Bergenfield and Fair Lawn boosting pedestrian safety

Flashing beacons, speed radar and striped crosswalks are some of the improvements coming to Fair Lawn and Bergenfield, a result of $50,000 pedestrian safety grants the two towns received.

The grants come from $121 million in state funds from last year's budget that were unfrozen in January.

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Fair Lawn recently joined the federally funded Street Smart NJ campaign, which creates awareness of pedestrian safety and is coordinated by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority.

In October, Roy Choueri, a 64-year-old resident and retired Army sergeant, was critically injured when he was struck by an SUV in a crosswalk at Berdan Avenue and Sunnyside Drive.

Mayor Kurt Peluso said the money will pay for flashing rapid repeaters, which are lighted signs that flash to let drivers know when pedestrians are crossing. Those cost $6,000 each, and some are already in place in locations where there is foot traffic but few traffic lights.

"We have been finding a lot of success where there are no traffic lights, so that there's another means for people to cross," Peluso said. The remaining money will also go toward striping more crosswalks and bike lanes.

Bergenfield Mayor Arvin Amatorio said the $50,000 his town is receiving stemmed from a conversation last year with Assemblyman Christopher Tully.

"I told him that maybe the state can help us with some of the funding for traffic safety," Amatorio said. "Then I told him that I sponsored a local bill for the creation of a traffic safety committee."

The borough committee was formed in August, three months after 10-year-old bicyclist Alvin Maracallo was killed on Memorial Day last year when an NJ Transit bus hit him as he entered the crosswalk on West Church Street.

The previous year, Robert Armbruster died after he was struck by a PSE&G truck at South Washington Avenue and Magnolia Street. And in March of last year, 21-year-old Okechukwu Iloabana was seriously injured by a car while he was trying to cross South Prospect Avenue.

Amatorio said the borough will purchase speed radar units for busy roads near schools, and additional traffic signs. And he said there's a possibility of purchasing laser cameras to catch speeding cars.

"The additional equipment and additional signs that we can purchase through this money will help us prevent accidents," Amatorio said.

Tully, Sen. Joseph Lagana and Assemblywoman Lisa Swain, all Democrats representing the 38th District, said in a joint statement:

“We are proud to announce that both Bergenfield and Fair Lawn will have access to $50,000 each to make necessary changes that will help prevent citizens from fearing for their safety as they attempt to cross the street and utilize their downtown areas.”

Ricardo Kaulessar is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: kaulessar@northjersey.com Twitter: @ricardokaul