Quick View Summary - Bus Stop Safety Toolbox - North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA)

 Quick View Summary 

Quick View Summary  

Thursday, January 29, 2026  

11:43 PM  

*Quick View Summary  

Bus Stop Safety Toolbox – NJTPA**  

Purpose  

A practical guide created by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) to help  

municipalities, planners, and transit agencies design, locate, and maintain safe, accessible, and  

ADA-compliant bus stops. It supports the broader Pedestrian Safety At and Near Bus Stops Study.  

1. Why Bus Stop Safety Matters  

• Over 600,000 daily bus trips in NJ.  

• Many stops located on high-speed, high-volume roads.  

• Pedestrians often cross in poor lighting or bad weather.  

• Safer stops reduce crash frequency and severity.  

2. Benefits of a Marked Bus Stop  

• Alerts motorists to pedestrian activity.  

• Provides a predictable, safe waiting area.  

• Helps operators identify riders earlier.  

• Supports ADA access and comfort.  

3. Governance: Who Controls Bus Stops  

• Municipalities designate bus stops (N.J.S.A. 39:4).  

• County roads require municipal + county approval.  

• State roads require NJDOT approval.  

• NJ TRANSIT coordinates but does not control siting.  

4. What Makes a Good Bus Stop Location  

• Safety, visibility, and clear sightlines.  

• Sidewalks and crosswalks that provide safe access.  

• Adequate lighting.  

• Logical spacing relative to nearby stops.  

• Transfer opportunities.  

5. Bus Stop Spacing (TCRP 19)  

Environment Typical Spacing  

CBD Core  

Urban  

600 ft  

750 ft  

Suburban  

Rural  

1,000 ft  

1,250 ft  

6. Bus Stop Placement Types  

Far-Side  

• Fewer right-turn conflicts  

• Better sight distance – May block intersections – Drivers may not expect second stop after red  

light  

New Section 2 Page 1  

Near-Side  

• Good access to crosswalk  

• Boarding during red light – Right-turn conflicts – Can block visibility  

Midblock  

• Fewer sight-distance issues – Encourages midblock crossings – Requires longer no-parking  

zones  

7. Bus Stop Configurations  

• Curbside stop  

• Bus bay (open, closed, queue-jump)  

• Shoulder stop  

• Curb extension (NUB) Each affects dwell time, traffic flow, and pedestrian exposure.  

8. Signage & Wayfinding  

• NJDOT “Stop for Pedestrians” signs.  

• MUTCD-compliant bus stop signs.  

• Optional wayfinding maps and route info.  

9. Sidewalks, Driveways & Safe Access  

• Minimum 5 ft sidewalks, unobstructed.  

• Driveway consolidation reduces conflict points.  

• Avoid driveways near stops.  

• Traffic calming (lane narrowing, bike lanes, lane removal) reduces speeds and improves  

comfort.  

10. Crossings & Pedestrian Infrastructure  

• Ladder crosswalks  

• Medians & refuge islands  

• Slip lane islands  

• Midblock crossings  

• ADA curb ramps  

• Curb extensions  

• Corner radius reduction to slow turning vehicles  

11. Signals  

• Pedestrian timing: 1 sec per 3.5 ft of crossing.  

• Prefer fixed countdown signals over push-buttons.  

• Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs) give 3–5 sec head start.  

12. Lighting  

• Roadway lighting (15–20 ft) doesn’t illuminate sidewalks.  

• Use pedestrian-scale lighting (9–12 ft).  

• Conduct lighting inventories at stops.  

13. Shelters & Benches  

• NJ TRANSIT installs shelters if a sponsor maintains them.  

• Ridership thresholds:  

○ Rural: 10/day  

○ Suburban: 25/day  

○ Urban: 50/day  

• Benches can be installed without shelters.  

• Provide 5' x 8' ADA landing pad.  

14. Passenger Information  

New Section 2 Page 2  

• NJ TRANSIT MyBus real-time text service.  

• NextBus-style GPS tracking.  

• Stop-level info: maps, schedules, lighting, trash, trees.  

15. ADA, Safety Audits & Crash Analysis  

• Universal design benefits all users.  

• Conduct regular bus stop audits (sidewalks, crossings, signage, obstructions).  

• Use Plan4Safety crash data to identify hotspots.  

• Pair physical improvements with education and enforcement (e.g., Pedestrian Decoy  

Program).  

Ultra-Short Version (One-Slide Summary)  

Safe bus stops require:  

• Proper location, spacing, and placement  

• Good sidewalks, crossings, lighting, and signage  

• ADA-compliant landing pads, ramps, and shelters  

• Clear governance, maintenance, and communication tools  

• Ongoing audits, crash analysis, and enforcement