Preliminary planning produces new renovation proposals for Frank Sinatra Drive

Iconic Frank Sinatra Drive along the Hudson River provides Hoboken residents and visitors with a scenic view of New York City and is the source of a number of traffic problems that the town wishes to solve.

Existing conditions on Frank Sinatra Drive have caused Hoboken to evaluate the current status of the waterfront, and asked the Hoboken community back in May what they thought the renovations should look like.

This past Monday, a second public workshop was held for community members to attend and provide feedback on many graphical illustrations and ideas that the consulting firm at the head of the project, Kimley Horn, created in response to community feedback.

Of the existing conditions causing the most concern for the people of Hoboken, the first is the speed limit. Among proposals to change the layout of the road, citizens feel that reducing the speed limit from thirty-five miles per hour to twenty-five miles per hour would be a reasonable solution to not only increase safety, but also aid in solving the next second greatest concern: car accidents.

Of all car crashes in the past three years according to the presentation given, on the intersections of 4th Street and River Street and 11th Street and Hudson Street, eighty percent of the accidents were rear end crashes. To solve this, several proposals offered solutions such as changing where and how intersections form on the road, as well as improving the nighttime light available to drivers.

There were three proposals displayed graphically in greater detail than others. Each of the three main proposals displayed during the presentation periods of the public workshop included some form of bike path. All three also maintained Sinatra Drive as a two way road, something that seemed to be among the very few issues held to a consensus.

Problematically, some proposals that were being presented involved altering land owned by Stevens near and on Frank Sinatra Drive. Stevens administrators at that point had not received much information about the plans the town has for the road renovations. Some community members were taken aback that the proposals that would encounter difficulties without Stevens’ approval.

Internally, Stevens has no intention of publicly stating any promises or proposals of its own yet. In the near future, presentations will be held outlining some ideas to bring the renovation proposals in line with Stevens’ own Master Plan.

Until then, Frank Sinatra Drive will retain its unadorned stretches and awkwardly narrow sidewalks; as well as its gorgeous view of the skyline. Additionally, members of the Hoboken Community can make their voice heard by participating in a survey on Hoboken’s website at www.hobokennj.org/sinatradrive.