Full Notification

As part of our continued effort to make Hoboken’s streets safer, more efficient, and more accessible for all users, I am writing to share an update on the CLEAR (Camera-based License Plate Enforcement for Access & Response times) program and several related initiatives supporting our local businesses and curbside operations. 

On tonight’s City Council agenda, my administration is proposing an ordinance to extend weekday loading zone hours between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., with a 20-minute limit, to better accommodate delivery operations and short-term parking demand. This compromise legislation seems amenable to the City Council and is just a first step in supporting our business community.

In addition to this proposed ordinance, the City is also taking several immediate actions that do not require Council approval to support small businesses and shoppers during the holiday season: 

• Holiday Hop Relaunch: Beginning Nov.15 through the end of December (except Thanksgiving weekend), the City will relaunch the free Holiday Hop shuttle service, offering free weekend transportation along the same route as the Senior Hop that travels down Washington Street between 11 a.m. and  6 p.m. to help residents and visitors shop locally through a partnership with the Hoboken Business Alliance (HBA). 
• Holiday Parking Discounts: 
  • Free 30-minute on-street parking on weekday evenings and weekends along Washington Street from Black Friday through New Year’s Eve with a ParkMobile discount code which will be distributed later this month. 
  • Free 4-hour off-street parking in Garage B and Garage D from Black Friday through New Year’s Eve with proof of a $25 purchase at a Hoboken business through a partnership with the HBA. 

We will also seek to present more legislation before the City Council in the coming weeks following additional discussions with business owners and the Council’s Transportation & Parking Subcommittee.  Potential measures under consideration could include: 

• Designated areas for short-term parking only for quick trips to local businesses 
• Exploring repurposing bus stops for commercial loading outside of NJ Transit service hours (pending further NJ TRANSIT coordination) 
• Adjusting parking and loading zone durations and footprints to improve turnover and better accommodate business and resident needs 
• Improving parking wayfinding signage and incorporating real-time parking availability in collaboration with the HBA 
• Extending loading zone hours to weekend days 

At the same time, my administration is working closely with our business community to improve curbside operations along Washington Street. Members of my staff and the HBA recently met with business stakeholders and will continue to do so to ensure our policies reflect their needs while maintaining safety and accessibility for all users. 

While these policy and program updates move us forward, we remain guided by the data and results from the CLEAR program, which was lunched on Oct. 1 along Washington Street from Observer Highway to Eighth Street. CLEAR has yielded meaningful improvements in traffic safety and curb access.  

Average daily blockages have decreased by a total of 26 hours at bus stops across all locations, 11 hours in bike lanes, and 33 minutes in travel lanes. Violations have also dropped significantly, with a 50 percent reduction in blocked bus stops, a 74 percent reduction in blocked travel lanes, and a 68 percent reduction in loading zone abuse. These results mean more room for pedestrians, buses, cyclists, and drivers, and safer, clearer streets for everyone. 

Since the start of the program, downtown Washington Street has also experienced a 98 percent increase in loading zone use by freight vehicles and a 9 percent increase in loading zone turnover. This translates to an average of 2,300 additional vehicles able to access loading zones each week to make deliveries and support local businesses. Moreover, compared to last year, during October, the number of paid parking transactions rose 3 percent and average turnover is up 2 percent in Hoboken’s business district.  

Some have suggested that Washington Street is already safe enough because there have been no traffic-related fatalities there in the past eight years. While that statistic is encouraging, it should not lead us to complacency. The absence of tragedy does not mean the absence of risk. The most essential responsibility of government is to remain proactive, to prevent injuries before they happen, and to ensure that everyone, from pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers, to transit riders, can move through Hoboken safely and confidently every day. CLEAR and the accompanying curb management improvements aim to continue that positive trend. 

While these results show strong progress, there is still more work to do. The City continues to observe instances where some NJ TRANSIT bus operators do not fully pull into bus stops when picking up or dropping off passengers, which creates unsafe conditions and blocks travel lanes. To address this, I have formally requested that NJ TRANSIT direct all drivers to fully enter their designated stops whenever possible and establish a process to ensure consistent compliance. 

These collective efforts, supported by data from the CLEAR program, reflect Hoboken’s ongoing commitment to safety, efficiency, and economic vitality. 

I look forward to hearing from residents and business owners on how we can best partner to achieve these goals so that we can ensure Washington Street remains a safe, vibrant, and accessible corridor.  

Please continue to provide feedback at [email protected]. 

Sincerely,  
Ravi S. Bhalla 
Mayor