENTS

i Executive Summary 07

ii Introduction 09 Comprehensive Public Outreach 13 01 and Coordination

02 Vision Statement and Goals 17

03 Community Profi le 19 Multimodal Mobility Needs 21 04 Assessment

05 Gateway Access Alternatives 39

06 Gateway Vision Plan 57 Photo Credit: Terence McKenna i Executive Summary

City of Contrasts Gateway Vision Plan Paterson’s history and natural resources serve as The Great Falls Circulation Study advances a a platform of great potential and opportunity, fi ve-part Gateway Vision Plan of multimodal yet its demographic makeup, economic decline, transportation and placemaking improvements. and the long-standing adverse impact of traffi c, congestion, and highway construction present Part 1: Multimodal Urban Boulevard great challenges to advancement. The Circulation Re-envision the Spruce Street Corridor as a Study reveals a diverse but poor community, with multimodal urban boulevard more consistent with limited English profi ciency and scant access to its role as a gateway to the Great Falls NHP and auto ownership. downtown historic district. The Great Falls represent one of New Jersey's Part 2: Two-way Street Conversions most signifi cant untapped natural and cultural Implement two-way street conversions for Cianci resources, and present the opportunity to and Mill Streets to begin the process of restoring provide the City with a sustainable base for Paterson’s historic street grid and counteract the recreation, tourism, and economic development. long-standing impacts of congestion, through traffi c, trucks, and speeding.

Part 3: Local Intersections Implement local intersection improvements that Vision Statement prioritize traffi c calming and pedestrian crossings The City of Paterson will become a and enhance multimodal mobility across the City. more attractive place for education, tourism and business and enhance Part 4: Enhanced Placemaking its position as the regional center. Look beyond the transportation and mobility elements to address the chaos, access and Through the implementation of mobility limitations, and diminished built multimodal Complete Streets, environment that residents and visitors encounter Paterson will mitigate long-standing on a daily basis. congestion and traffi c impacts, improve safety and access, and Part 5: Long-Term Vision Plan become a more vibrant and livable Work with City, State, regional, and NHP partners community. to explore and advance roadway and transit projects of regional signifi cance and coordinate plans with development of Great Falls NHP facilities and amenities and restoration of Hinchliffe Stadium.

Great Falls Circulation Study | 7 Great Falls Circulation Study Area

Oxford St Lawrence St Kearney St Temple St Jasper St Jane St Albion Ave Fulton St Sheridan Ave Crosby Ave Northwest St Coral St Cliff St r ive Marion St c R sai River St Pas Governor St Union Ave White St Presidential Blvd Tyler St

Matlock St Ryle Ave Redwood Ave Godwin St W Broadway

Paterson St Bridge St Hamilton Ave Totowa Ave Ryle Rd Sherman Ave v509 Fair St Number 5 E.S. Manchester AveWayne Ave River St

Washington St Broadway

College Blvd

Ryerson Ave

Liberty St 647 Van Houten St Curtis Pl Ellison St v Walnut St Alexander Hamilton Paterson Ave Academy Maple St

Mill St 648 Memorial Dr Preakness Ave Number 2 E.S. v 16th Ave 666 Cianci St 666 Smith St Clark St Park Ave v Market St McBride Ave Ext Federal Plz 2I Dawn Treader Elm St John F. Christian School Kennedy H.S. Birch St Jersey St Front St

639 Spruce St Crosby Pl v639 John P Holland Charter School Mill St Essex St

Pass Jackson St Spring St aic Oliver St River Grand St Walker St Community Charter Ave Dale

School of Paterson St Prince Slater St

Straight St

Hoxey St Morris St

Henderson St Mcbride Ave Rockland St Quinn St

Howard St

Murray Ave Marshall St Perry St 19 633 «¬ Main St v Green St Caldwell Ave Slater St Jackson St

Barnes St Ave Railroad 80 Dixon Ave ¨§ 20th Ave

New St

LEGEND Parks Study Area 0 0.25 0.5 Schools Miles F ii Introduction

Paterson’s Great Falls represents one of With few accessible vantage points, the New Jersey’s most signifi cant untapped grand vistas of the Great Falls have long been natural and cultural resources, and overlooked by residents and tourists alike as “hidden, inaccessible, and underutilized.”1 presents the opportunity to provide Addressing this disconnect between the idea the City with a sustainable base for of the Falls as a priceless visual and natural recreation, tourism, and economic asset - and its potential to both revitalize the development. Through a succession community and fi ll the void in active open space of recent studies and improvements, - holds the key to successful completion and implementation of the Great Falls Circulation including its declaration as a National Study. Historical Park (NHP) in 2009 and the restoration of Mary Ellen Kramer Park, Although initiated by the Passaic County the Great Falls now have the potential Department of Planning and Economic Development to examine ways to improve to spur the city’s rebirth by encouraging access for visitors to the National Historical Park redevelopment, fostering heritage and Downtown Historic District, the Circulation tourism, and providing Paterson’s Study recognizes that Paterson is also host to residents with a much needed base for numerous local and regional needs: home of active recreation and open space. more than 37,200 K-12 students, many of whom walk to and from school; seat of the Passaic County government and courts; transit hub The Great Falls study area covers about served by NJ TRANSIT rail and bus, private one-quarter of Paterson's 8.36 square jitney service, and NJ TRANSIT bus depot; miles. The area includes Passaic County gateway community for new immigrants; and government and courts; residential conduit to the adjacent I-80/NJ 19 highway corridor providing essential access to and areas; downtown shopping, dining, and from the surrounding suburban communities. nightlife; and more than 20 schools in The Circulation Study represents a signifi cant addition to the Great Falls NHP and step forward by initiating the process of Historic District. Direct access is provided understanding the City’s many and varied needs to Interstate 80 and New Jersey 19; and mitigating its long-standing defi ciencies and multimodal mobility is supplemented by constraints. both rail and bus transit service.

Great Falls Circulation Study | 9 As the National Park Service Paterson's robust street grid, circa 1930 evaluates options for the park’s future, whether the primary emphasis becomes the natural beauty of the Great Falls and its use for recreation or as an historic site essential to America’s industrial ascendance, the efforts undertaken for the Great Falls Circulation Study have made apparent the urgent and pressing need for multimodal circulation improvements that enhance pedestrian access, safety, and mobility with an emphasis on students and vulnerable users. It has also highlighted the importance of advancing improvements for the Spruce Street Bridge (also known as the War Memorial Bridge) and Spruce Street that calm traffi c, improve pedestrian safety, and begin the process of overcoming the impacts of traffi c and congestion that hamper quality of life every day for Paterson residents. The Circulation Study is part of an on-going The Great Falls Circulation Study evaluates effort by Passaic County and the City of Paterson opportunities to improve local and regional to evaluate options and opportunities for the circulation, enhance pedestrian mobility, and City’s future. Previous studies have included a implement gateway access improvements to the city-wide traffi c assessment, heritage tourism benefi t of all. The Circulation Study includes: potential, bike share options, a vision plan for the Spruce Street neighborhood, and the . Community-based planning and outreach Passaic County Transportation Master Plan.

. Comprehensive assessment of multimodal Building on the momentum, data resources, and transportation needs and defi ciencies fi ndings from these studies and initiatives, this Final Report documents coordination between . State-of-the-art travel origin and destination the project team, Passaic County, Study Advisory data collection and analysis and Technical Committees, public offi cials and professionals, stakeholders, advocates, and the . Microsimulation traffi c modeling and general public to build consensus on achievable transportation performance measures Vision and Goals, and selection of the preferred . Select and advance the preferred Gateway Gateway Vision Plan. Vision Plan

10 | Introduction Paterson, NJ has a rich cultural, natural and industrial heritage Methodology

The Great Falls Circulation Study was undertaken . Collaborative effort to create Gateway in three phases: Access alternatives Phase I: Comprehensive Outreach & . Develop and test Quadstone Paramics Data Collection traffi c models and Synchro intersection analysis . Coordination among stakeholders to develop a comprehensive understanding of local needs, priorities, and concerns Phase III: Select Preferred Gateway Access Alternative . Assemble data resources, including origin- . Evaluate performance measures and metrics destination traffi c patterns . Select and advance a preferred Gateway . Formulate study vision and goals Access alternative and supporting initiatives, policies, and strategies Phase II: Develop and Test Gateway Scenarios . Multimodal mobility needs assessment

Great Falls Circulation Study | 11 Photo Credit: Terence McKenna

Photo Credit: Terence McKenna 01 Comprehensive Public Outreach and Coordination

A community-based planning process Public outreach and coordination is a continuous was designed and implemented to and collaborative process that includes a variety support the technical elements of the of opportunities for discussion: Circulation Study and build consensus . Study advisory committee on the preferred Gateway Vision Plan. . Technical advisory committee Coordination of local, county and state plans and projects with local vision and . Focus groups goals is essential to support and advance . General public and stakeholders economic development, job creation, quality-of-life, and sustainability goals. . Survey instruments and crowd sourcing Discussions topics included: . What are the most pressing needs in creating safe and inviting access to the Great Falls National Historical Park?

. What are the most pressing transportation and mobility needs?

. Describe the daily travel experience for local residents, visitors and businesses.

. Describe the impact of regional through traffi c on the Great Falls area.

. What locations and streets have the most pedestrian activity?

. What are some of the major barriers to pedestrian and bicycle mobility?

. What would be the best way to engage local residents and businesses in the planning process?

Great Fall Circulation Study Public Meeting

Great Falls Circulation Study | 13 Market Street, Downtown Paterson

alternative.

Comments and concerns were as diverse as the committee members and the organizations they Study Advisory represent: congested intersections, enforcement of traffi c safety regulations, historic preservation, Committee (SAC) quality of life considerations, ability of visitors to walk between adjacent National Historical The Study Advisory Committee drives the Park destinations, and the desire to use mobility planning process by working collaboratively with enhancements to support and encourage the project team to understand and address redevelopment options. local needs, opportunities, and constraints, and articulate study vision and goals. Members of the SAC include representatives from city, county, regional, and statewide agencies, stakeholders,local non-profi t, educators, and advocate groups. The SAC provided input and guidance throughout the study.

Three meetings were held to guide the team from needs assessment to visioning and goal setting, development of gateway access scenarios, and fi nally selection of the preferred

14 | Comprehensive Public Outreach and Coordination together people with a direct investment in Technical Advisory the community, people who understand and Committee (TAC) appreciate its assets, and live everyday with its shortcomings. The study’s technical elements, including the needs assessment and the development and Two focus group sessions were held with local testing of gateway access concepts, were residents, workers, social service providers, discussed and reviewed by the Technical and members of the business community. Advisory Committee, a group comprised of Residents spoke primarily of local issues and planning and engineering staff from the City of quality of life concerns related to peak period Paterson and Passaic County, the North Jersey traffi c and heavy movement of traffi c along city Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), streets, including school-aged children facing NJ TRANSIT, the New Jersey Department of daily traffi c congestion as they walk to and from Transportation (NJDOT), the Paterson Parking school, the diffi culties residents often encounter Authority, New Jersey Community Development at crosswalks, and quality of life impacts. Corporation, and EZ-Ride/Meadowlink In contrast, business owners identifi ed the need Transportation Management Association (TMA). for off-street parking in close proximity to shops Three technical meetings were held. A small and destinations and wayfi nding signs to direct working group consisting primarily of City and visitors from highway off-ramps to parking lots. County staff was also engaged to pre-screen the needs assessment and candidate mobility Comments and issues raised at the focus groups improvements. proved instrumental to identifying the key issues and needs, and formulation and prioritization of Discussion at the TAC meetings focused candidate mobility improvements. primarily on traffi c circulation, pedestrian needs, re-decking of the Spruce Street Bridge, and formulation and evaluation of the Gateway Access alternatives. Of particular concern to committee members were existing bottlenecks, limited crossings of the Passaic River, impacts to on-street parking, future structured parking, and improved access to ramps at I-80 and NJ-19.

Focus Group Meetings Focus groups were employed to broaden the variety of perspectives, priorities, and concerns that defi ne the overall study; contribute to the vision, goals, and needs assessment; and identify potential mobility improvements. Small groups provide opportunities for personal input and perspective not always apparent to the professionals and decision makers that make up the traditional advisory committees by bringing

Great Falls Circulation Study | 15 Public Meetings . Jitney/NJ TRANSIT confl icts common . Congestion and double parking are typical Public meetings are a critical venue for reaching near schools those who live, work, and do business in the study area to ensure that they are kept informed, . Many parents are not comfortable with engaged throughout the study, and afforded biking conditions for children ample opportunity to participate. A mix of Paterson residents, planning professionals, and . It is often diffi cult for pedestrians to cross municipal and agency representatives attended the street, especially during peak hours the two open public meetings, which were held . Many pedestrians cross mid-block to avoid on December 10, 2015 and April 27, 2016, at the busy intersections Paterson Museum. . It can be faster to walk than drive during Flexible public meeting formats encouraged peak traffi c periods open discussion on a wide range of topics that helped frame the Great Falls Circulation Study. . Poor observance and enforcement of traffi c A diversity of comments and concerns were safety are common expressed including: . Adequate off-street parking is essential to . Chaotic peak hour traffi c conditions are an social services, events, and attractions unwelcome daily event . It is easy to get to Paterson, but diffi cult to . Pass through traffi c and the impact to local fi nd attractions and destinations mobility and safety . Quality of life considerations . Impact of heavy trucks on the integrity of historic structures in Great Falls district . Limited directional signs and wayfi nding . Many school-age children walk to school alongside heavy traffi c

16 | Comprehensive Public Outreach and Coordination 02 Vision Statement and Goals

The fi rst outcome of the outreach process is formulation of the study vision and goals. The Vision Statement Vision Statement articulates the purpose and intent of The City of Paterson will become a more the study in a brief and concise manner, attractive place for education, tourism while the Goals are a series of statements and business and enhance its position as used to prioritize and evaluate the regional center and the county seat of the various recommendations and government and social services. Through the implementation of multimodal Complete concepts that come out of the technical Streets, Paterson will mitigate long-standing evaluation, needs assessment, and traffi c congestion and traffi c impacts, improve modeling tasks. safety and access, and become a more vibrant and livable community.

The Vision Statement and Goals must come from the stakeholders and represent local values, desires, and concerns. Working with the focus groups and advisory committees, the team identifi ed a host of needs, issues, and Study Goals and Objective concerns relating to a variety of topics, including pedestrian safety and mobility, access and . Prioritize pedestrian safety City-wide with travel safety for school-age children, parking, emphasis on students and vulnerable users wayfi nding, quality of life issues, the impact of . Enhance residential quality of life and the through traffi c and congestion, and enforcement Great Falls NHP visitor experience of traffi c regulations. The team reviewed . Improve access and mobility to the Great the public discourse, written comments, Falls NHP and downtown historic district and correspondence from stakeholders in . formulation and refi nement of the vision and Counteract long-standing disproportionate impacts of traffi c and congestion due to goals. highway construction and through traffi c . Advance Spruce Street Bridge corridor concepts to improve pedestrian safety, school access, and Great Falls NHP heritage tourism

Great Falls Circulation Study | 17 Photo Credit: Terence McKenna 03 Community Profi le

Paterson is a place of great contrasts; Demographic data for the Great Falls study area its history and natural resources serve was compared to the City of Paterson, Passaic as a platform of great potential and County, and the state of New Jersey as a whole. Each of the key indicators portray a community opportunity, yet its demographic vastly different from its neighbors and fellow makeup, economic decline, and the New Jersey residents, and in each case the long-standing adverse impact of traffi c study area is an outlier that presents signifi cant and congestion present equally great disadvantages and barriers to advancement: challenges to advancement. The community profi le of the Great Falls . The Great Falls study area has the lowest Circulation Study Area reveals a diverse median household income among the four but relatively poor community, with comparison geographies: its median of limited English profi ciency and scant $22,519 is about 59% of the City of Paterson median, 34% of the Passaic County median, access to auto ownership. and less than 29% of the statewide median household income. The percentage of households below the poverty level indicate a similar pattern of economic distress; 11.8% of study area households fall below the poverty line – more than twice the County rate and nearly 4 times the statewide fi gure of just 3%. The City of Paterson has the 11th lowest median household income in New Jersey at $32,707.

. Zero-car households predominate the Great Falls study at 55% of study area households, almost twice that of Paterson as whole, more than three times that of Passaic County, and about four times the statewide rate. The City of Paterson has the 3rd highest rate of zero car households in New Jersey, and the 12th highest in the U.S. Decorative Tile at Hinchliffe Stadium

Great Falls Circulation Study | 19 Pedestrians crossing Spruce Street at Market Street

. In terms of vulnerable populations, . Based on ethnicity data, the majority of the including school-aged children and senior population in both the study area (64%) and citizens, the study area contains a higher the City of Paterson (58%) is of Hispanic percentage of children between the ages of or Latino descent, compared to just 18.1% 5 and 19 (almost 24 percent) than Paterson, statewide. Passaic County, and The community profi le New Jersey. Senior Zero-car households predominate the Great assessment reinforces citizens (aged 65+) the need for multimodal make up 11 percent Falls study at 55% of transportation of the study area study area households, almost twice improvements including population. that of Paterson as a whole better sidewalks near . The area also has schools, better pedestrian 25% of households connections to Downtown with Limited English Profi ciency (LEP), a Paterson and the Paterson Great Falls NHP, higher percentage of households“ than and improved access to public transportation comparison surrounding geographies; options in order to provide safer and more this is almost twice that of Passaic County convenient access to education, community and more than three times the statewide resources, and employment opportunities. percentage. Spanish is the predominant language spoken among Great Falls LEP households.

20 | Community Profi le 04 Multimodal Mobility Needs Assessment

The Multimodal Mobility Needs 4.1 Previous Studies Assessment evaluated access, safety, and mobility issues for pedestrians, Key recommendations and fi ndings from recent bicyclists, and motor vehicles, including and previous studies are summarized below. crash history, bicycle access, pedestrian circulation, and transit. Work completed 4.1.1 Passaic County Heritage Tourism in previous studies was also reviewed Plan in order to incorporate information Prepared in 2013, the Heritage Tourism Plan from existing data, fi ndings, and promotes a unifi ed heritage tourism program, recommendations. provides strategies and recommendations to support preservation and enhancement of historic resources, and provides guidance for implementation. The Plan highlights the need for streamlining visitor access from the Paterson train station to the Great Falls Historic District in order to maintain a sustainable tourism program. The Heritage Tourism Plan also specifi cally identifi ed the Great Falls NHP gateway as one of the key areas for improvements to bicycle and pedestrian safety conditions. Recommendations included:

. Reconfi gure the Spruce Street Bridge to serve as a gateway to the area

. Examine closing McBride Avenue to vehicular traffi c in the NHP area

. Repair sidewalk and pedestrian facilities and implement streetscape improvements

. Implement comprehensive intersection improvements for pedestrians

. Examine opportunities to create an alternate Passaic River crossing Pedestrians wait for the walk phase at this wide and exposed crossing of Memorial Drive Great Falls Circulation Study | 21 4.1.2 City of Paterson City-Wide 4.1.3 Greater Spruce Street Transportation Assessment Neighborhood Plan The City of Paterson City-Wide Transportation The Greater Spruce Street Neighborhood Assessment, prepared in March 2010, sought to Plan, sponsored by New Jersey Community develop a multi-modal improvement program Development Corporation, was prepared in for Paterson’s transportation network. Findings January 2009. The plan developed a vision and and recommendations included: implementation plan for the neighborhood that builds upon its existing natural, historic, . Upgrade outdated signal systems, and cultural assets and seeks to improve greater use of semi-actuated signals, and the desirability of the neighborhood for prohibiting the use of right-turn-on-red at residents, businesses, and visitors. The mobility select locations recommendations provided in the plan focused on the creation of “balanced streets.” . Evaluate the geometric confi gurations of high-crash intersections Findings and recommendations included:

. Create a one-way pair by converting Cianci . Improve walkability throughout the Spruce Street to one-way northbound and Mill Street neighborhood area Street to one-way southbound, improving downtown circulation . Implement traffi c calming, streetscaping, intersections improvements, and raised . Develop a comprehensive signing plan crosswalks between major attractions in the City . Downsize Ward Street with gateway . Improve coordination between jitney treatments and public realm improvements operations and NJ TRANSIT . Improve management of through-traffi c . Improve striping of parking spaces and bound to area highways enforcement of parking regulations . Make Paterson more bike friendly and . Install sidewalks along roadway segments provide connections to the Great Falls path with missing, deteriorated, or substandard system sidewalks . Create open space linkages and trails . Enhance pedestrian crossings at high between Great Falls, neighborhoods and pedestrian activity intersections regional trails and parks

. Restripe key roadways to be bicycle . Strengthen the enforcement of traffi c laws compatible where existing geometry allows, including Broadway Avenue, Market Street and Main Street

22 | Multimodal Mobility Needs Assessment 4.1.4 Moving Passaic: Transportation . A feasibility study to evaluate relocating the Element of the Passaic Co. Master Plan existing NJ TRANSIT bus garage on Market Street in Paterson The Transportation Element of the Passaic County Master Plan, completed in 2012, serves . ITS and coordinated corridor signal as the blueprint for the county’s multimodal systems in downtown Paterson to mitigate transportation system. The Plan identifi es congestion issues policies and investments to ensure adequate . Implement recommendations of the Morris mobility for county residents, support economic Canal Greenway Feasibility Study vitality, and maintain a high quality of life. The Transportation Element recommends . Develop a wayfi nding system for all users development of “Complete Streets” that better that will improve safety as well as the serve pedestrians and transit users, including visibility of attractions senior citizens and persons with disabilities. This includes improving the relationship between . Prioritize connections with existing bicycle county roads and their surroundings, with new and pedestrian facilities such as the Morris perspectives on roadway design that emphasize Canal Greenway walkability and improved aesthetics. The . Implement recommendations of the NJTPA Transportation Element provides several transit Bus Stop Safety Toolbox recommendations directly benefi cial to Paterson and to promoting tourism around the Great Falls . Develop a Heritage Tourism Element of the NHP area. Passaic County Master Plan that can identify critical transportation nodes and potential Findings and recommendations include: center of activity for tourism opportunities

. Reactivation of passenger service along . Implement Complete Streets improvements the NYS&W rail line as part of the Passaic- in accordance with Plan guidelines through Bergen-Hudson Rail Line project all capital expenditures, including the annual resurfacing program . Further study of several potential BRT services, such a Paterson-Nutley route, a Other recommendations include reclaiming Main Street (Paterson-Clifton-Passaic) route, the waterways to provide more recreational and a Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike route opportunities along the natural byways, especially the Great Falls NHP. The plan also . Reactivation of the South Paterson NJ provides recommendations for improvements of TRANSIT rail station, served by the Bergen pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure in Paterson, County Main Line due in part to development of the Great Falls NHP as a major pedestrian and bicycle activity . Additional evening and weekend services generator.

Great Falls Circulation Study | 23 4.1.5 Paterson Bike Share Planning . Identify potential bike share locations and Workshop the types of system that could be used in Passaic County The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Offi ce of Sustainable Communities (OSC) . Support bike share through complimentary provided a technical assistance grant to Passaic efforts that help promote bicycling in the County to evaluate the feasibility of a bike share area program in Paterson. A site tour was conducted Next steps and a time frame for implementation to allow EPA representatives and local partners were identifi ed: to view areas of the National Park and its environs, as well as the downtown core, Garret . Promote the EPA report and integrate bike Mountain, and the Morris Canal Greenway. The share themes into the Great Falls Circulation tour provided participants the opportunity to Study develop initial thoughts about how bike share could be deployed in Paterson and serve as a . Pursue initial funding and partnership pilot for other area municipalities. opportunities

Goals of the study included: . Invest in additional on-street and off-street bicycle route improvements . Promote the area’s history, and market it to . Implement supportive wayfi nding and visitors who may arrive by train and use bike information share to get around town and tour local sites all in one day . Develop Bicycling Education Program . Ensure that on-street bicycle route investments continue, including a link 4.1.6 Intelligent Transportation Systems between the Great Falls NHP and the Integrating Intelligent Transportation Systems downtown area/NJ TRANSIT station (ITS) such as Adaptive Signal Control Systems . Link downtown to the Great Falls NHP, (ASCS), Smart Lighting, and various sensor Historic Districts, and Garret Mountain technologies is vital when planning and preserve via wayfi nding and itineraries for designing any investments outlined in the GFCS. visitors The County is already working to implement ITS solutions that can be replicated and expanded. . Overcome the city “fear factor” and largely unfounded perceptions that the area is Passaic County is part of a Global Cities Team unsafe Challenge Action Cluster to create a Smart Transportation Hub at the Paterson Train Station. . Develop outreach and educational The project would enable location-awareness programs for Paterson motorists and services to the general public with an emphasis bicyclists about bicycle safety, such as riding on those with visual impairment and Autism skills and sharing the road with drivers (and Spectrum Disorder. vice versa) Passaic County is also partnering with Paterson . Address equity issues such as credit card on a pilot project along Grand Street to provide access and multi-lingual materials traffi c signal connectivity to better monitor and manage traffi c although not a full ASCS system.

24 | Multimodal Mobility Needs Assessment 38% occurred between intersections, which 4.2 Crash History is opposite of statewide averages where Vehicular and pedestrian crash data can provide most crashes occur away from, rather than at, insight into potential safety issues, such as crash intersections. This fi nding could be related hot spots, crash type over-representations, to Paterson’s signifi cant and recurring peak or common contributing factors. The project hour congestion, limited availability of gaps to team reviewed the New Jersey Department of accommodate turning movements, and lack of Transportation’s crash data within the Great Falls dedicated turn lanes and signal timing phases. Study Area from 2010 to 2014, the most recent The most common type of crash within the study fi ve-year period for which complete data was area was same direction-rear end, accounting for available. 22.6% of the crashes. Although few other crash characteristics and factors differed signifi cantly 4.2.1 Crash Hotspots from statewide average, one notable exception was that NJ 19 has a disproportionate number of The distribution of all crashes in the study area crashes during non-daylight hours. is shown in the heat map in Figure 1. The heat map illustrates crash “hot spots,” areas where there was a greater frequency of crashes. The 4.2.3 Crash Assessment – Bicycle and largest concentration of crashes occurred along Pedestrian Crashes many study area corridors, in particular along Memorial Drive between Broadway and College Bicycle and pedestrian crash data was analyzed Boulevard. Other notable hotspots can be seen separately. A total of 130 pedestrian crashes and in the downtown area along Market Street and 17 bicyclist crashes occurred within the study Main Street, and along Wayne Avenue, Ward area between 2010 and 2014. Street, Grand Street, and in the vicinity of the NJ Similar to the larger trend seen in all crash TRANSIT train station on Market Street. data, a higher proportion of pedestrian Bicycle and pedestrian crash hot spots within crashes occurred at intersections relative to the the study area are shown in Figure 2. The statewide average, indicating a potential need largest concentration of bicycle and pedestrian for enhanced pedestrian crossing improvements. crashes occurred in the downtown area along A large proportion of pedestrian crashes and adjacent to Main Street and Market Street. involved a crossing action. Eighteen percent of Other bicycle and pedestrian crash hot-spots are pedestrian crashes occurred while crossing a located along Memorial Drive, West Broadway, marked crosswalk at an intersection, while 15% and Spruce Street. occurred at unmarked intersection crossings. Additionally, 7% occurred crossing an unmarked 4.2.2 Crash Assessment – All Crashes mid-block location (jaywalking) and 3% occurred crossing at a marked mid-block location. Among A total of 1,642 crashes occurred in the Paterson bicycle crashes, there were no signifi cant groups Great Falls study area between 2010 and of pre-crash actions, as no action had more than 2014. Most characteristics and contributing three crashes over the fi ve-year analysis period. factors were similar to statewide trends, with the signifi cant exception of crash location. Approximately 62% of crashes in the Great Falls study area occurred at intersections, and

Great Falls Circulation Study | 25 Sh n t N eridan Ave Ave Coral St li t C orthwest St Marion St River S Governor St Union Ave White St Presidential Blvd Tyler St Figure 1:

Redwood Ave Matlock St Ryle Ave Godwin St Heat mapp for all crashes W Broadway

Paterson St

Bridge St

Ryle Rd Totowa Ave Hamilton Ave (2010-2014) Sherman Ave v509 Fair St Manchester AveWayne Ave River St Washington St Broadway

College Blvd Ryerson Ave 647 Curtis Pl v Van Houten St Ellison St

Liberty St Paterson Ave Walnut St

648 Memorial Dr Mill St v Preakness Ave Maple St 666 16th Ave v666 Cianci St Park Ave Market St Smith St Clark St 2I McBride Ave Ext Elm St Federal Plz

Birch St Front St Jersey St

v639 Crosby Pl

Mill St Essex St

Jackson St Spring St Spruce StOliver St

Walker St Ave Dale

Prince St Prince Slater St

Straight St Morris St Hoxey St

Henderson St Mcbride Ave Rockland St Quinn St Grand St Howard St

St rd o d S d St t Marshall n St MurrayM AveA PerryPerrPe St 19 Main S t 633 t «¬ ve e v ry St ere S HighH Green St CaldwCaldwell A SlaterSlat St Jac t St ell A St t k Ave ilroad nes S a

No e A C ridan Ave ve oral St C rthwest St St Marion St River Governor St Union Ave White St Figure 2: Presidential Blvd Tyler St

Redwood Ave Matlock St Ryle Ave Heat map for bicycle and Godwin St W Broadway

Paterson St

Bridge St pedestrianp crashes Ryle Rd Totowa Ave Hamilton Ave (2010-2014) Sherman Ave v509 Fair St Manchester AveWayne Ave River St Washington St Broadway

College Blvd Ryerson Ave 647 Curtis Pl v Van Houten St Ellison St

Liberty St Paterson Ave Walnut St

648 Memorial Dr Mill St v Preakness Ave Maple St 666 16th Ave v666 Cianci St Park Ave Market St Smith St Clark St 2I McBride Ave Ext Elm St Federal Plz

Birch St Front St Jersey St

v639 Crosby Pl

Mill St Essex St

Jackson St Spring St Spruce StOliver St

Walker St Ave Dale

Prince St Prince Slater St

Straight St Morris St Hoxey St

Henderson St Mcbride Ave Rockland St Quinn St Grand St Howard St

St rd o d S d t Marshall St n St St MurrayMMurr Ave PerryPerrPe St 19 Main St ay A t 633 «¬ ve e v ry St HighH Green St CaldwellCald SlaterSlat St Jack well t Ave es SSt s Ave ailroad arnarnern ¨§ R

26 | Multimodal Mobility Needs Assessment Bicyclist crossing Mill Street at McBride Avenue The LTS analysis was conducted across the entire 4.3 Bicycle Access roadway network within the study area. Typical mid-block roadway characteristics were used 4.3.1 Bicycle Level of Traffi c Stress for the analysis, based on data from GIS, fi eld observations, NJDOT’s straight line diagrams, Bicycle access within the Great Fall study area and aerial photography. The analysis provides was analyzed using the Bicycle Level of Traffi c a general understanding of existing conditions Stress (LTS) method that measures a cyclist’s for cyclists at a block level, and does not include potential comfort level given the current the potential infl uence of different intersection conditions of the roadway. Different cyclists have designs or traffi c conditions. The results are different tolerances for stress created by the illustrated on the map in Figure 3. volume, speed, and proximity of automobile traffi c. The LTS metric is based on the Dutch The vast majority of the roadway network are concept of low-stress bicycle facilities. In local urban streets, which are typically low general, lower stress facilities have increased speed (25 mph speed limit) and one- or two- separation between cyclists and vehicular traffi c lane roadways, which are generally conducive to and/or have lower speeds and lower traffi c cycling. volumes. These roadways are more accessible However, while there are a few low-stress links for less experienced and risk-averse cyclists, that are accessible to cyclists of all ages and including the typical adult cyclist, families, and abilities (e.g. families and children), these links children. Higher stress environments generally are disconnected and do not provide direct involve cyclists riding in close proximity to traffi c, access to the Great Falls NHP on the south side multi-lane roadways, and higher speeds or traffi c of the Passaic River. volumes. This refl ects the Complete Streets goals of making streets accessible to all users, all ages, and all abilities.

Great Falls Circulation Study | 27 Market Street, Paterson, NJ High stress roadways within the study area 4.3.2 Bicycle Infrastructure include: There is little existing bicycle infrastructure in the . NJ Route 19: The section of NJ 19 entering study area. Additionally, pavement conditions Paterson is an LTS 4 due to its four-lane on some roadways in the study area are in cross section and high vehicular speeds poor condition, creating a diffi cult surface for bicycling. However, Paterson’s urban street . Memorial Drive and Ward Street are LTS 3 network is typically low speed, dense, and due to their four-lane cross section, creating interconnected, with few multi-lane roadways. a higher stress ring within the study area. This creates a dense, well-connected street network that provides a good foundation for a . Van Houten Street and portions of Ellison bicycle friendly environment. Street are an LTS 3. At the time of the study completion, “Green . The Spruce Street Bridge is a major gateway Back Sharrows” and other bicycle improvements to the Great Falls NHP from the northwest. were installed by Passaic County on Grand However, it is a stressful crossing for the Street near the study area as part of the Morris average cyclist (LTS 3) due to the four-lane Canal Greenway to provide an improved shared cross section and high traffi c volumes. lane condition for cyclists. McBride Avenue Extension and Spruce Street are both LTS 2.

28 | Multimodal Mobility Needs Assessment Bicycle Level of Traffic Stress Analysis

Oxford St Lawrence St Kearney St Temple St Jasper St Jane St Albion Ave Fulton St Sheridan Ave Crosby Ave Northwest St Coral St Cliff St r ive Marion St c R sai River St Pas Governor St Union Ave White St Presidential Blvd Tyler St

Matlock St Ryle Ave Redwood Ave Godwin St W Broadway

Paterson St Bridge St Hamilton Ave Totowa Ave Ryle Rd Sherman Ave v509 Fair St

Manchester AveWayne Ave River St

Washington St Broadway

College Blvd

R yerson Ave Liberty St 647 Van Houten St Curtis Pl Ellison St v Walnut St

Paterson Ave Maple St Great Falls National

Mill St Historical Park 648 Memorial Dr Preakness Ave v 16th Ave 666 Cianci St 666 Smith St Clark St Park Av v Market St McBride Ave Ext Federal Plz 2I Elm St

Birch St Jersey St Front St

v639 Spruce St Crosby Pl

Mill St Essex

Pass Jackson St Spring St aic Oliver St River Grand St Walker St Ave Dale

Prince St Prince Slater St

Straight St

Hoxey St Morris St

Henderson St Mcbride Ave Rockland St Quinn St

Howard St

Murray Ave Marshall St Perry St 19 v633 «¬ Main St GreenJackson St Caldwell Ave Slater St

Barnes St Ave Railroad 80 Dixon Ave ¨§ 20th Ave

New St

Bicycle Level of Traffic Stress

Level of Stress 1 Level of Stress 2 Level of Stress 3 Level of Stress 4 0 0.25 0.5 Miles F 4.4 Pedestrian . Market Street & Spruce Street Accommodations at . Spruce Street & McBride Avenue Extension Major Intersections . McBride Avenue & Wayne Avenue . Market Street & Main Street Pedestrian accommodations were evaluated and combined with crash data fi ndings to . Memorial Drive & Market Street support development of pedestrian intersection . Market Street & Veterans Place/Washington improvements. The project team undertook Street analysis of the following intersections: The following paragraphs summarize the . Main Street & NJ-19/Ward Street fi ndings for the key intersections in the Great . Market Street & Cianci Street Falls Study area related to the development of the Gateway Access alternatives. Detailed . NJ-19 & Cianci Street analysis is included in the Multimodal Mobility Needs Assessment Technical Memorandum. . Mill Street & Market Street

. Mill Street & McBride Avenue Extension

Potentially challenging sidewalks for wheelchairs and walkers alike

30 | Multimodal Mobility Needs Assessment 4.4.1 Mill Street & Market Street This intersection is located just west of downtown Paterson and just east of Paterson Great Falls NHP. The intersection is adjacent to Paterson’s Public School Number Two. The north-south approach along Mill Street connects Mill Street major streets further north to neighborhoods to the south. The east-west approach along Market Street connects Paterson Great Falls NHP and the Paterson Museum with downtown Paterson. M a During the fi eld visit, a signifi cant number of r k school children were seen using this intersection. et S t r Existing Conditions Inventory eet Crosswalk Striping F . Ladder crosswalks crossing Market Street . No pedestrian scaled lighting at intersection . Standard crosswalks crossing Mill Street Curb Ramps Key Issues and Concerns . All four corners have perpendicular curb . No pedestrian scaled lighting at intersection ramps . No pedestrian signal push buttons Pedestrian Signals and Push Buttons . Offset intersection and geometrics create . All four corners have pedestrian signals throughput limitations. . No countdowns at pedestrian signals . No pedestrian signal push buttons . Market Street crossing pedestrian signal provides seven seconds of walk time in addition to eight more seconds of fl ashing red time; entire pedestrian light cycle is forty seconds long . Mill Street crossing pedestrian signal provides twenty-two seconds of walk time in addition to ten more seconds of fl ashing red time; entire pedestrian light cycle is thirty-fi ve seconds long Sidewalk Network . Sidewalks adjacent to intersection are wide and in good condition Lighting

Great Falls Circulation Study | 31 4.4.2 Market Street & Cianci Street This intersection is located just west of downtown Paterson, adjacent to numerous shopping centers and an elementary school. The northern approach along Cianci Street connects Market Street to the south with shopping and Memorial Drive to the north. The east-west approach along Market Street serves as a second main street and connects Main Street and commercial activity to the east with rket Street Ma C Paterson’s Elementary School Number Two and ia n c the Paterson Museum to the west. i St r eet Existing Conditions Inventory Crosswalk Striping F . Standard crosswalk striping on Cianci Street crossings pedestrian scaled lighting . Ladder crosswalk striping on Market Street crossings Key Issues and Concerns . Northwest and northeast corners lack . Curb Ramps pedestrian scaled lighting . Curb ramps at intersection are all . None of the pedestrian signals have perpendicular and in good working order countdowns . No pedestrian push buttons at intersection . Illegal parking is common along the left side . None of the pedestrian signals have curb just north of the intersection countdowns . Cianci Street crossing pedestrian signal provides twenty-four seconds of walk time in addition to six more seconds of fl ashing red time; entire pedestrian light cycle is thirty-seven seconds long . Market Street crossing pedestrian signal provides seven seconds of walk time in addition to nine more seconds of fl ashing red time; entire pedestrian light cycle is forty seconds long Sidewalk Network . All four corners have wide, good quality sidewalks Lighting . Northwest and northeast corners lack

32 | Multimodal Mobility Needs Assessment 4.4.3 NJ-19 & Cianci Street This intersection is located just west of NJ-19 downtown Paterson, one block from Center City Mall and the John P. Holland Charter School. The intersection offers an alternative to Main Street for travel to the north. The north-south approach along Cianci Street connects the John P. Holland Charter School to the south with neighborhoods to the north. The east-west approach along NJ-19 connects Main Street C ia n and commercial activity to the east with local c i St freeways to the west. Street d r eet ar Existing Conditions Inventory W Crosswalk Striping . All four crosswalks have standard crosswalk F striping . All four corners have wide, good quality Curb Ramps sidewalks . All four corners lack curb pads . Sidewalks are primarily composed of slate material, much of it in poor condition Pedestrian Signals and Push Buttons . No pedestrian push buttons at intersection Lighting . Southwest and northeast corners lack . None of pedestrian signals have pedestrian scaled lighting countdowns . No signal head on northeast corner Key Issues and Concerns . While “walk” phase does work, “fl ashing . Southwest and northeast corners lack don’t walk” and “don’t walk” phases are not pedestrian scaled lighting visible at northwest pedestrian signal head . None of the pedestrian signals have . Southeast corner pedestrian signal head is countdowns obscured by tree . Signal head at northwest corner is not . Cianci Street crossing pedestrian signal functioning properly provides thirty-one seconds of walk time in . No signal head on northeast corner addition to twelve more seconds of fl ashing red time; entire pedestrian light cycle is . Southeast corner pedestrian signal head is forty seconds long obscured by tree . NJ-19 crossing pedestrian signal provides . All four corners lack curb pads twenty-one seconds of walk time in addition to twelve more seconds of fl ashing red time; . Crossing width and refuge entire pedestrian light cycle is thirty-fi ve seconds long Sidewalk Network

Great Falls Circulation Study | 33 4.4.4 Market Street & Spruce Street This intersection is located just west of downtown Paterson and just south of Paterson Great Falls NHP. The intersection is adjacent treet to the Paterson Museum. The north-south approach along Spruce Street connects Paterson Market S Great Falls Historic Park to the north with neighborhoods to the south. Market Street to the east connects to downtown Paterson. The westbound intersection approach along Market

Street provides access to the Burger King S pr restaurant just west of the intersection. u ce St

Existing Conditions Inventory re e Crosswalk Striping t F . Ladder crosswalks crossing Market Street along Spruce Street (southbound approach) Spruce Street provides no protection for and at eastern approach crossing Spruce pedestrians Street (better served if the crossing was on . Signifi cant obstructions along Spruce Street the northerly side of the intersection) Sidewalk adjacent to Burger King; signal Curb Ramps box and a utility pole are positioned very . Curb ramps are in good working order close to crosswalk . Pedestrian Signals and Push Buttons Lighting . No signifi cant lighting at intersection . Pedestrian Signals installed on northeast, southeast, and southwest corners of intersection Key Issues and Concerns . No pedestrian scaled lighting at intersection . No countdowns at pedestrian signals . Market Street crossing pedestrian signal . No pedestrian signal push buttons, no provides twenty-three seconds of walk time signal head present at driveway exit in addition to ten more seconds of fl ashing . Commercial driveway at intersection is not red time; entire pedestrian light cycle is standard design and needs to be integrated thirty-seven seconds long into the signal . Spruce Street crossing pedestrian signal provides seven seconds of walk time in . Obstructions to pedestrians along sidewalk addition to seven more seconds of fl ashing at intersection red time; entire pedestrian light cycle is . Defi cient wayfi nding thirty-fi ve seconds long . Long pedestrian crossing exposed to left Sidewalk Network turn movement . Intersection is served by sidewalks on both streets . Defi cient curbing and sidewalk from the northerly approach . Eroded curbing on easterly side of

34 | Multimodal Mobility Needs Assessment 4.4.5 Spruce Street & McBride Ave. Ext. ve A de ri This intersection is located west of downtown cB Paterson and adjacent to Paterson Great Falls M National Historic Park. The intersection provides McBr critical access to the Spruce Street Bridge, ide Ave which connects neighborhoods on both sides of the Passaic River. The southern approach along Spruce Street connects residents and park visitors from the south to Paterson Great Falls S NHP and Wayne Avenue to the north. The east- p ru west approach along McBride Avenue connects ce S downtown Paterson with Paterson Great Falls tre e NHP and Wayne Avenue. t Existing Conditions Inventory Crosswalk Striping F . Ladder crosswalks at all three crossings . No pedestrian scaled lighting at the intersection Curb Ramps . Curb ramps are in good working order Key Issues and Concerns Pedestrian Signals and Push Buttons . No pedestrian scaled lighting at this . Pedestrian Signals are installed at all corners intersection of intersection . Spruce Street crosswalk on the southern . McBride Avenue crossing pedestrian end of the intersection showing signs of signal provides eight seconds of walk time wear in addition to fourteen more seconds of . Very wide crossing fl ashing red time; entire pedestrian light cycle is thirty seconds long . Topography presents challenges . Spruce Street crossing pedestrian signal . Wide curb radii encourage high travel twenty-seven seconds of walk time in speeds addition to sixteen more seconds of fl ashing . Long wait times for pedestrians at crossings red time; entire pedestrian light cycle forty- . No separation between sidewalk and NHP eight seconds long Visitor Center parking lot Sidewalk Network . Curvature and geometrics at intersection . Sidewalks leading from the east are new promote high vehicle speeds when turning and functioning well while sidewalks leading from the north and south are in poor . Names of roadways are confusing to visitors condition and diminish way-fi nding . Railing on Spruce Street Bridge over the . Sidewalks to the north and south are in Raceway leading from the south are in need of repair in addition to elements of disrepair the Spruce Street Bridge over the Raceway Lighting are in disrepair

Great Falls Circulation Study | 35 4.4.6 McBride Avenue & Wayne Avenue W a This intersection is located just south of the yne Ave Passaic River crossing and adjacent to Paterson Great Falls NHP. The intersection provides critical access to Wayne Avenue, which connects neighborhoods on both sides of the Passaic River. The southern approach along McBride McBride Ave Avenue connects residents and park visitors from the south and west to Paterson Great Falls NHP and Wayne Avenue to the north. The east-west approach along McBride Avenue and Wayne Avenue connects downtown Paterson with Paterson Great Falls NHP and neighborhoods

north of the Passaic River. cBride Ave M Existing Conditions Inventory F Crosswalk Striping Lighting . Standard crosswalk striping at all crossings . No pedestrian scaled lighting at intersection at this intersection Curb Ramps Key Issues and Concerns . Curb ramps are in good working order . No pedestrian scaled lighting at this intersection Pedestrian Signals and Push Buttons . Utility and pedestrian signal poles create . Pedestrian Signals are installed at all corners obstruction on southwest corner of of intersection intersection . No pedestrian push buttons at this . Curvature and geometrics at intersection intersection promote high vehicle speeds when turning . McBride/Wayne Avenue crossing pedestrian signal provides fi ve seconds of walk time in . Diffi cult access isolates and diminishes addition to nine more seconds of fl ashing importance of World War Memorial at red time; entire pedestrian light cycle is southwest corner of McBride Avenue and twenty seconds long Wayne Avenue

. McBride Avenue crossing along the eastern side of the intersection has a walk time of twenty seconds in addition to thirteen more seconds of fl ashing red time; entire pedestrian light cycle thirty-eight seconds long Sidewalk Network . Obstructions on southwest corner of intersection

36 | Multimodal Mobility Needs Assessment Transportation (doing business as Express 4.5 Trails Service), which maintains a base on the north There are several historic trails around the Great side of Broadway across from the bus terminal. Falls NHP, namely the Morris Canal Greenway, Jitney services typically use NJ TRANSIT-marked the Garrett Mountain Reservation bike and bus stops throughout northern New Jersey and walk trail, as well as the paths along the historic tend to follow similar routes. Express Service raceways. The Morris Canal was an inland water operates between Paterson, various points in transportation route connecting the Delaware Bergen and Hudson Counties, and New York River to the Passaic River in Newark. It was City (with separate services to the Port Authority completed in 1831 and is a historic landmark. Bus Terminal and George Washington Bridge Passaic County has been actively working Bus Terminal). towards completing the greenway; some Jitneys provide a valuable service in the study sections are completed and open to the public area, although operations are not always ideal. already. Garrett Mountain Reservation is a 568- Although required to follow NJ TRANSIT routes, acre park located in southern Passaic County jitney routes are at times inconsistent and the and is one of the National Natural Landmarks service may compete for space and riders at NJ in New Jersey. A 2.1-mile long bike and walk TRANSIT-marked bus stops. This interaction has trail runs around the reservation and can be been known to exacerbate traffi c congestion accessed through Mountain Avenue. Both trails along key corridors in the study area. are in close proximity to the Great Falls NHP and provide an opportunity to develop links between them to create a scenic trail connecting the 4.6.2 Bus Stop Utilization three historic landmarks. The Broadway Bus Terminal is a signifi cant hub for local and regional bus services. The terminal hosts the second highest combined 4.6 Transit Assessment boardings and alightings in the study area, after Market Street at City Hall. Other nearby 4.6.1 Existing Transit Services stops in downtown Paterson are similarly busy. Overall, the cluster of bus stops centered around The Great Falls study area is well served by NJ Main and Market Streets exhibit the highest TRANSIT bus routes and a number of private weekday activity, with another busy bus stop at transit (“jitney”) services. Downtown Paterson is Main Street and College Boulevard. The busiest a hub for local and regional bus services at, and stops in the study area show weekday boardings near, the Broadway Bus Terminal on Broadway or alightings exceeding 1,000 passengers, a one block west of Main Street. The primary comparatively signifi cant level of bus usage transit corridors in the downtown/study area are given the confl uence of local and regional Broadway, Main Street, and Market Street. services.

The Broadway Bus Terminal serves NJ TRANSIT Transit shelters are limited and could be routes that provide a variety of travel options incorporated as part of streetscape and street including local, regional, and interstate furniture improvement schemes, similar to connections. improvements already made to the Market Street corridor. Integrating "smart" features that Jitney services are operated primarily by Spanish provide real-time updates on schedules and

Great Falls Circulation Study | 37 precise arrival times for buses would enhance 4.6.4 Circulation the user experience and aid in changing the perception of the Great Falls NHP and the City. The primary transit corridors in the downtown/ Providing shelters also opens an avenue for study area are Broadway, Main Street, and wayfi nding maps, advertising for local attractions Market Street. Stops along these three corridors and a place for riders to stay dry during have the greatest number of boardings and inclement weather. alightings – at times exceeding 1,000 daily passengers per stop. However, these primary transit stops are located approximately a half 4.6.3 Transit Accessibility mile from Overlook Park. Enhancing connections between key transit stops and Overlook Park The bus stops closest to the Paterson Great Falls should be a priority when considering mobility NHP are located on Wayne Avenue at Maple improvements in the study area. Providing safe Street and along Market Street between Mill access to and from major destination points is and Spruce Streets. No bus routes currently vital to promoting mass transit use and overall pass directly along McBride Avenue and the safety in the study area. Lighting and sidewalk Overlook Park area. Sidewalks and pedestrian conditions should be consistent to provide this connections between these nearest stops and access with the possible use of smart lighting the Overlook Park are adequate and continuous, technology to detect pedestrian activity that if not in ideal physical condition throughout. A can be transmitted to adaptive signal control signalized intersection at McBride Avenue and systems that prioritize pedestrian crossings and Spruce Street offers safe pedestrian crossings; possibly provide instructions to individuals with however, the westbound right turn from McBride physical or cognitive disabilities as mention in Avenue to the merge with Spruce Street requires section 4.1.6. pedestrians to cross one unsignalized lane (motorists are to yield as they make the right turn).

Throughout downtown Paterson, transit accessibility is comprehensive as most major arteries have service on at least one bus/ jitney route (some with several routes). Walking distances between stops and notable activity centers are short.

The recommendations from the Heritage Tourism Plan relative to linkages between the NHP and the NJ TRANSIT rail station should be advanced; this corridor is need of upgrade and should be incorporated into streetscaping plans.

38 | Multimodal Mobility Needs Assessment 05 Gateway Access Alternatives

The technical elements of the study 5.1 Street Network included street network analysis, origin destination data, development of Analysis the Gateway alternatives, and traffi c Historical maps of Paterson from the turn of modeling to evaluate the performance the century reveal a robust and well-connected and effi cacy of each alternative. Traffi c street network as well as the presence of rail and simulations afford the opportunity to the Morris Canal, indicating a long history of devise and test a variety of “what if” multimodal accessibility in the City. The Passaic alternatives to evaluate their potential River is a severe limiting factor that creates a natural boundary on two sides – north and east effectiveness and determine if there – while also bisecting the western half of the is merit in advancing to feasibility city. The River has always hampered both local assessment. and regional mobility in Paterson and effectively channels through trips to a limited number of crossings to the north and west – essentially the same six crossings that exist today. Topography is also a substantial factor as the elevation rises signifi cantly in the vicinity of the Great Falls.

During the highway-building era of the mid- twentieth century, much of Paterson’s street network south of Grand Street and west of Main Street was removed and Interstate 80 and New Jersey Route 19 now occupy areas that once hosted numerous city streets. Large sections of the Morris Canal were also removed. NJ 19 as constructed connects the Garden State Parkway to I-80 and downtown Paterson, and was originally proposed as the Paterson spur of the Garden State Parkway that was to run all the way north to Wayne Township. Public opposition cancelled plans for the full alignment and NJ 19 now dumps its traffi c to Grand and Oliver Streets, where traffi c then fi nds its way to destinations often north and west of the City. Great Falls NHP Welcome Center

Great Falls Circulation Study | 39

In place of its once robust street grid, Paterson A series of factors therefore come together to now includes a mix of one- and two-way streets both create and exacerbate Paterson’s daily that sometimes change direction from block traffi c woes: to block. Left turns are limited by the one- way street pattern, and many intersections . The Passaic River hampers both local and experience long queues during the peak hours. regional mobility and effectively channels many through trips to a limited number of Along with the removal of large sections of the bridge crossings street grid south of Grand Street and west of Main Street, a number of local streets were also . The removal of much of Paterson’s street removed or bisected. Jersey and Pine Streets network south of Grand Street and west of once ran parallel to Market and Mill Streets; Main Street has severely degraded the city’s only short segments still exist. All four once street grid connected Market and Ellison Streets through to South Paterson, providing numerous and . The alignment of Interstate 80 and New redundant travel options for both local and Jersey Route 19 and their attendant ramps regional through trips. Oliver, Ward, Hamilton dump signifi cant volumes of highway traffi c and Slater Streets have also been severely cut directly onto city streets and through local back from their former alignments. In their neighborhoods and the Historic Districts place some additions were made, including the . The arrangement of these city streets into a diagonal spur of Tony Lalama Boulevard and confusing web of one- and two-way streets the reconfi guration of Paterson Street as the that sometimes change direction from block four-lane suburban style arterial that is Memorial to block Drive today. . The resulting congestion and long queues at intersections impact Paterson residents, students, and visitors on a daily basis

Great Falls Circulation Study | 41 These data confi rm that the through trips and 5.2 Origin Destination the cordon points at the I-80 and NJ 19 ramps, Data and the Spruce Street and northern crossings of the Passaic River experience the largest traffi c Traffi c data was collected during the Fall of 2015 fl ows during the AM peak period. The following to support design and testing of the Gateway diagrams use bandwidth plot techniques to scenarios, and evaluate the relative pros and indicate both the magnitude and pattern of the cons of each alternative. principal moves, including:

The project team used state-of-the-art aerial . 1,695 southbound trips counted at Wayne photography to support collection of traffi c Avenue, 63% (1068 trips) destined directly to data, including intersection counts, mid-block the I-80/NJ 19 ramps volumes, and point-to-point travel patterns. These aerial photography methodologies enable . 1,990 southbound trips counted at northern the collection of origin and destination data, crossings of the Passaic River, 47% (935 trips) meaning the ability to identify where and when destined to the I-80/NJ 19 ramps an individual vehicle enters the study area, the route taken, and the fi nal destination point. . 2,730 northbound trips counted at the I-80/ NJ 19 ramps, 39% (776 trips) destined to Each vehicle and trip can be seen and evaluated Wayne Avenue and 34% (677 trips) destined for what it is: a short local trip, a locally- to the northern crossings of the Passaic generated trip leaving the city to access the River highway, a vehicle coming from I-80 and passing fully though the Great Falls area, or a highway . 2,330 northbound trips originated locally traveler destined to a local Paterson destination. within the Great Falls study area, 43% (729 trips) destined to the I-80/NJ 19 ramps and These techniques provide a depth of data 14% (237 trips) destined to the northern quality, coverage, and analysis not available crossings of the Passaic River using traditional traffi c data collection Screenline analysis demonstrates that the methodologies, and support an accurate desire lines of these trips goes directly through depiction and simulation of traffi c fl ow, patterns, Paterson with no feasible adjacent alternative. and conditions using the Quadstone Paramics Paterson must fi nd ways to tame these trips and micro-simulation platform. Additional detailed the negative impact they impart to the City and modeling of the Spruce Street Bridge was its residents. undertaken using Synchro to provide data and analysis to support the bridge design effort.

Of particular interest to the project team was These volumes and movements are the magnitude of pass through traffi c and the signifi cant and recur on a daily basis, principal travel patterns during the peak periods. channeling thousands of regional The data extraction and analysis effort was rush hour trips through Paterson's designed to isolate these principal movements, neighborhoods, past its schools and in particular the interchange of traffi c between through the Great Falls NHP and Historic I-80/NJ 19 and the City of Paterson and the District, diminishing quality of life, safety, major bridge crossings of the Passaic River at and mobility, each and every day. Spruce Street, West Broadway and Main Street.

42 | Gateway Access Alternatives Great Falls Circulation Study Southbound Traffic Flows - AM Peak Period

Approx. 1990 trips SB Trips r ive c R sai Pas

Presidential Blvd Tyler St Matlock St Ryle Ave Godwin St W Broadway

Paterson St

Bridge St

Ryle Rd Totowa Ave Hamilton Ave v509 Fair St

River St Washington St Broadway

College Blvd Central Core 666 647 v Curtis Pl v Van Houten St Ellison St

Liberty St Paterson Ave Great Falls National Walnut St Historical Park % 11% 5 Approx. 648 Memorial Dr 1 v Preakness Ave 1695 trips 16th Ave Cianci St SB/WB Trips Market St Smith St Clark St 2I Maple St McBride Ave Ext Elm St Federal Plz

Birch St Mill St Front St 12 % Jersey St Spruce St

v639 Crosby Pl

%

9 Pass 1 a ic Oliver St % River Walker St 63% 7

4

Hoxey St Grand St Morris St

v633 ¬19

¨§80

0 0.25 0.5 Miles F Great Falls Circulation Study Northbound Traffic Flows from I-80/NJ19 - AM Peak Period

r ive c R sai Pas

Presidential Blvd Tyler St Matlock St Ryle Ave Godwin St W Broadway

Paterson St

Bridge St

Ryle Rd Totowa Ave Hamilton Ave v509 Fair St

River St 3 Washington St Broadway 4 College Blvd % Central Core 666 647 v Curtis Pl v Van Houten St Ellison St

Liberty St Paterson Ave Great Falls National Walnut St Historical Park 648 Memorial Dr Preakness Ave 3 v 9 16th Ave % Cianci St Market St Smith St Clark St 2I Maple St McBride Ave Ext Federal Plz

Elm1 St 0% Birch St Mill St Front St Jersey St

Spruce St v639 Crosby Pl

Pass aic Oliver St River Walker St

Hoxey St GrandApprox. St Morris St 2730 trips v633 NB Trips ¬19 ¨§80

0 0.25 0.5 Miles F Great Falls Circulation Study Internally Generated Traffic Flows - AM Peak Period

r ive c R sai Pas

Presidential Blvd Tyler St Matlock St Ryle Ave Godwin St W Broadway

Paterson St

Bridge St

Ryle Rd Totowa Ave Hamilton Ave v509 Fair St

River St Washington St Broadway

College Blvd % Central Core 14 666 647 v Curtis Pl v Van Houten St Ellison St

Liberty St Approx. Paterson Ave Great Falls National Walnut St Historical Park 2330 trips Trips v648 Memorial Dr Preakness Ave 16th Ave Cianci St Market St Smith St Clark St 13% 2I Maple St McBride Ave Ext Elm St Federal Plz

Birch St Mill St Front St 12 % Jersey St Spruce St v639 Crosby Pl

Pass 43% aic Oliver St River Walker St

Hoxey St Grand St Morris St

v633 ¬19

¨§80

0 0.25 0.5 Miles F and safety and diffi cult to cross, especially for 5.3 Gateway Access vulnerable users including children and seniors. Alternatives 5.3.2 Two-Way Street Pair Scenario Observations and fi ndings from the community profi le, outreach, and coordination activities Networks of two-way streets have the ability to were combined with the technical elements improve travel conditions by creating more route of the study to develop candidate Gateway choice options and shorter and more direct Access alternatives. Each alternatives presents a trips between origins and destinations. Left turn different strategy to achieve the vision and goals opportunities become more frequent – at each of the Circulation Study. intersection instead of every second or third intersection – and queues may be also reduced. 5.3.1 One-Way Street Pair Scenario Research and recent success stories of one- to two-way conversions demonstrate improved Networks of two-lane, one-way streets have pedestrian conditions and speeds that are more the ability to move large volumes of traffi c due compatible with the walkable downtown model. to expanded directional capacity, reduction in crossing volumes, and simplifi ed intersection The two-way scenario was implemented design and operations. The fi rst scenario stresses by converting the parallel Cianci and Mill traffi c-engineering and seeks to maximize traffi c Streets to two-way operations along the full fl ow by enhancing two parallel streets that afford alignment between Ellison and Oliver Streets north-south mobility through the center of the and reconnecting Mill Street to Grand Street Historic District: Cianci Street and Mill Street, as by installing a new traffi c signal at Oliver depicted in Figure 4 on page 49. Both currently Street, as depicted in Figure 5 on page 52. This mix one- and two-way segments and provide confi guration expands route choice and options direct but limited connections to the NJ-19 on- through the downtown Historic District, creates ramps at Oliver Street. direct access to and from I-80 and NJ-19, and provides relief to the parallel two-way Main and The City of Paterson City-Wide Transportation Spruce Street corridors. Assessment recommended creating a one-way pair through the downtown by converting Cianci One-way to two-way conversions can Street to one-way northbound and Mill Street to improve mobility and travel options, reduce one-way southbound. travel speeds, and enhance walkability. The Greater Spruce Street Neighborhood Plan Despite the potential benefi t in throughput, recommended improved walkability throughout one-way street systems can lead to increased the Spruce Street neighborhood area. travel speeds and reduced pedestrian mobility in urban environments. Left turn opportunities The two-way scenario also affords the option for also become more limited and some trips a multi-phase implementation, starting with the become longer resulting in more miles traveled Cianci/Mill pair and then expansion in the future overall. The additional capacity afforded during with a two-way pairing of College and Ellison the peak hours is also unneeded during the Streets between Memorial Drive and Mill Street. vast majority of the day, leaving wide streets that are conducive to high speed travel but are counterproductive to pedestrian mobility

46 | Gateway Access Alternatives 5.3.3 Reduced-Impact Two-Way Street . Spruce Street Bridge three-lane Scenario “Boulevard” alignment – Traffi c data and O-D patterns indicate that the current four- Full implementation of the two-way Cianci/Mill lane bridge cross section could be reduced scenario has the potential for signifi cant impact to three lanes, signifi cantly enhancing to the alignment and geometrics at the Mill/ pedestrian mobility and safety, as well Oliver Street intersection and costly removal of a creating as an enhanced streetscape and portion of the existing dividing barrier. This new NHP visitor experience. Large numbers of signal would periodically stop traffi c exiting the students cross this bridge each morning NJ-19 off-ramp, whose two lanes reach 2,100 and afternoon. Eastbound traffi c queues vehicles during the AM peak hour. impede the ability to make left turns to and from Front Street, and the current “Don’t A reduced impact version of this scenario would Block the Box” striping has little benefi t. limit the Cianci/Mill two-way pair conversion This proposed three-lane bridge alignment to the segment connecting Ellison and Oliver removes the left turns from the intersection Streets at a much reduced cost and impact. confi guration and distributes these trips See Figure 6 on page 55. This alternative still among the adjacent intersections, providing provides much of the benefi t of the two-way signifi cant benefi t to queue mitigation conversion: expanded travel routes and options, and addressing the issues that impede left turn queue mitigation, speed reduction and pedestrian mobility. The three-lane concept pedestrian crossing enhancements, improved is also consistent with recommendations of walkable downtown street environment, but the Passaic County Heritage Tourism Plan, without the greater impact to the highway off- which calls for reconfi guration of the Spruce ramps and traffi c volumes. Street Bridge to serve as a gateway feature.

A series of additional improvements was also . “Boulevard” alignment with McBride Ave tested with this scenario: Extension one-way at Spruce Street – . New traffi c signal at Spruce/Oliver Street Based on future Great Falls NHP expansion intersection – Comments, observations, and plans, it may be benefi cial to close the crash data indicate the benefi t of installing eastbound segment of the McBride Avenue a signal at this currently stop-controlled Extension at the Spruce Street intersection, intersection, with a protected left-turn lane keeping just the westbound segment open and phasing. and fully operational, and providing the opportunity to signifi cantly reduce the . Direct connect of Spruce Street south of pedestrian crossing area and create an Grand Street to the I-80 westbound ramp expanded streetscape plaza environment. – Vehicles destined to I-80 westbound This partial closure of the McBride Avenue currently turn left at the traffi c signal and Extension at the Spruce Street intersection then turn right to access the I-80 on-ramp. is consistent with recommendations of This direct connection from Spruce Street the Passaic County Heritage Tourism Plan, to the I-80 ramp would simplify signal which recommended examination of closing operations and mitigate left turn demand, the McBride Avenue Extension entirely to but would impact the adjacent residential vehicular traffi c in the NHP area to enhance neighborhood and could have a high price the gateway and NHP visitor experience. tag for implementation.

Great Falls Circulation Study | 47 5.4 Traffi c Modeling 5.4.1 One-Way Street Pair Scenario The one-way street pair scenario is a traffi c The three Gateway Access alternatives were engineering concept that creates a network of tested using the Quadstone Paramics micro- one-way, two-lane streets designed to maximize simulation traffi c model and their relative traffi c fl ow. performance was evaluated based on traditional performance measures. Performance Measures . Design Elements included the following: › Cianci Street: Ward Street to College . Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) – total miles Boulevard driven by each vehicle from origin/starting › Mill Street: Ellison Street to Mill Street point to destination/ending point. A › Reverse fl ow of Elm Street; keep as one- reduction would indicate that vehicles are way able to fi nd shorter routes either through reduced congestion in the network, through › New Traffi c Signals: Mill at Oliver Street, new and shorter travel options created Spruce at Oliver Street by changes to the network, or some › Upgrade traffi c signals: Ward at Cianci combination of both. Increased VMT would Street indicate that changes led to fewer travel options and/or more congestion. . Leverages Cianci and Mill Street pairing opportunity . Vehicle Hours Traveled (VHT) – total time required to make each O-D trip through . Recommended in City-Wide Transportation the network. A reduction in VHT indicates Assessment (2010) reduced congestion and the ability to . complete the derired trips in less time No loss of existing on-street parking overall. An increase in VHT indicates more › Cianci Street parking between Market time required to complete the desired trips, and Passaic Street currently prohibited owing to either more congestion or fewer › Mill Street parking on right side south of and/or longer trip options, such as the Ward Street currently prohibited creation of one-way pairs.

. Average Speed – average speed of each The one-way street pair scenario Paramics micro- trip (VHT/VMT). simulation provides the following results: . . Average Trip Travel Time – the average Very small changes to overall performance time required for each vehicle to make its . No detriment to number of vehicles trip from origin to destination completing trips

. Total Vehicles – the total number of vehicle . VMT increases slightly, typical fi nding trips. Any reduction in trips taken indicates for one-way street systems, but not worsening congestion compared to the signifi cnatly existing baseline condition. . Pros › No loss of on-street parking

48 | Gateway Access Alternatives › Provides relief to through trips for . Cons northbound and southbound traffi c › Some proposed street changes, in › Simplifi es pedestrian crossing of Passaic particular at Mill and Oliver Street, may Street at Cianci Street result in signifi cant community impact and cost › Favors through traffi c over local mobility and pedestrian access › One-way, two-lane confi guration has excess capacity outside of peak hours and demand › One-way street confi guration may result in higher speeds and a decrease in pedestrian mobility Figure 4: One-Way Street Pair Scenario he n N A Coral St orthwest St ridan Ave ve Cl r St ive Marion St c R sai River Pas Governor St Union Ave White St Presidential Blvd Tyler St Ryle Ave Redwood Ave Godwin St W Broadway

Paterson St Bridge St Hamilton Ave Totowa Ave Ryle Rd Sherman Ave v509 Fair St

Manchester AveWayne Ave River St

Washington St Broadway

College Blvd

Ryerson Ave

Liberty St 647 Van Houten St Curtis Pl Ellison St v Walnut St 1-Way 1-Lane Paterson Ave Maple St Great Falls National

Mill St Cianci St Historical Park Market St 648 Memorial Dr Preakness Ave v 16th Ave

666 Clark St Park Ave v McBride Ave Ex Smith St 1-Way 2-Lanes 1-Way 2-Lanes Federal Plz 2I Elm St

Birch St 1-Way 2-Lanes Front St Jersey St

v639 Spruce St Crosby Pl Grand St Essex St

Pass Signal Upgrade Jackson St Spring St a Oliver St ic Mill St River Walker St 1-Way 1-Lane Ave Dale

Prince St Prince Slater St

Straight St

Hoxey St Morris St

Henderson St Mcbride Ave Rockland St Quinn St

Howard St

Murray Ave Marshall Perry S 19 v633 «¬ Main GreenJa St

Cald Slater St St S ck well A St t Ave ilroad es a

Great Falls Circulation Study | 49 Table 1: One-Way Street Pair Scenario Statistics

Mean Avg TT Scenario VMT VHT Speed Veh (min) (mph) Base Existing 8,909 604 14.80 2.84 12,757 One Way Sc1.1 - Cianci - One-Way

Two-Way 1 Lane from Ward to Elm, One-Way 2 8,923 600 14.90 2.82 12,756 Lanes from Elm to Market and One-Way 1 Lane from Market to College 0.16% -0.61% 0.68% -0.59% -0.01% Sc1.3 - Mill - One-Way

Sc1.1 + One-Way 2 Lanes from College to Ellison, One-Way 1 Lane from Ellison to Ward. & 8,921 601 14.80 2.83 12,757 Reverse direction Elm St (EB -> WB) & One-Way 2 Lanes from Ward to Market 0.14% -0.40% 0.00% -0.41% 0.00% Sc1.7 - Mill One-Way 2 Lanes & New Traffi c Signal at Ward 8,927 604 14.80 2.84 12,757 Sc1.3 + One-Way 2 Lanes from College to Ward & 2Phase Signal @ Ward 0.21% 0.08% 0.00% 0.12% 0.00% Sc1.8 - Connect Spruce to I-80 Ramp 8,917 604 14.80 2.84 12,756 Sc1.7 + Connection to I-80 via Spruce St Ramp 0.10% 0.10% 0.00% 0.12% -0.01% Sc1.9 - Signal Improvements Ward @ Main

Sc1.8 + Signal Improvement at Ward @ Main 8,920 602 14.80 2.83 12,756 Additional green time to lead left phase 0.12% -0.32% 0.00% -0.29% -0.01%

50 | Gateway Access Alternatives 5.4.2 Two-Way Street Pair Scenario on Ellison/Van Houten Streets › Removes 0 of 33 existing spaces on The two-way street pair alternative is a balanced, College Boulevard multi-modal scenario designed to prioritize travel options and enhance pedestrian mobility The two-way street pair scenario Paramics micro- rather than simply just moving more traffi c. simulation provides the following results: . Overall very small decrease in mean speed . The two-way pair scenario begins and trip time restoration of the historic Paterson street grid . No detriment to number of vehicles completing trips . Counteracts impacts of congestion, through traffi c, trucks, speeding . VMT decreases about 1%, typical fi nding for two-way street systems . Design Elements . No signifi cant impact to overall › Cianci Street: Ward Street to College performance measures Boulevard; two-way conversion › Mill Street: Ward Street to Ellison Street ; . Pros two-way conversion › No loss of on-street parking on Cianci › Ellison Street: Mill Street to Memorial and Mill Streets Drive; two-way conversion › Calms traffi c, enhances travel options › College Boulevard/Van Houten Street: and left turn opportunities Mill Street to Memorial Drive ; two-way › Favors local mobility and pedestrian conversion access over through traffi c › New Traffi c Signal: Spruce at Oliver › Provides relief to through trips for Street northbound and southbound traffi c › Upgrade traffi c signal: Ward at Cianci › No signifi cant cost or construction Street impacts . Leverages Cianci and Mill Street pairing › Two-way, one-lane confi guration has opportunity with College/Ellison pair to appropriate capacity outside of peak create expansive two-way network hours and demand › No loss of parking on College Avenue . No loss of existing on-street parking on Cianci and Mill Streets . Cons › Cianci St parking between Market and › Impacts to existing on-street parking on Passaic St currently prohibited limited to Ellison Street: estimated loss of › Mill St parking on right side south of 24 of existing 50 parking spaces Ward Street currently prohibited › Parking impact could be signifi cant outside the Great Falls Historic District; . Minor loss of existing on-street parking on should studied further in coordination College/Ellison/Van Houten with the City of Paterson and Paterson › Removes up to 24 of 50 existing spaces Parking Authority

Great Falls Circulation Study | 51 Figure 5: Two-Way Street Pair Scenario

Sh on St if Northwest St eridan Ave Ave Coral St Cl r ive Marion St c R sai River St Pas Governor St Union Ave White St Presidential Blvd Tyler St Ryle Ave Redwood Ave Godwin St W Broadway

Paterson St Bridge St Hamilton Ave Totowa Ave Ryle Rd Sherman Ave v509 Fair St

Manchester AveWayne Ave River St

Washington St Broadway 2-Way 1 -Lane each dir College Blvd

Ryerson Ave 2-Way 1 -Lane each dir Liberty St 647 Van Houten St Curtis Pl Ellison St v Walnut St 2-Way 1 -Lane each dir Paterson Ave Maple St Great Falls National

Mill St Historical Park 648 Memorial Dr Preakness Ave 2-Way 1 -Lane each dir v 16th Ave 666 Cianci St 666 Smith St Clark St Park Ave v Market St McBride Ave Ext Federal Plz 2I 2-Way 1 -Lane each dir Elm St

Birch St Jersey St Front St

v639 Spruce St Crosby Pl Essex St Signal Upgrade Grand St Pass Jackson St Spring St a Oliver St ic Mill St River Walker St Ave Dale

Prince St Prince Slater St

Straight St

Hoxey St Morris St

Henderson St Mcbride Ave Rockland St Quinn St

Howard St

Murray Ave Marshall St Perry St 19 633 «¬ Main St v Green St Caldwell Ave Slater St Jackson St

Barnes St Ave Railroad 80 Dixon Ave ¨§ 20th Ave

New St

52 | Gateway Access Alternatives Table 2: Two-Way Street Pair Scenario Statistics

Mean Avg TT Scenario VMT VHT Speed Veh (min) (mph) Base Existing 8,909 604 14.80 2.84 12,757 Two Way Sc2.1 - Cianci - Two-Way

Two-Way 1 Lane from Ward to College (Note: Segment between Ellison and College is 2 Lanes SB) & 3Phase signal improvement at Market. 8,901 605 14.70 2.85 12,757 Assumes speed along this two-way will be reduced (<20mph). Signal Improvement at Main @ Ward -0.08% 0.28% -0.68% 0.29% 0.00% Sc2.2 - Mill - Two-Way

Sc2.1 + Two-Way 1 Lane from Ward to College & Connect to Ward with 2Phase Signal (Mill SB 8,871 615 14.40 2.89 12,757 Two Lane Approach at Ward, SBR Channelized & SBT & Assumes speeds along these two-ways will be reduced (<20mph) -0.42% 1.92% -2.70% 1.94% 0.00% Sc2.3 - Ellison - Two-Way 8,833 609 14.50 2.87 12,756 Sc2.2 + Two-Way 1 Lane from Mill to Memorial -0.85% 0.92% -2.03% 0.94% -0.01% Sc2.4 - College - Two-Way

Sc2.3 + Two-Way 1 Lane from Cianci to 8,816 609 14.50 2.86 12,755 Memorial -1.04% 0.85% -2.03% 0.88% -0.02% Sc2.5 - Connect Spruce to I-80 Ramp 8,809 610 14.50 2.87 12,754 Sc2.4 + Connection to I-80 via Spruce St Ramp -1.12% 1.03% -2.03% 1.06% -0.02%

Great Falls Circulation Study | 53 5.4.3 Reduced-Impact Two-Way Street The reduced-impact two-way street scenario Scenario Paramics micro-simulation provides the following results: The reduced-impact two-way street scenario combines the concept of beginning to restore . No signifi cant impact to overall the street grid with the Spruce Street Bridge performance measures without McBride 3-lane design concept. Both advance a Extension eastbound closure balanced approach designed to prioritize travel options and enhance pedestrian mobility. . No detriment to number of vehicles completing trips

. Pairs two-way conversion with Spruce . Minor performance measure degrading Street 3-lane bridge concept with McBride Extension closure

. Begin restoration of historic Paterson . Pros street grid › No loss of on-street parking on Cianci . Counteract impacts of congestion, and Mill Streets through traffi c, trucks, speeding › Calms traffi c, enhances travel options . Signifi cant traffi c calming and pedestrian and left turn opportunities mobility benefi ts › Favors local mobility and pedestrian access over through traffi c . Design Elements › Provides relief to through trips for › Cianci Street: Ward Street to College northbound and southbound traffi c Boulevard; Two-way conversion › Spruce Street 3-lane concept enhances › Mill Street: Ward St to Ellison Street; Safe Routes to Schools and provides Two-way conversion Signifi cant traffi c calming and pedestrian › New Traffi c Signal: Spruce Street at mobility benefi ts Oliver Street › Two-way, one-lane confi guration has › Direct connection Spruce Street to I-80 appropriate capacity outside of peak westbound on-ramp hours and demand

› Spruce Street three-lane “Boulevard” . Cons alignment › Spruce Street direct connection to I-80 › McBride Extension (Eastbound Lane) ramp is anticipated to have a high cost closure at Spruce Street intersection and indicates minimal performance . Leverages Cianci and Mill Street pairing measure benefi t opportunity › Avoids impact to on-street parking on Ellison Street . No loss of existing on-street parking on Cianci and Mill Streets › Cianci St parking between Market and Passaic St currently prohibited › Mill St parking on right side south of Ward Street currently prohibited

54 | Gateway Access Alternatives Figure 6: Reduced-Impact Two-Way Street Scenario

al w n M c R Ave Av arion St S S est St sai Ri t Pas Governor St Union White Tyler St Ryle Ave Redwood Ave Godwin St W Broadway

Paterson St Bridge St Hamilton Ave Totowa Ave Ryle Rd Sherman Ave v509 Fair St

Manchester AveWayne Ave River St

Washington St Broadway

College Blvd

Ryerson Ave

Liberty St 647 Great Falls National Van Houten St Curtis Pl Ellison St v Walnut St Historical Park 2-Way 1-Lane each Dir

Paterson Ave Maple St Retain 2-Way Preakness Ave 666 Mill St v v648 Memorial Dr 2-Way 1-Lane each Dir 16th Ave Cianci St Smith St Clark St Park Ave 3-Lane Bridge Scenario Market St Jersey St McBride Ave Ext Federal Plz 2I Elm St

Birch St Change to 1-Way WB Front St 2-Way 1-Lane each Dir v639 Spruce St Crosby Pl Signal Upgrade Essex St Pass Grand St a Oliver St Jackson St Spring St ic Mill St River Walker St Ave Dale

Prince St Prince Slater St

Straight St Hoxey St Spruce S to I-80 WB Ramp Henderson St Mcbride Ave Rockland St Quinn St Howard St Morris St

Murray Ave Marshall St Perry St 19 633 «¬ Main St v Green St Caldwell A Slater St Jack

ve s Ave ailroad

nes St R Bar ¨§

Great Falls Circulation Study | 55 Table 3: Reduced-Impact Two-Way Street Scenario

Mean Avg TT Scenario VMT VHT Speed Veh (min) (mph) Base Existing 8,909 604 14.80 2.84 12,757 Two Way Sc4.1 - Cianci Two-Way + Spruce @ Oliver Signal 8,904 605 14.70 2.85 12,757 Sc2.1 + Signal -0.05% 0.25% -0.68% 0.23% 0.00% Sc4.2 - Connection to I-80 Ramp 8,893 606 14.70 2.85 12,756 Sc4.1 + Connection to I-80 via Spruce St Ramp -0.18% 0.34% -0.68% 0.35% -0.01% Sc4.3 - Spruce Street Bridge-Spruce Street three-lane “Boulevard” alignment 8,915 606 14.70 2.85 12,756 Sc4.2 + Spruce Street Bridge Design Concept (Ban Wayne Avenue NB LT & Front NB LT) 0.08% 0.41% -0.68% 0.41% -0.01% Sc4.4 - Closure McBride Extension (Eastbound)

Sc4.3 + McBride Extension (Eastbound Lane) closure 8,944 615 14.60 2.89 12,756 & Reconfi gured Lane Designation along Spruce SB 0.40% 1.83% -1.35% 1.82% -0.01%

56 | Gateway Access Alternatives 06 Gateway Vision Plan

The Great Falls Gateway Vision Plan The community profi le of the Great Falls is driven by examination of study Circulation Study Area reveals a diverse but poor area demographics, defi ciencies in community. infrastructure and pedestrian facilities, . Paterson has the 11th lowest median and the long standing impacts of traffi c household income in New Jersey and congestion that hamper quality of . 55% of households lack access to an life every day. Together these factors automobile, four times the state average drive the need to develop a network of . Many of Paterson’s 37,200 students walk to multimodal Complete Streets to better school and are exposed to heavy peak hour serve the needs of Paterson residents, traffi c and defi cient pedestrian conditions visitors, and business. Paterson has a long history of disproportionate impacts caused by traffi c and the chaos of peak hour congestion. Exposure to heavy traffi c and trucks, creates pedestrian risks, and negative quality of life impacts for residents and visitors of all ages on a daily basis.

The Spruce Street Bridge and Spruce Street Corridor is the gateway to the Great Falls NHP and downtown historic district. The corridor is essential to both school access and as a principal route for through traffi c, connecting I-80 and NJ 19 to the areas to the north and west of the Great Falls area. However, the current bridge and roadway design are incompatible with a safe, accessible pedestrian environment and ill-suited to the Gateway function. Origin- destination data indicate heavy fl ows of peak hour through traffi c and few alternatives are available to remove this traffi c from Paterson’s streets. Decorative tile at Hinchliffe Stadium

Great Falls Circulation Study | 57

. Promote street design that counteracts the Five-Part Gateway impact of congestion, thru traffi c, trucks, Vision Plan speeding The Great Falls Circulation Study advances a Part 3: Advance Local Intersection fi ve-part Gateway Vision Plan to implement Improvements to Enhance Multimodal the study vision and goals. The Vision Plan Mobility City-Wide is a program of multimodal transportation improvements that make Paterson a more . Institute traffi c calming as a staple of welcoming and attractive place for education, Paterson traffi c engineering practice tourism, and business and enhances its role as the regional center. Traffi c modeling and . Implement pedestrian crossings capacity analysis demonstrate the effectiveness improvements at key intersections as of the proposed improvements. Implementation prototypes to be replicated across the city of ITS, green infrastructure, and "smart" features should be included as a part of all . Shift the balance of roadway design to favor implementation measures. pedestrians instead of through traffi c

Part 1: Re-make Spruce Street Corridor Part 4: Introduce Streetscaping, as an Urban Boulevard Wayfi nding, and Placemaking Elements . Rename streets to create a more consistent . Corridor provides a direct connection and uniform navigational experience between I-80 and NJ 19 highway ramps and areas to the north and west . Preserve downtown and historic district streets as truck-free zones . Target improvements that enhance pedestrian safety and mobility and access . Advance City-Wide Safe-Routes-to-Schools to schools, tourism, business travel plan initiative

. Address congested river crossings and the . Streetscaping,lighting, tree plantings, and impact of through-traffi c other features that meet standards set for the Great Falls NHP and Historic District . Use traffi c calming to deter speeding and aggressive driving . Provide bus shelters that enhance transit access and the build environment Part 2: Prioritize Two-way Street Conversions to Mitigate Traffi c Impacts . Develop consistent and intuitive wayfi nding . Begin to restore the historic street grid with . Improvements should be consistent with prototype two-way street conversions Great Falls Historic District design standards . Leverage Cianci and Mill Street pairing Part 5: Long-Term Vision Plan opportunity to mitigate roadway congestion in ways that are compatible with pedestrian . Work with City, State, regional, and NHP mobility and vibrant street life partners to advance roadway and transit projects of regional signifi cance, and . Proposed two-way streets conversions are coordinate plans with the development of low cost and low impact to the community the Great Falls NHP and Hinchliffe Stadium Great Falls Circulation Study | 59 Part 1 - Aerial Markup Locations

Market Street McBride Avenue Ext

Spruce Street Oliver Street Wayne Avenue

Grand Street

Front Street McBride Avenue

. Reconfi gure Spruce Street Bridge as a Part 1: Spruce Street three-lane, traffi c calmed Street

Urban Boulevard . Remove left turn between Wayne Avenue The fi rst step re-envisions the Spruce Street and Front Street to maintain three-lane Corridor as an urban boulevard with a reduced cross section cross section and enhanced pedestrian . Reinforce bridge crossing as a Safe Route to improvements more consistent with its role as a School gateway to the Great Falls NHP and downtown historic district. Passaic County is currently . Widen sidewalks to 8 ft. for pedestrians and advancing the design phase of the Spruce Street scenic overlook Bridge bridge deck replacement, presenting the opportunity to incorporate a Complete . Implement innovative Green Street Streets framework into the design project. Traffi c stormwater management elements microsimulation and capacity analysis indicate . Use curb extensions to shorten pedestrian no signifi cant detriment to traffi c fl ow and crossings and manage traffi c speeds intersection performance under the proposed concept. . Install high visibility crosswalk striping, ADA- compliant curbs at all intersections

Proposed improvements include: . Green Back Sharrow installations Spruce Street Bridge Recommendations . Include historic elements of the original - Front Street to McBride Avenue bridge build in the 1930's, including expose Extension aggregate parapet, obelisks, lighting and

60 | Gateway Vision Plan the original name: War Memorial Bridge Spruce Street “Boulevard” Spruce Street at Market Street . Narrow through-traffi c to 1 lane in each . Widen sidewalk adjacent to Dawn Treader direction to calm traffi c consistent with School to provide adequate pedestrian way context . . Relocate high visibility crosswalk striping to Install high visibility crosswalk striping, ADA- the northerly side of the intersection from compliant curbs at all intersections the southerly end, ADA-compliant curb . Provide a new "bump-in" parking ramps installation along southbound approach to . Install diverter and pedestrian refuge at Oliver Street with up to 5 parking spaces northbound intersection approach . Provide 2 new curb extension parking . Narrow existing business driveway and add areas for peak period school buses along traffi c signal head northbound approach to Oliver Street on either side of the Barbour Street . Upgrade signal equipment with pedestrian intersection countdown heads, ITS including detection . sensors , and add the Burger Kind driveway Use curb extension bulb outs to better to the signal phasing defi ne parking areas and narrow street cross sections where feasible . Relocate utilities, signal control box, . and sidewalk obstructions adjacent to Install high visibility crosswalk striping, ADA- intersection compliant curb ramps at intersections Spruce Street at Oliver Street . Upgrade traffi c signal at Grand Street with exclusive left turn lane and phasing along . Install new traffi c signal with exclusive left southbound approach turn lane and phasing along southbound approach . Green Back Sharrow installations approximately 50 feet apart . Provide separate left- and right-turn lanes at Oliver Street approach to new traffi c signal . Streetscaping elements including but not limited to historic lighting, street trees, . Install high visibility crosswalk striping, ADA- green infrastructure installations, bicycle compliant curb ramps racks, bus shelters, and wayfi nding signage . Install diverter and pedestrian refuge at . Restore historic railing and stone elements northbound intersection approach to to the Spruce Street Bridge Over The narrow roadway Raceway in addition to widening the Spruce Street at Barbour Street sidewalk on the westerly side of the bridge . Install green infrastructure curb extensions . Include ITS and smart features in all signal on either side of the roadway for traffi c equipment, lighting, bus shelters and other calming and shorter crossings for students. infrastructure where possible In addition provide a pedestrian actuated crossing sign.

Great Falls Circulation Study | 61 Spruce Street Bridge Recommendations - Front Street to McBride Avenue Extension

Convert part of pedestrian space to flow through planters to manage stormwater

Construct curb extension to shorten Install streetscape and pedestrian scale crossing distance and manage traffic lighting improvements to enhance NHP speeds visitor experience and safety

Widen sidewalk for pedestrians and scenic overlook

Reconfigure cartway for two soutbound travel lanes and one northbound travel lane

Wayn e Avenue

Reconfigure Front Street to one-way from Paterson Avenue to Wayne Avenue

Widen sidewalk for pedestrians and scenic overlook

Install crosswalks at all approaches with high-visibility continental striping and ADA-compliant curb ramps McBride Avenue

Front Street

62 | Gateway Vision Plan e Ext u

Convert part of pedestrian space to flow

through planters to manage stormwater McBride Aven

Install streetscape and pedestrian scale Reconfigure roadway to accomodate lighting improvements along Spruce turning lanes in both directions Street

Widen existing sidewalk by four to five feet to provide more adequate pedestrian space

Avenue McBride

Spruce Street

Install pedestrian coundown timers at intersection

Install dedicated bicycle lanes where feasible and green back sharrows where roadway widths are constrained

Great Falls Circulation Study | 63 Spruce Street at Market Street Recommendations

Market Street

Install streetscape and pedestrian scale lighting improvements along Spruce Street Widen existing sidewalk by four to five feet to provide more adequate pedestrian space Install curb extension provide increased pedestrian space, shorten crossing distance and calm traffic

Spruce Street

Narrow existing driveway and add Install dedicated bicycle lanes where traffic signal head feasible and green back sharrows where roadway widths are constrained

64 | Gateway Vision Plan Market Street bike lane scheduled for installation spring/summer 2016

Install pedestrian coundown timers at intersection

Install high visibility continental crosswalks and ADA-compliant curb ramps at all approaches

Install diverter and pedestrian refuge to calm traffic and provide shorter crossing

Relocate utilities and other sidewalk obstructions to create clear walking path

Great Falls Circulation Study | 65 Spruce Street "Boulevard" Recommendations

M

a rket Street

Market Street bike lane scheduled for installation spring/summer 2016

Install dedicated bicycle lanes where Convert part of pedestrian space to flow feasible and green back sharrows where through planters to manage stormwater roadway widths are constrained

Install streetscape and pedestrian scale lighting improvements along Spruce Street

Existing on-street parking provided Provide on-street parking adjacent to along with driveway curb extensions curb extension

Repair existing sidewalk and install Install pedestrian coundown timers at curb extension to define on-street intersection parking

66 | Gateway Vision Plan r Street

Olive

Provide flexible on-street parking and school bus pickup/drop-off by diverting northbound travel lane

treet Install curb extensions to provide additional pedestrian space and define

Grand S on-street parking

Spruce Street Install high-visibility continental crosswalk striping and advanced warning signage

Install pedestrian coundown timers at Install pedestrian coundown timers at intersection intersection

Install new traffic signal at the intersection of Spruce Street and Oliver Street

Great Falls Circulation Study | 67 Part 2 - Aerial Markupp Locations

Cianci Street Oliver Street Tony Lalama Blvd

Van Houten Street

Ward Street NJ 19

McBride Avenue Ext

Part 2: Two-way Street Proposed improvements include: Conversions . Reconfi gure Cianci Street from Ward Street to College Blvd for two-way traffi c The second step is to implement selected operations two-way street conversions for Cianci and Mill Streets. These changes begin the process . Reconfi gure Mill Street from Ward Street to of restoring Paterson’s historic street grid Ellison Street for two-way traffi c operations and counteract the long-standing impacts . Upgrade traffi c signal at the Ward Street at of congestion, through traffi c, trucks, and Cianci Street intersection speeding. These examples can serve as prototypes that can be repeated and replicated . Truck restrictions in the historic district, across the city. Research indicates that two- with an emphasis on Mill Street and Spruce way streets can provide signifi cant benefi ts Street compared to their one-way counterparts, including improved livability, safety, and easier access to destinations; traffi c speeds and pedestrian crossings are also more compatible with a walkable downtown environment. Traffi c microsimulation indicates no signifi cant detriment to traffi c fl ow and intersection performance under the proposed concept. There is no loss of existing on-street parking on Cianci and Mill Streets.

68 | Gateway Vision Plan Part 2 - Locations of Two-Way Conversions o od Ave W Broadway Hamilton Ave

Sherman Ave v509 Fair St

Wayne Ave Paterson St Manchester Ave Ryle Rd River St

Washington St Broadway Totowa Ave

College Blvd

Ryerson Ave

Liberty St 647 Van Houten St Curtis Pl Ellison St v Walnut St

Paterson Ave Maple St Great Falls National 2-Way 2 -Lane Mill St Historical Park Cianci St 648 Memorial Dr Preakness Ave v 16th Ave 666 666 Smith St Clark St Park Ave v Market St McBride Ave Ext Federal Plz 2I 2-Way 2 -Lane Elm St

Birch St Jersey St Front St

v639 Spruce St Crosby Pl Signal Upgrade Essex St Pass Grand St a Oliver St Jackson Spring St ic Mill St River

Walker Ave Dale Prince St Prince St S Slater St traight St

S

Great Falls Circulation Study | 69 Part 3 - Aerial Markupp Locations

Memorial Drive

NJ Route 19 W Broadway Tony Lalama Blvd

Cianci Street

Marshall Street

through proper coordination by technology and Part 3: Local hardware upgrades. Adaptive signal control intersection systems, active detection through pedestrian and traffi c sensors, smart lighting, and enhanced Improvements communication through WiFi networks will provide an avenue to more effi ciently utilize the The fi nal step is to implement local intersection network of intersections and roadway capacity improvements to prioritize traffi c calming and based on the demands of the users in the area at pedestrian crossings and enhance multimodal any given time. mobility across the City of Paterson. Many of Paterson’s downtown and NHP streets and Three intersections are targeted to demonstrate intersection carry the burden of I-80 and NJ- the benefi ts of local mobility and safety 19 off-ramps that empty heavy traffi c volumes improvements and serve as pilot projects to be directly onto city streets. With no viable repeated at locations throughout Paterson. alternative routes, it is necessary to calm through traffi c and restore conditions to a more sustainable balance among vehicular throughput vs. local access and mobility. Paterson’s Streets should function like city streets and provide appropriate levels of mobility and access to city residents and visitors, not just serve as a conduit for moving heavy volumes of peak hour traffi c in ways that hamper livability and safety. These needs must also be addressed

70 | Gateway Vision Plan Concept for Memorial Drive at West Broadway

M e m

Remove channelized turn island and install curb extension

Memorial Dr

Move stop bar and Install high visibility continental Install curb extensions to shorten crosswalks pedestrian crossing distance and reduce turning radius

W

B

r

o

a

d

w

a

y

pedestrian crossing distance and reduce Memorial Drive at West Broadway turning radii . Near grocery and shopping destinations › Install high visibility crosswalk striping, ADA-compliant curb ramps . Cited by residents at focus groups › Integrate smart solutions such as . Issues and defi ciencies adaptive signal controls, traffi c and pedestrian sensors, and smart lighting to › Traffi c volumes and turning movements provide enhance and safer access for all › Channelized turns confl ict with heavy users based on real-time demands pedestrian demand › Arterial highway design

. Proposed improvements › Remove channelized turn islands and replace with curb extensions › Use curb extensions to shorten

Great Falls Circulation Study | 71 NJ 19/Ward Street at Marshall Street › Install pedestrian signal head with countdown timer and ADA-compliant . School Crossing pedestrian signal push buttons . Cited by residents at focus groups › Install pedestrian refuge island at NJ 19 crossing . Issues and defi ciencies › Install high visibility crosswalk striping, › Four-lane cross section ADA-compliant curb ramps › Direct access from highway ramp › Integrate smart solutions such as › Peak hour congestion adaptive signal controls, traffi c and › Turning movement confl icts pedestrian sensors, and smart lighting to provide enhance and safer access for all › Channelized right turn from Marshall St users based on real-time demands › No refuge provided

. Proposed improvements › Remove channelized turn islands and replace with curb extensions › Use curb extensions to shorten pedestrian crossing distance and reduce turning radii

Concept for NJ19/Ward at Marshall Drive

Install pedestrian signal head with countdown timer and ADA-compliant pedestrian signal push buttons Install curb extension to shorten crossing

Move existing crosswalk and install high-visibility continental striping Install pedestrian refuge island

Move stop bar M a r s h a 9 Remove channelized right turn ll 1 S te lane and install curb extension t ou R to create shorter crossing

72 | Gateway Vision Plan Cianci Street at Passaic Street › Install pedestrian signal head with countdown timer and ADA-compliant . High pedestrian demand pedestrian signal push buttons . Cited by residents at focus groups › Install pedestrian refuge island at NJ 19 crossing . School and Housing on Passaic St › Install high visibility crosswalk striping, . Issues and defi ciencies ADA-compliant curb ramps › Peak hour congestion › Install stop bar › Sight distance limitations/obstructed › Install curb extension to reduce entrance view width of Cianci Street north of Passaic › Turning movement confl icts Street › 1-way to 2-way transition point › Paired with two-way conversion of Cianci Street › Current parking on west side of Cianci is not permitted; no impact to legal parking › Streetscaping, lighting, tree plantings, on east side and other features that meet standards set for the Great Falls NHP and Historic . Proposed improvements District › Use curb extensions to shorten › Integrate smart solutions such as pedestrian crossing distance and reduce adaptive signal controls, traffi c and turning radii pedestrian sensors, and smart lighting to provide enhance and safer access for all Concept for Cianci Street at Passaic Street

Install high-visibility

continental crosswalk striping

d

v

l B

Install curb extension to create more a

perpendicular intersection and shorten m

a l

pedestrian crossing a

L

y n

Install curb extension o T to shorten crossing

Install high-visibility Install curb extension continental crosswalk striping to shorten crossing

C i a Install Stop bar n c i Install curb extension S St ic t ssa to shorten crossing Pa

Replace parking lane with second travel lane in opposite direction

Great Falls Circulation Study | 73 unchanged; these function as cul-de- Part 4: Streetscaping, sacs and are the remnant of numerous Wayfi nding, and changes to the previous Oliver and Ward Street east-west street alignments

Placemaking . Rename Tony Lalama Boulevard as Cianci Paterson can take additional steps to address Street between Passaic Street and College the chaos, access and mobility limitations, and Boulevard diminished built environment that residents › Rename the short segment of Cianci and visitors encounter on a daily basis. Street Between Passaic and Van Houten Improvements should be consistent with Great Streets as Tony Lalama Street; Cianci Falls Historic District design standards. Street name will end at the intersection with College Boulevard Renaming of Streets . Rename Curtis Place as Memorial Drive In addition to Paterson’s street grid limitations and mix of one-way and two-way streets, › The Memorial Drive name will be individual street names can change from block continuous from Railroad Avenue, past to block, adding to the confusion cited by many West Broadway, to the intersection with stakeholders. Renaming key streets to create College Boulevard a more consistent and uniform driving and navigational experience is recommended. The Preserve Truck-Free Zones in the following changes are proposed: Historic District

. Rename McBride Avenue between the . Prohibit large trucks from Mill Street and Wayne/McBride and Spruce/McBride Spruce Street with consideration for a ban Extension intersections as Spruce Street on Van Houten Street and Ellison Street › The McBride Avenue name will be continuous from Crosby Avenue to the Provide bus shelters that enhance Spruce/McBride Extension intersection; transit access and the build environment ending at Wayne/ McBride intersection . Streetscaping,lighting, tree plantings, . Rename McBride Avenue to remove the and other features that meet standards potential confusion and redudancy with set for the Great Falls NHP and Historic McBride Avenue District and integrate "smart" solutions for › The Ellison Street name will be providing information and coordination continuous from the Spruce Street intersection to East 22nd Street Develop consistent and intuitive . Rename the combined Oliver/Ward/ wayfi nding Federal Plaza route as Oliver Street or Ward Street Advance City-Wide Safe-Routes-to- › The Oliver Street/Ward Street name will Schools travel plan initiative be continuous from the Spruce Street intersection to Straight Street/County . Work with Paterson School District, NJDOT, Route 647 and EZ-Ride/Meadowlink to develop city- › The isolated stub segments of Ward wide school travel plans Street and Oliver Street will remain 74 | Gateway Vision Plan

. Undertake an area-wide parking study to Part 5: Long-Term better coordinate the location and capacity Vision Plan of parking facilities with demand, as well as to coordinate access to parking that will not Looking to the future, the Vision Plan advocates exacerbate conditions for pedestrians or working with City, State, regional, and Great Falls vehicles NHP partners to explore and advance roadway . and transit projects of regional signifi cance and Build upon the Vision Plan’s urban impact, and identify improvements that build boulevard, two-way street conversions, upon the locally-oriented, multimodal elements and local intersection improvements of the Vision Plan. by evaluating options to further restore Paterson’s historic street grid. This could include the possibility of restoring the . Evaluate alternatives and feasibility of a new original alignment of Prospect Street Passaic River bridge crossing to expand through to Curtis Place/Memorial Drive. travel options and pull regional traffi c This could only be possible if the existing from the Great Falls Historic District and parking garage at the corner of Van Downtown Paterson Houten Street and Curtis Place is replaced . Advance a City-wide interchange with a new parking solution/structure in modifi cation study of NJ 19 and I-80 the area and the land is repurposed to ramps, including Interchange 57C to accommodate the restoration of the street Main Street and realignment of existing grid. The new grid potentially allows for ramp connections to Oliver Street and land consolidation that would allow for Mill Street that would advance the goal of a more formal square at what is now Lou reconnecting the roadway grid and create Costello park, elimination of the confl ict a more controlled entrance to the historic points at the intersection of Passaic Street district from the highways and Curtis Place, and re-utilization of the surface parking areas to create a new block. . Collaborate with NJ TRANSIT and the City of Paterson to relocate the existing Existing Street Grid Conceptual Street Grid bus-depot at Market Street and make this location available for redevelopment

. Coordinate future improvements to local circulation, parking, and wayfi nding with long-term plans for Great Falls NHP facilities and amenities and restoration of Hinchliffe Stadium

76 | Gateway Vision Plan Coordinate future improvements Undertake area-wide parking study Build upon Vision Plan’s urban with Great Falls National Historic to better coordinate location and boulevard, two-way street Park Master Plan capacity of on-street and conversions and local intersection structured parking facilities improvements

Oxford St Lawrence St Kearney St Temple St Jasper St Jane St Albion Ave Fulton St Sheridan Ave Crosby Ave Northwest St Coral St Cliff St r ive Marion St c R sai River St Pas Governor St Union Ave White St Presidential Blvd Tyler St

Redwood Ave Matlock St Ryle Ave Godwin St W Broadway

Paterson St

Bridge St

Ryle Rd Totowa Ave Hamilton Ave Sherman Ave v509 Fair St Manchester AveWayne Ave River St Washington St Broadway

College Blvd Ryerson Ave 647 Curtis Pl v Van Houten St Ellison St

Liberty St Paterson Ave Walnut St Great Falls National

Historic Park 648 Memorial Dr Mill St v Preakness Ave Maple St 666 16th Ave v666 Cianci St Park Ave Market St Smith St Clark St 2I McBride Ave Ext Elm St Federal Plz

Birch St Front St Jersey St

v639 Crosby Pl

Mill St Essex St

Pass Jackson St Spring St aic Spruce StOliver St River Walker St Ave Dale

Prince St Prince Slater St

Straight St Morris St Hoxey St

Henderson St Mcbride Ave Rockland St Quinn St Grand St Howard St

Murray Ave Marshall St Perry St 19 633 «¬ Main St v Green St Caldwell Ave Slater St Jackson St

Barnes St Ave Railroad 80 Dixon Ave ¨§ 20th Ave

New St

Conduct feasibility study of new Relocate the existing bus-depot at Advance a City-wide interchange Passaic River bridge crossing to Market Street to make this location modification study of NJ 19 and expand travel options available for redevelopment I-80 ramps

0 0.25 0.5 Miles F Acknowledgments References 1. Greater Spruce Street Neighborhood Plan, 2009

2. National Park in Paterson, NJ, Ponders 2 Paths: Natural Wonder or Historical Site? New York Times, April 22, 2016

Image Credits Unless otherwise noted, all graphics and photography created by WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff (basemap aerial photography source: Google Earth).

. Cover photo - Rob Jagendorf

. TOC banner - National Park Service

. Pages 5, 12, 18 - Terence McKenna

. Page 10 - http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/PASSAIC_ COUNTY/Paterson_NJ_1920.jpg, accessed April 2016

. Page 11 - Paterson Museum

. Page 13 - Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc.

. Page 40 - Skycomp, Inc.

. Back cover - Dan Fenelon, Core Creative Placemaking, Inc.

78 | Gateway Vision Plan

WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc. Nishuane Group, LLC Skycomp, Inc.

80 | Executive Summary