Asbury Park joined representatives from Monmouth County, the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), EZ Ride and the Brain Injury Alliance at the Ocean Avenue Boardwalk Tuesday to kick off a summer Street Smart NJ pedestrian safety campaign. (Watch the recording here)
“Asbury Park is a city that people experience up close and on foot. Every day, residents and visitors walk to local businesses, cross our streets, ride bicycles, and enjoy our public spaces,” said Mayor John Moor. “As we head into the summer season, it’s important that we do everything we can to make those trips safe for everyone.”
Street Smart NJ is a collaborative effort between public, private and non-profit organizations. During the campaign, police officers and partners will distribute educational materials that aim to raise awareness and change the behaviors that contribute to crashes.
“This campaign gives us an opportunity to remind everyone that traffic safety is a shared responsibility,” said Asbury Park Police Sgt. Michael Casey. “Whether you’re driving, walking, biking, or visiting our city for the first time, the choices you make can help prevent crashes and save lives.”
In addition to public education efforts, officials highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects designed to improve safety throughout the region.
Monmouth County Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone, who serves on the NJTPA Board of Trustees, said the NJTPA has allocated $46 million to Monmouth County through its Subregional Safety Improvement Program (formerly the Local Safety Program) for 15 safety improvement projects. One project has already been completed along Memorial Drive, from Route 33 in Neptune to Monroe Avenue in Asbury Park. Phase II of that project is underway and will extend from Route 33 to Route 35, including a reduction of travel lanes, addition of bike lanes and traffic signal upgrades.
“These improvements make a difference, but Street Smart NJ recognizes that safer streets are about more than infrastructure alone,” Commissioner Director Arnone said. “They depend on drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and everyone who uses our transportation system doing their part by understanding their responsibilities and making safe decisions every day.”
NJTPA Executive Director David Behrend said more than 300 communities have participated in Street Smart NJ since the NJTPA launched the program in 2013. Asbury Park previously hosted a campaign in 2018.
“Street Smart emphasizes common sense measures, reminding drivers to stop for people crossing the street, avoid distractions, slow down for safety, and move over for vulnerable road users, like pedestrians and cyclists,” Executive Director Behrend said. “Pedestrians are reminded to use crosswalks or cross at intersections where it is easier for drivers to see them, avoid distractions and wait for the walk signal or traffic light, where applicable. Following these simple reminders will save lives.”
New Jersey’s Target Zero Commission, which the NJTPA is a member of, has set a goal of reaching zero road deaths by 2040. Pedestrian fatalities in the state fell by nearly 24 percent, from 230 in 2024 to 175 in 2025, according to the NJ Office of the Attorney General. Driver fatalities also decreased by about 15 percent, from 350 in 2040 to 299 in 2025.
Street Smart NJ is one of many initiatives in New Jersey working to help the state reach its goal of zero fatalities.