Phase: Local Concept Development

Draft Purpose and Need: TBD

Background- Like other established cities in New Jersey a century ago, Trenton rejected State oversight of its main thoroughfares when New Jersey established a Department of Highways. Consequently, over time, traffic signals were installed throughout the city under varying warrants, leading to significant maintenance responsibilities for the City of Trenton to ensure the upkeep of the 84 signalized intersections it oversees and owns. Within the wider Trenton Urbanized Area, traffic signals are overseen by five different agencies, and most signals are outdated, uncoordinated, unsynchronized, and unconnected to a centralized traffic operations center.  This Local Concept Development study will evaluate traffic signal controls within the Trenton Urbanized Area (FHWA 2010 UZA) to assess traffic control warrants, explore improvement alternatives, identify potential interconnections, and assess readiness to accommodate connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs).  

Proposal- The 84 intersections within the City of Trenton will be subject to: detailed field inventory of existing conditions; traffic counts and crash analysis to establish signal warrants; and, where appropriate, development of a recommended preferred alternative for updated traffic controls, whether signal, stop, or roundabout.  Expanding the study area to include the entire Trenton Urbanized Area (UZA) within Mercer County allows the inclusion of secondary arterials and major collectors that radiate from the city and involves signals managed by various local government agencies.  In addition to the traffic signal controls owned by the City of Trenton, this study will also examine signals maintained by NJDOT, Mercer County, the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, and neighboring municipalities with the goal of agreement on interagency design standards and cooperation on corridor congestion management.  Accommodating public feedback, this study will develop recommended preferred alternatives for corridor or network signal interconnection and develop standard design details for upgrades that support the preferred alternative.

Anticipated Project Schedule: It is anticipated that the CD phase of this project will be substantially complete within 18 months of commencement.  Project should be substantially complete by October 2025, excluding a six month extension for review and finalization. 

Contact: 

Matthew Lawson, PP/AICP/GISP

Assistant Director of Planning 

mlawson@mercercounty.org

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