Announcement was Made During a News Conference on November 3
Press Release 11/3/22
MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ – Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios and County Commissioner Charles Kenny met with Mayor Helmin J. Caba along with officials from Middlesex County and the City of Perth Amboy today, November 3 to further discuss improvements to the intersection of Goodwin Street and Smith Street in Perth Amboy. Improvements will address pedestrian and vehicular safety concerns at the intersection. Estimated construction cost is $513,403 for all improvements. Middlesex County and the City of Perth Amboy will each bear 50 percent of construction costs.
Along with replacing the traffic light system at Goodwin and Smith Streets to include Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS), the project will also include improvements to ADA curb ramps, associated sidewalks, modifications of corner turning radius, and new painted crosswalks. The project is scheduled to enter bid by the end of 2022 and construction to start in Spring of 2023.
“This project is a key infrastructure improvement that will have a tremendous impact on the community. Smith Street is also County Road 656, and this intersection experiences a high volume of both foot and vehicle traffic each day. These changes will not only increase the functionality of the intersection by improving the flow of traffic, but they will also enhance the safety of everyone who travels through this area on foot or by bicycle or vehicle,” said Middlesex County Commissioners Director Ronald G. Rios. “On behalf of myself and my colleagues on the Board of County Commissioners, I thank Mayor Caba and his team for their vision and hard work on this project. I know I speak for the entire Board when I say that I am honored and grateful to be part of such a productive partnership as we work on behalf of our residents and businesses.”
“Everyone has the right to travel safely in our city each day, without the risk of death or serious injuries, no matter how or when they travel,” said City of Perth Amboy Mayor Helmin J. Caba. “In the last five years, there have been 129 accidents at this intersection. This traffic signal represents the innovation critical for us and advances Middlesex County’s Vision Zero goal. I greatly appreciate our Board of Commissioners, who have pledged to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries and improve mobility in our city with this improvement.”
“The new traffic light system at Goodwin and Smith Street will bring us closer to ending preventable traffic deaths and serious injuries from motor vehicle accidents here in Middlesex County. The County is working hard, in collaboration with municipalities like the City of Perth Amboy, to implement an initiative called Vison Zero, a strategic plan to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries by reducing the number and severity of motor vehicle crashes. As Chair of the County’s Transportation Committee, I believe this is long overdue and I am proud that we are the first county in New Jersey to commit to this goal,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Charles Kenny, chair of the Transportation Committee. “I thank Mayor Caba and his team for their support and collaboration as we work to eliminate the roadway and traffic conditions that contribute to motor vehicle related accidents, injuries, and fatalities.”
“Very excited to be part of the official announcement of the brand-new traffic signal at the intersection of Goodwin and Smith Street. The City of Perth Amboy has a commitment from Middlesex County and its elected leader, Mayor Caba,” said Douglas G. Dzema, Executive Director of the Perth Amboy Redevelopment Team for Neighborhood Enterprise and Revitalization. “This new traffic signal is critical and important work as this intersection is part of the main entrance into and through the city. Ensuring the safety of our Gateway Neighborhood streets and all who use them is paramount.”
