 “Zero deaths. Zero injuries. Zero crashes.” That's the foundation the “Goal: Zero” campaign, started by Holmdel Patrolman Matthew Menosky, is built on. Motorists on State Route 34 may have noticed an increase in patrolling as well as flashing signs and roadside depictions of what fatal crashes may look like. These measures are being taken to slow down the flow of traffic on this stretch of road, as motorists have a habit of moving too fast. As of February 21, nine people lost their lives as a result of a motor vehicle crash in Monmouth County this year alone, one of which being a crash on State Route 34 in Howell Township that took the life of a young boy. Any loss of life due to motor vehicle crashes is tragic and avoidable, which makes the campaign so pertinent. Seven police departments have joined the campaign and will be working alongside each other in order to decrease distracted driving. The use of phones, driving while impaired or distracted, and driving at unsafe speeds are some of the traffic safety issues police will be on high alert for.
As New Jersey gears up to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026, people have a major concern: will NJ TRANSIT be able to handle the major influx in ridership that is to come? The concern is borne out of the chaos that ensued after the Super Bowl in 2014, where people waited for hours after the game to catch the train from the stadium to Secaucus Junction. Although this is a big point of contention, Governor Phil Murphy is not concerned. “’The principal reason is (that) it’s a dramatically different NJ TRANSIT today than it was 10 years ago,’ he said. ‘That’s the short and simple reason. And it will be even stronger in two-and-a-half years.’” Events in the past year, Murphy says, are examples of how much NJ TRANSIT has improved, and how well they have come to handle major events. In 2023, MetLife Stadium hosted Taylor Swift, Beyonce, and Bruce Springsteen, and each event saw an influx in ridership without a fumble in transportation. An increase in signage and NJ TRANSIT ambassadors were able to ensure a smooth ride for all who needed one. As we begin to creep closer to 2026, there will be an increased focus on NJ TRANSIT as they bolster the strategies that have helped them succeed in the past.
 In the summer of 2023, non-profit planning organization Camden County Partnership and Transit Network company Via officially launched Camden Loop: an app for Camden residents aimed at closing transportation access gaps. The app is free to download and allows users within the service zone area to request rides to locations in and out of the city of Camden’s boundaries. The rider is then connected with a branded electric vehicle and will pay $2 for their ride. As an exercise in micro-mobility, Camden hopes to provide their residents with a safe, affordable, and reliable way to get from point A to point B. Creators of the app also hope to break down the barrier between riders and job opportunities, allowing them to commute to employment opportunities that would have been out of reach in the past. Leaders also point to healthy food access, and rides to health care appointments as opportunities that will enrich the lives of residents who may not have had access to these healthcare opportunities before. The app launched in summer 2023, but in recent months has expanded its payment options. While one ride is $2, app-users may purchase a “LoopPass” subscription. For $7, LoopPass subscribers get four rides a day for seven days; for $26, subscribers get unlimited rides for 30 days.
 In the 1940s, land was acquired by the state of New Jersey in order to expand Route 66 in Neptune. 70 years later, in 2024, the roadway will finally be expanded. The two miles of Route 66 between Jumping Brook Road and the intersection with Browne and Wayside roads will expand to four lanes (two in each direction). A roundabout will replace the existing traffic lights “where westbound traffic currently bears left to stay on Route 66 or veers to the right on Asbury Avenue and a northbound entrance to the Garden State Parkway”. In order to minimize traffic delays, the roundabout will be constructed north of the existing roadway. The project intends to resolve existing deterioration and make the roadway safer and more accessible. Those familiar with this stretch of roadway should expect to see major changes to Route 66, including but not limited to: a grass median with left turn slots for major driveways, additional turning lanes, and upgrades to existing signals. Existing traffic signals on this stretch of road will be getting new mast arms, signal heads, and radar detection. All pedestrian infrastructure will be upgraded, with new countdown signal heads and push buttons, along with new ADA-compliant curbs and crosswalks. The road improvements will not only improve traffic flow but will also make this stretch of Route 66 bicycle compliant.
The New Jersey State government is making a push for more electric school buses. The Department of Environmental Protection launched their Electric School Bus Grant Program authorized by the New Jersey Electric School Bus Law. School districts that own their buses, and school bus contractors that provide school bus services may now apply for a grant in order to convert from fossil fuel to electric buses. The program will provide $15 million per year for three years, divided among qualified districts. Along with the NJDEP, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has provided some New Jersey school districts with funds to convert to electric buses. The USEPA’s Clean School Bus Program allocated $19 million to Union City, Elizabeth, Newark, Bloomfield, and Lakewood School Districts. These funds are being utilized not only to purchase electric school buses, but to improve the quality of existing buses. The NJDEP has retrofitted 7,000 fossil fuel powered buses in the state with cabin ventilation systems, which can aid in the reduction of asthma, lung cancer, and other health issues for riders.
Do You Have an Interesting Transportation Photo Taken Around Monmouth County?
Monmouth County is currently accepting photo submissions for use and credit in public-facing items like the Monmouth County At-a-Glance, regional studies, and other uses in the future. If you have a picture of an interesting transportation feature in the County and you want the opportunity to have the picture in a county project, submit here.
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