Borough leaders in Highland Park heard a number of times from residents living or walking in the area of town along Upper Raritan Ave (between Sixth Ave/Woodbridge Ave and Brookhill Ave) about the unsafe conditions along that stretch of the state highway. The Borough contacted the NJ Department of Transportation (NJ DOT) and learned that NJ State traffic statistics showed that the area suffered a higher than usual number of accidents, including two with fatalities in recent years.

The NJ DOT proposed a 'road diet' to address the situation, sharing the plan with Borough residents in an online forum,  and Mayor Elsie Foster and Borough Administrator Teri Jover urged them to enact it as promptly as possible. On Thursday December 18th, the NJ DOT began restriping Route 27/Raritan Ave from Brookhill Ave. (mile post 18.04) to Sixth Ave/Woodbridge Ave (mile post 17.48). The new traffic lines reduce the number of traffic lanes to one in each direction, with a new center lane designed to accommodate turns into businesses or side streets on either side of the highway.

Prior to the work by the NJ DOT, Route 27 had two lines in each direction, without a dedicated turn lane, which often led to congestion and efforts by drivers to speed past a slower lane.

As the NJ DOT explained in their traffic advisory about the restriping: "A “road diet” is a proven way to calm traffic, improving safety for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. NJDOT, working with local officials, proposed the idea of a road diet on Route 27 based on data that showed this configuration would improve safety and operational performance of the highway. The presence of the new center turn-lane frees up traffic to operate more efficiently and helps reduce speeds through a busy and vibrant business district with heavy pedestrian traffic." 

The NJ DOT points out that "this strategy (the road diet) has been employed on sections of Route 29 in Lambertville, Route 130 in Burlington City, Route 45 in Woodbury, and Route 9 in Lakewood to help improve traffic flow and safety."

The Borough is grateful to the NJ DOT for implementing this change to the Upper Raritan Ave. section of Route 27 and welcomes the improved safety of the roadway. The Borough asks drivers for their patience as travelers adapt to the new configuration.