A Hopewell Borough awareness campaign is set to educate drivers about the new 25 miles per hour (mph) speed limit on Broad Street.
The campaign will not only promote the new speed limit, which was reduced from 30 mph, but educate drivers and residents about the safety changes and increased enforcement from the Hopewell Township Police Department.
“We have been trying to shout this from the roof tops because we are not just proud of this accomplishment as far as improving pedestrian and bicycle safety, but we want to make sure everyone knows there will be increased enforcement coming up,” Council President Krista Weaver said during the Township Council’s meeting on March 7.
Two design images have been created by members of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Advisory Committee (PBSAC) – Chair Melanie Born and Vice Chair Anne Hayton. The images specifically spotlight the 25 mph speed limit with a 25 mph sign and a Hopewell Borough message “Enjoy town, slow down.”
One of the images is black, white and gray. The other is maroon and beige.
Black, white and gray image design by Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Advisory Committee (PBSAC) Chair Melanie Born and Vice Chair Anne Hayton for yard signs and banners.
Maroon and beige image by PBSAC Chair Melanie Born and Vice Chair Anne Hayton for yard signs and banners.
The two detailed image designs are intended to be used for yard signs and banners. Weaver said they are hoping to get some banners made. One would be in front of Borough Hall.
There is a third image that will also be used on a flyer in the awareness campaign consisting of a color-coded fatality chart showing the benefits of a lower speed limit.
Image of survivability rate of a pedestrian hit by a vehicle at different speeds for the flyers that will be given by police.
“This image just shows the survivability rate of a pedestrian when struck by varying speeds of a vehicle. The intention is for these to be handed out to people who are driving by a police officer,” Weaver added.
The flyers will also be displayed in local businesses.
“We are going to have a warning campaign ahead of the increased enforcement,” she said. “We are going to have a two-week period where the police will be pulling people over to give them a warning unless they are excessively speeding and then they will get a ticket.”
The campaign comes after Hopewell Borough previously announced new signage for the 25 mph speed limit on West Broad Street and “No turn on Red” signs at the intersection of North Greenwood Avenue and Broad Street.
Additionally, information on a next phase will include the installation of 25 mph speed limit signs on East Broad Street that begins at Princeton Avenue and the county reducing the speed limit on Route 654 when approaching the borough.
The goal for the borough is to have the 25 mph speed limit for the entire length of Broad Street.
Mayor Ryan Kennedy thanked Weaver and everyone involved.
“It is a long time coming … we are not done with this part and not going to stop. We are never going to be safe enough or satisfied enough to establish what our downtown is like for pedestrians and users,” he said.
Kennedy stressed “We are not going to slow down when it comes to safety.”