Jersey City: A Vision Zero Success Story

The city has gone a full year with no traffic deaths while road violence in the rest of the country continues to grow.

1 minute read

December 30, 2022, 6:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Jersey City

Becca Magrino / Shutterstock

Bucking a nationwide trend, Jersey City eliminated traffic deaths on its city-managed roads for a full year. As John Surico explains in Bloomberg CityLab, the city used innovative tools such as mini-roundabouts to slow down traffic at dangerous intersections and small-scale, low-cost pilot programs to test interventions before making them permanent. “And local leaders are intent on pushing forward with more improvements that will eventually encompass more of the city and region.”

Jersey City is the rare municipality that has embraced the spirit of tactical urbanism — a practice where quick DIY fixes are deployed to nudge officials to make more permanent changes.

Thanks to its targeted investments in improving its bike infrastructure, the city has also seen a rise in cycling. “This last quarter, Citi Bike, which operates in Jersey City, saw usage increase to more than 15,000 peak rides per week on average.”

Jersey City’s success in improving traffic safety could be replicated in other cities, but comes with some caveats. “So far, most of the city’s interventions have been downtown, and largely avoided loss of on-street parking,” Surico notes. But addressing the proverbial low-hanging fruit can lead to increased public support and more political will to engage in more controversial projects in the future.

Wednesday, December 28, 2022 in Bloomberg CityLab

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Interior of Place Versailles mall in Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units

Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

May 22, 2025 - CBC

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 28, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

AI-generated image of high-speed rail trail in elevated track in green hilly farmland.

Four Reasons Urban Planners Can’t Ignore AI

It’s no longer a question of whether AI will shape planning, but how. That how is up to us.

May 28, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Aerial view of Bend, Oregon.

Bend, Deschutes County Move to Restrict Major Homeless Encampment

City and county officials are closing off portions of an area known as Juniper Ridge where many unhoused residents find shelter, hoping to direct people to housing and supportive services.

May 30 - The Bulletin

Metro rail station in Mariachi Plaza with colorful glass pavilion in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California.

High Housing Costs Driving Down Transit Ridership in LA

When neighborhoods gentrify and displace lower-income residents, transit ridership suffers, new research shows.

May 30 - CALmatters

Des Moines, Iowa skyline viewed from a plaza with two flags on either side at dusk.

Iowa Legalizes Accessory Dwelling Units

A new law will allow property owners to build ADUs on single-family lots starting on July 1.

May 30 - Smart Cities Dive

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.