The Freeway Drive for All project focused on rapidly improving pedestrian safety along and adjacent to Interstate 280 Since it was built, the highway and parallel Freeway Drive access roads have divided downtown Orange and East Orange from residential areas and key civic destinations, including schools, parks, and transit.
Supported by the USDOT Thriving Communities grant program and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Street Plans worked with Equitable Cities and third space pARTners to lead a data and community-driven site selection and design process that targeted two high-need intersections adjacent to the Freeway Drive and two New Jersey Transit commuter rail stations. The planning and design process combined findings from a 2017 public realm study with more recent crash data, on-site assessments, walking tours, and community workshops to identify where tactical “Quick-Build” safety improvements could generate the greatest near-term impact.
The pilot projects introduced temporary curb extensions, daylighting, lane width reductions, new high-visibility crosswalks, and asphalt art to shorten crossings, calm turning movements, and create clearer, safer pathways for people walking and biking. Volunteers were led by the consulting team and local artists to install the projects over a multi-day process in the summer of 2025.
Street Plans provided end-to-end delivery including concept development, traffic-calming and materials planning, permitting coordination, installation supervision, and project documentation. The work concluded with a concise report and short film capturing outcomes, community response, and lessons for future capital projects. The pilot demonstrated how low-cost, high-impact interventions can quickly improve safety and reconnect neighborhoods along complex, high-volume corridors.
