Main Street is a vibrant east-west thoroughfare in Newark and a popular destination for socializing, dining and shopping among the city’s residents and visitors, and members of the University of Delaware community.

This summer, the City of Newark approved the implementation of several short-term improvements that will create a safer experience on Main Street for pedestrians and motorists alike. These measures were installed in August, prior to the start of UD’s 2025-26 academic year.

“For several months, the University of Delaware joined legislative partners and other key stakeholders in Newark and across the state to advocate for and invest in measures that will bring added safety to Main Street,” said José-Luis Riera, the University’s vice president for student life. “We also engaged with our UD community as part of this important work, leading to helpful solutions that prioritize the safety and wellness of those who visit and utilize Main Street.”

Leaders from UD, including Riera, and the UD police department worked closely with the City of Newark, Newark Police, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), and elected officials at the city and state levels to develop a comprehensive list of safety initiatives that, on June 16, received approval from Newark’s mayor and city council.

Here are some of the Main Street safety enhancements that are under way:

• Removal of parking spaces at three locations along Main Street, on the approach to pedestrian crossings, in order to improve visibility.

• Installation of reboundable crosswalk signs between travel lanes at four locations to raise awareness of upcoming pedestrian crossings.

• Replacement of existing pedestrian crossing signs with signage that is more visible in a brighter fluorescent color.

• Installation of rumble strips and solar-powered speed radar signs at Main Street and Library Avenue to discourage speeding and raise awareness to speed restrictions. 

• Application of freshly painted edge lines and pedestrian symbol pavement markings at several locations, including the east and west ends of Main Street.

• Conversion of two intersections to all-way stops — at both Main Street and Haines Street and the slip lane at Main Street and McKees Lane, just west of Library Avenue.

• Removal of common obstructions, like outdoor seating and large plant pots, to improve visibility at or on the approach to pedestrian crossings.

To implement these safety measures along Main Street, the City of Newark provided financial support, as did the University of Delaware. UD leaders worked closely with legislative partners to allocate to this project hundreds of thousands of dollars that would have been awarded to the University as part of its annual appropriation from the state’s Joint Capital Improvement Committee, and that work is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. 

In total, $1.3 million has been allocated for safety upgrades to Main Street.

Learn more about the city’s plans for improved safety on Main Street.