In an effort to improve pedestrian safety while encouraging students to get involved and demonstrate their ingenuity, three Assembly Democrats sponsor a bill to establish a Creative Crosswalks Pilot Program.
Creative crosswalks would use a combination of colors, textures, and scoring patterns to beautify and improve the visibility of an existing crosswalk. The purpose of the program would be to allow New Jersey students to help design these painted crosswalks.
Under the bill (A-2302), the Commissioner of Transportation would establish a five-year pilot program to provide resources for up to 10 public schools each year to install these creative crosswalks in place of existing crosswalks within their municipality. Public schools wishing to participate would have to submit an application, then students from each of the selected schools in the North, Central and South Jersey regions would submit their proposed designs for approval.
Upon the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee advancing the measure on Thursday, Assembly sponsors Eliana Pintor Marin (D-Essex), Daniel Benson (D-Mercer, Middlesex) and Britnee N. Timberlake (D-Essex, Passaic) issued the following joint statement:
“Pedestrian safety is a critical concern throughout our state, but especially in urban environments. Creative crosswalk programs provide an opportunity to address these needs with engagement and support from the broader community as a whole. Encouraging student participation in this manner not only furthers their artistic growth, but involves them directly in planning and improvement processes in their own communities. Not only will we create safer, cost-efficient, and low-maintenance alternatives to standard crosswalks, but we will help to build the next generation of urban planners and designers.”