Route
71 (Main Street) Project
Monmouth
County
Background
Route 71 (Main Street) in Avon, New
Jersey received a facelift with the
transformation of a four-lane highway
with two travel lanes in each direction
and parallel parking on both sides
of the street to a two-lane roadway
and an improved streetscape that
accommodates pedestrians traveling
from an adjoining residential neighborhood
to the commercial Main Street.
Project
description
This streetscape project covered a
.67-mile
long span of Route 71 through Avon's
commercial center. The primary purpose
of this project was to improve pedestrian
safety for the significant number of
residents crossing Main Street on a daily
basis. In addition to
increasing pedestrian and bicycle safety,
the project also aesthetically enhanced
the surrounding streetscape. The Borough
of Avon decided to reduce speeds through
the center of town by reducing the width
of the roadway from four lanes to two
travel lanes and constructing concrete
bumpouts at each corner and constructing
a center island. The
safety of Route 71 was improved by providing
dedicated left turning lanes and a bike
lane. Also, the
project included new paver sidewalks,
street trees, decorative streetlights
and street furniture such as planters,
benches, trash receptacles and a borough
clock. This "road
diet" has contributed to the quality
of life for the residents of the borough. |
This signature clock
symbolizes the revitalization
of Main Street in
Avon Borough accomplished
by the plan. |
Project
status
The transformed Main Street is a successful
example of NJFIT and the project has
been awarded the 2004 Good Neighbor Award
from the New Jersey Business and Industry
Association and the 2004 Streetscape
Design Award from Downtown New Jersey
as well as an honorable mention from
the New Jersey Concrete and Aggregate
Society.
NJFITness
goals advanced by the Route
71 (Main Street) Project
are rated on a scale of
one to three stars, with
three stars indicating
the most strongly pursued:
The
NJFIT tools that are
most applicable to this
project are starred:
|
