The New Jersey Department of Transportation initiated a “hard shoulder running” or HSR pilot project along a heavily urbanized section of Route 1 to reduce traffic congestion during peak morning and evening travel hours, which also improved safety by reducing risky tailgating and rapid lane change maneuvers. Due to development on both sides of Route 1, widening the roadway would have caused significant socioeconomic impacts and incurred high costs for acquiring right-of-way. The low-cost HSR project eased travel difficulties along this segment of Route 1 by adding a third lane for use on a temporary basis to accommodate higher vehicle volumes. Stop-and-go traffic has been replaced with steady traffic, resulting in lower vehicle emissions and better air quality. The agency added that there has been no discernible change in traffic incidents or the local police’s response to such incidents. Also, New Jersey DOT completed this $6.5 million project in months, rather than years, minimizing construction disruptions to the community and expediting the benefits to the public.
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