Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla and the City of Hoboken today announced the extension of loading zone hours along downtown Washington Street to expand access to loading and short-term parking for residents, visitors, and businesses.
Under the newly updated ordinance, which was approved unanimously by the Hoboken City Council, the effective hours of existing weekday loading zones on Washington Street from Observer Highway to Eighth Street will be extended from 8 hours per day to 12 hours per day. The loading zones will now operate primarily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays to standardize loading zone operations, and the ordinance also increases the allowable time a vehicle may remain in a loading zone from 15 minutes to 20 minutes.
“By extending loading zone hours, we’re creating more opportunities for Hoboken’s small businesses, delivery drivers, and those who need to make a quick stop to safely and conveniently access curb space, while improving traffic flow and reducing double parking along Washington Street,” said Mayor Bhalla. “We’re committed to managing our curbs in a way that supports local commerce, short-term access, and safe, efficient streets for everyone. This ordinance builds on the success of our CLEAR initiative, helping us make the most of curb space and reduce unsafe parking behaviors along our busiest corridor.”
Currently, the majority of existing loading zones along Washington Street are active from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays. Expanding hours will increase short-term parking availability by 50 percent per weekday, offering more flexibility for businesses, delivery vehicles, and quick-stop visitors.
The change follows data collected through the City’s CLEAR pilot (Camera-based License plate Enforcement for Access & Response times), which found that each observation zone on Washington Street experienced an average of 46 weekday violations, primarily outside of current loading zone hours. Over 60 percent of weekday violations occurred when loading zones were inactive.
By extending operational hours, the City expects a reduction in illegal parking at bus stops and double parking in the bike lane. Since the launch of CLEAR, bus, bike lane, and double-parking violations have decreased by more than 68 percent through Nov. 13. Through Nov. 5, freight vehicle use of loading zones had increased 98 percent. Turnover in loading zones is also up 9 percent, allowing approximately 2,300 more vehicles per week to access loading zones during the same time period. Across Hoboken’s Business District, which includes Washington Street south of Eighth Street, parking activity and turnover have increased during the pilot period compared to this time last year. From the beginning of October through Nov. 15, the number of paid parking transactions is up by 4 percent and average turnover increased by 7 percent.
The loading zone time extension, originally suggested by the Hoboken Business Alliance, will take effect immediately as the City Council voted to waive the estoppel period. The City today announced it will also extend the hold on all commercial vehicle tickets issued through the camera-based enforcement system, including double parking, bus stop, and loading zone violations, through the end of the year.
“The legislation authorized last night is a major step forward for our business community,” said James Runkle, President of the Hoboken Business Alliance Board of Trustees. “By improving safety and clearing travel lanes, the CLEAR program will help create a more welcoming and reliable experience along Washington Street, which will be a tremendous aid to businesses across the board. We commend the City Council for moving this legislation forward, and look forward to continuing to work closely with our partners in the administration to ensure implementation reflects community needs as we pursue better, more effective parking solutions to support our businesses.”
The CLEAR pilot program, launched last month, supports Hoboken’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating all traffic deaths and injuries by 2030 through safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. By increasing legal loading opportunities and reducing obstructions, the program continues to improve access to travel lanes and curb space for customers, deliveries, and emergency vehicles.
For more information on CLEAR, click HERE.
To provide feedback on the pilot program, email CLEAR@hobokennj.gov
