Nearly 700 people lose their lives in traffic crashes across New Jersey each year. In January 2025, Governor Murphy signed legislation (A1476/S361) establishing the Target Zero Commission, with the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries statewide by 2040. Throughout Spring and Summer 2025, the Rutgers-VTC team coordinated the Target Zero Action Plan Working Group, which brought together advocates, subject matter experts, and representatives from the 13 member agencies of the Commission. The group developed recommendations and actionable strategies to inform a comprehensive statewide Action Plan, which was drafted in Fall 2025.

One of the highest-priority strategies identified for implementation is the Target Zero Rapid Response Program. This approach treats fatal crashes as public emergencies requiring swift, coordinated action. It offers a proactive framework for addressing roadway safety challenges by deploying immediate countermeasures, such as temporary cones and bollards to reduce speeds, enhanced signage, pavement markings, and adjustments to signal timing and phasing. Rapid response programs have taken various forms: some launch pilot demonstrations within 48 hours, while others deliver permanent infrastructure improvements in under a year. To date, these efforts have been localized, primarily in urban settings, and no statewide rapid response program currently exists in the United States.

A cornerstone of the Rapid Response model is the formation of a multidisciplinary team to conduct holistic crash reviews and recommend safety improvements. Success hinges on strong interagency collaboration, a level of partnership that remains rare at the state level in New Jersey. Given its potential to unify Commission members and serve as a cornerstone initiative, the Target Zero Rapid Response Program is poised to be a top priority for the 13 state agencies in the Target Zero Commission. To support its successful launch, we propose a feasibility study that explores best practices, operational logistics, common pitfalls, and key implementation considerations, including timelines, interagency collaboration, and funding strategies.