hoboken

Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla and the City of Hoboken today released the results of the three-month CLEAR (Camera-based License Plate Enforcement for Access & Response times) pilot program, demonstrating significant improvements in street safety, transit access, and loading zone turnover along downtown Washington Street.

Data from the CLEAR pilot program, which operated along Washington Street from Observer Highway to Eighth Street for the last three months of 2025, shows reductions in blocked bike lanes, bus stops, loading zones, and travel lanes: conditions that complicate loading zone access, endanger cyclists and pedestrians, delay transit riders, and obstruct emergency vehicles.  

Key safety findings from the three-month CLEAR initiative include:

• 59 percent reduction in blocked bike lanes, representing a decrease of nearly 22 hours per day along the corridor
• 44 percent reduction in blocked bus stops, representing a decrease of nearly 11 hours per day along the corridor
• 66 percent reduction in loading zone violations

“The data and results of the CLEAR program are clear as day - the three-month period saw a drastic increase in street safety in Hoboken,” said Mayor Bhalla. “Crossing the street, riding a bike on Washington Street, getting off the bus, and driving along our main commercial corridor were all made substantially safer through camera-assisted enforcement. Washington Street has never been more efficient than it was during the CLEAR pilot, and it is my hope that this program will be refined and continued to prioritize the safety of our residents and visitors in the months and years to come.”

Additionally, the CLEAR data shows measurable benefits for local businesses and commercial activity along lower Washington Street, driven by increased loading zone turnover and improved curbside access as indicated through the following data:

• 67 percent increase in loading zone use by freight vehicles
• 32 percent increase in overall loading zone utilization
• 2 percent increase in paid parking transactions compared to 2024  
• 2 percent increase in average parking space turnover compared to 2024

According to additional spending and visitation data from the Hoboken Business Alliance, the CLEAR pilot coincided with increases in customer activity within the corridor including a nearly 4 percent increase in longer visits between September to December compared to the same time last year and a 6 percent increase during the holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  

Using a cross sample of retail establishments, retail businesses experienced longer customer visits reporting increases between 4 percent and 60 percent between September and December and 9 percent and 28 percent increase during the holiday season.  

Food establishments saw more short-term visits with increases ranging from 19 to 95 percent, and long-term visits ranging from no increase to 5.3 percent. Citywide spending data also shows that dining and nightlife spending declined by approximately 12 percent during the same period, indicating that visitation trends to these establishments within the pilot area reflect broader patterns rather than impacts specifically related to CLEAR.

The pilot also improved traffic flow and compliance along the corridor as 93 percent of drivers who received a citation did not receive a second violation. Traffic congestion also declined as blocked travel lanes were reduced by an average of 20 minutes per day, improving traffic flow and circulation for drivers and commuters.

The CLEAR pilot program demonstrated the unmet need for curbside loading and pick-up and drop-off space along Washington Street. In November, the City Council unanimously approved extending loading zone availability along Washington Street in the pilot area to 6 p.m. or later on weekdays.  

The CLEAR pilot program was part of Hoboken’s Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate all traffic injuries and deaths by 2030. The program used camera-assisted enforcement to promote safer and more efficient curb management and reduce dangerous and illegal parking behaviors that contribute to congestion, obstruct emergency response vehicles, and cause unsafe road conditions like double parking.  

During the pilot, cameras mounted along Washington Street from Observer Highway to Eighth Street captured images of potential violations which were then reviewed by parking enforcement officers before citations were issued. Now, the City will use a combination of pilot data and stakeholder feedback to determine next steps for the program. In the meantime, parking enforcement and police officers will continue to enforce all regulations previously included in the CLEAR pilot program.