TRENTON, NJ, April 16, 2025—A coalition of Trenton-based residents and organizations announced earlier in the week the launch of its new campaign, Reconnecting Trenton’s Riverfront, aimed at revitalizing the city’s riverfront and creating a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly environment.

This bold initiative is centered around transforming the current Route 29 corridor into a dynamic boulevard that will reconnect Trenton residents and visitors to the scenic Delaware River, which has long been separated from the city’s daily life by the high-speed, automobile-centric highway.

The campaign is underscored by a logo that symbolizes a spirit of unity, sustainability, and renewal and embodies the vision of a flourishing riverfront with easy access for everyone, from pedestrians to cyclists to commuters and visitors.

In addition to the logo, the campaign has launched its official website reconnectingtrentonsriverfront.org. This site features the latest campaign updates and resources, including a dedicated petition page to support these efforts and a video that showcases community testimonials and visuals of the project location.

Reconnecting Trenton’s Riverfront is part of a growing national movement to address the lasting impacts of mid-20th century highway projects that cut through urban communities—especially communities of color. As highlighted in the new documentary Interstate, cities across the country are confronting the legacy of infrastructure that prioritized cars over communities. Trenton’s Route 29 Boulevard Project is one such effort, aiming to repair the damage caused when the highway was constructed in the 1950s. Rather than serving as a connector, Route 29 has long acted as a barrier—severing neighborhoods from the Delaware River and isolating residents from the city’s cultural and historical core. Local opposition to the highway has remained strong, with many voicing frustration over its dominance of the cityscape and its long-term impact on the vitality of surrounding communities.

“Reconfiguring Route 29 into a boulevard offers the promise of reinvigorating the city’s relationship with the riverfront,” said Tom Rust, Economic Director of the Trenton Downtown Association. “By redesigning the corridor to allow for a multi-use, pedestrian-friendly boulevard, this project will improve safety, create new parks, reduce traffic noise, and enhance the overall quality of life for residents. A boulevard design will allow for better access to waterfront parks, cultural attractions, and recreational areas, attracting new investments and economic development, and encouraging local tourism.”

“Trenton deserves a riverfront that is accessible and inviting, not divided by an outdated highway,” said Austin Edwards, Esq. of the Trenton NAACP. “This campaign is about reclaiming our connection to the river and reimagining our city’s future. We are excited to rally support for this transformative vision that will make Trenton a more vibrant, accessible, and community-focused city.”

“Transforming Route 29 into a boulevard is more than just a transportation project—it’s about reconnecting Trenton to its riverfront and unlocking new opportunities for economic growth, recreation, and community engagement,” said Peter Kasabach, executive director at New Jersey Future. “For too long, the highway has been a barrier between residents and one of the city’s greatest assets. This campaign represents a bold step toward a more vibrant, accessible, and people-centered Trenton,” Kasabach continued to share.

“Reconnecting Trenton’s riverfront along Route 29 is an essential step toward revitalizing our city,” said Yazminelly Gonzalez the Trenton City Council President. “It will create a space that is accessible and welcoming. Reimagining the riverfront presents an opportunity to transform an underutilized area of this city into a vibrant place which allows an opportunity for more recreational activities and green space.”

“The Route 29 Boulevard Project is about more than just infrastructure—it’s a transformative step toward reconnecting Trenton with its riverfront, creating safer, more accessible spaces for everyone,” said Trenton Mayor W. Reed Gusciora. “This project will help shape a more connected and sustainable future for our city.”

There is growing momentum for the Route 29 boulevard project. Mercer County is undertaking a Local Concept Development Study (LCD) to develop a well-defined and justified Purpose and Need Statement to evaluate whether the concept developed in prior boulevard studies 1) remains valid for current standards and goals and will support the advancement of the project to the Local Preliminary Engineering Phase, or (2) requires refinement or an alternative concept(s) to satisfy resiliency and other goals, or (3) will lead to a “No-Build” alternative resulting in the termination of the project.

Reconnecting Trenton’s Riverfront is an inclusive campaign that invites residents, local leaders, and partners to join forces and advocate for a better future for Trenton. It has historic overwhelming support from residents, the city, the county, and the State. The campaign will host a series of public engagement events, workshops, and information sessions over the coming months to provide the community with opportunities to learn more, voice their opinions, and get involved.

The Reconnecting Trenton’s Riverfront campaign is being facilitated by New Jersey Future. For more information on how to get involved or to view the campaign’s new logo, visit reconnectingtrentonsriverfront.org and follow the campaign on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram @ReconnectingTrenton.