Hudson County government is set to begin long-term Vision Zero construction on John F. Kennedy Boulevard next Monday, kicking off an 18-month overhaul that will bring new curbs, sidewalks, ADA-compliant ramps, traffic signals, and street trees to one of the county's busiest and most dangerous corridors. The project also includes milling and paving along the roadway, with Garfield-based Zuccaro Inc. leading the construction work.
The improvements are part of the broader Hudson County Vision Zero initiative, according to Hudson County View, which first reported the construction timeline. County Executive Craig Guy said the improvements will make JFK Boulevard safer, more accessible, and more welcoming for everyone who uses it, calling it an important corridor for residents, businesses, and visitors throughout Hudson County.
Construction will take place in phases to minimize disruptions and maintain access for residents, businesses, pedestrians, and motorists, the outlet's report notes. Officials are advising residents and motorists to use caution in active construction areas, allow additional travel time as work progresses, and follow posted signage. Per the same account, officials will provide updates regarding construction phases, traffic impacts, and project milestones as the work moves forward.
A Corridor Targeted For Safety Improvements
JFK Boulevard, also known as County Route 501, is a 14-mile arterial that carries an average of 18,881 vehicles per day on the 1.59-mile safety-project segment in Hudson County, connecting Bayonne, Jersey City, and North Bergen. A nonprofit Tri-State Transportation Campaign report has discussed pedestrian safety on Route 501.
According to NJ.gov's 2019 Annual Report, 34 percent of all Hudson County pedestrian fatalities occurred between 2013-2017. NJ.gov's 2019 Annual Report found that 37 percent of all Hudson County pedestrian fatalities occurred between 2014-2018.
Separately from the announced 18-month construction, preliminary engineering for safety enhancements along a 1.59-mile section of JFK Boulevard between Route 139 and Secaucus Road in Jersey City was funded through the region's Local Safety Engineering Assistance Program using federal Highway Safety Improvement Program grants, according to the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. That project lists construction for 2029. The targeted section carries a 25 mph speed limit but has historically lacked striped shoulders.
Part Of A Countywide Vision Zero Push
County Executive Craig Guy officially launched the Hudson County Vision Zero Action Plan in January 2025, setting a goal to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries on county-managed roadways by 2034. The plan was developed, according to the Hudson Transportation Management Association.
New Jersey's FY 2026-2035 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program says its safety targets are based on the state's commitment to zero fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. New Jersey's FY 2024-2033 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program lists the annual number of fatalities as 755.
Jersey City, meanwhile, signed on to Vision Zero in 2019. The distinction matters because JFK Boulevard runs directly through densely populated municipalities.
Signals, Bike Paths, And A Future Bus Study
The JFK Boulevard work follows broader Vision Zero improvements, as reported by The Hoboken Girl. The corridor is also part of broader transportation planning.
Beyond the physical construction beginning next week, county officials are separately studying a bigger transit shift for the corridor. In April 2026, Hudson County selected engineering firms Nelson/Nygaard and TYLin for a $150,000 feasibility study on Bus Rapid Transit and bus priority lanes along JFK Boulevard in Jersey City and Bayonne — an acknowledgment that the boulevard carries heavy daily NJ Transit bus traffic. The county is also evaluating transit priority and signal improvements along the corridor.
The county's Vision Zero initiative also encompasses other county-managed roads. For now, the Vision Zero initiative's stated aim on JFK Boulevard remains creating safer, more accessible, and more attractive public spaces, with continued investment in infrastructure and public safety expected as construction phases roll out over the next year and a half.
