Full Notification

On Wednesday, the City Council voted down an ordinance that would have extended loading zone hours along downtown Washington Street. The proposal, based on feedback from local businesses, was designed to make life easier for our small businesses, delivery drivers, and residents who depend on access to short-term parking.

I want to share why this decision is a setback for our community, and what my Administration will do next to support our small business community. 

The proposed changes were based on months of data collected through our CLEAR (Camera-based License plate Enforcement for Access & Response times) pilot program. That data showed improper loading activity occurred outside current loading zone hours and most often in the afternoons and when loading is not permitted on weekends. Specifically, 31% of weekday violations, occur between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. while 48% of weekend violations occur between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. This very real evidence makes one thing perfectly clear: our current system doesn’t match the needs of businesses or the flow of activity along Washington Street. By modestly extending loading hours, we could have reduced traffic congestion, improved safety for pedestrians and cyclists, and made it easier for residents and visitors to access local shops and restaurants. 

Unfortunately, by rejecting this measure, the Council has left in place an unsafe status quo that doesn’t reflect the nature of curbside activity along the corridor. Without these changes, businesses will have less time to receive their deliveries, visitors will not have as much access to short term parking, and residents will continue facing unnecessary congestion and unsafe double-parking conditions on Washington Street.

This decision highlights how political disagreements can get in the way of practical, data-driven solutions, especially when the Council restricts the tools that would allow my Administration to address the business community’s concerns in real time.

That’s not acceptable, and frankly we need to do better.

To try and address the Council’s concerns raised during the Council discussion while still supporting our community’s needs, my Administration will be introducing an amended ordinance at the next Council meeting. The revised version of the ordinance, which is similar to neighboring municipalities, will extend loading zone hours on weekdays only to 6 p.m. and maintain a 20-minute limit for loading zones to encourage turnover and fairness for all users.

This proposal strikes a reasonable balance by giving businesses the flexibility they need while respecting concerns about weekend parking operations. It’s a commonsense step that helps our small business community thrive, expands access to loading space, reduces double parking, and keeps our streets safer and more accessible for everyone.

The CLEAR pilot program has already demonstrated its value. Since its launch, bus, bike lane, and double-parking violations have dropped by over 58%, while freight vehicle use of loading zones has increased by 115%. Turnover in these loading zones is up 8%, allowing approximately 2,100 more vehicles per week to access legal curb space. That means more efficient deliveries, more customers, safer streets, and fewer obstructions for everyone who travels through our downtown. 

Should we not be building on that success to support our business community and provide better access for those who need to make a quick stop? Will we govern responsibly and make data-driven policy decisions, or let hysteria and misinformation from a vocal minority prevail over fact-based solutions? I encourage you to prioritize policy, not politics, to drive our collective, over-arching objective to make Washington Street an even better experience for all residents and visitors who enjoy our small business community. 

To ensure a smooth transition as we work toward a more balanced curb management system, the City will extend the temporary hold on all camera-based commercial vehicle enforcement until further notice. Over the next few weeks, my staff intends to meet with business owners along the corridor to gather feedback on the program, further refine curb regulations, and discuss support mechanisms. This hold will also allow the City to work with the Council to adopt the new ordinance on loading zones. 

I strongly encourage the Council to support this amended ordinance and do what’s right for our residents, merchants, and visitors. Together, we can continue building on the success of the CLEAR pilot and create a Hoboken that works better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Ravi S. Bhalla
Mayor