The Trentonian (Trenton, NJ)

Trenton Health Team to paint street designs to slow traffic

- L.A. Parker Columnist L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at LAParker@Trentonian.com.

They will not paint the town red but a local effort to impact traffic and pedestrian safety positively will employ color for enlightenm­ent and attention.

Trenton Health Team extends an invitation to neighbors and volunteers for support in painting vibrant graffitiin­spired designs to slow traffic and protect people near two busy Brunswick Ave. intersecti­ons from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, August 10.

Traffic will be rerouted throughout the day to allow Brunswick Avenue intersecti­ons with North Montgomery Street and Southard Street to be transforme­d into colorful crossroads. Neighbors have identified these intersecti­ons near Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School and Rivera Community Middle School as hazardous, according to Trenton Health Team.

The non-profit noted that similar “streetscap­e” or “tactical urbanism” projects in other cities have successful­ly slowed traffic and improved pedestrian safety by highlighti­ng crosswalks and slightly narrowing traffic lanes.

Trenton designs were created by Trenton mural artist Leon Rainbow following a community design workshop at Lincoln Homes, hosted by THT and Street Plans, an internatio­nally recognized urban planning, design and transporta­tion planning firm.

Volunteers should checkin at Brunswick Avenue and North Montgomery St. Street Plans staff will work with THT and two teams of volunteers throughout the day, starting at 9 a.m. with a break for lunch, and snacks provided by THT. Work will continue from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Brunswick Avenue was selected for this project as part of a community effort supported by The BUILD Health Challenge, a national initiative funded by BUILD Health, to create a safe and healthy corridor from the Battle Monument Park to Capital Health Regional Medical Center.

The latest THT initiative dovetails with the organizati­on’s mission to create a better Trenton with healthy environmen­t and housing, vibrant public spaces, a growing economy, effective education, healthy food access, improved safety, equity and social cohesion and quality healthcare.

To volunteer or learn more, email Matthew Broad at Trenton Health Team or call 609337-4040.

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 ?? L.A. PARKER - THE TRENTONIAN ?? Traffic jams at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School on Brunswick Ave.
L.A. PARKER - THE TRENTONIAN Traffic jams at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School on Brunswick Ave.
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