Assemblyman Augustine testified on behalf of his bill, saying it secures "a bigger umbrella" for pedestrian safety. NJ Public Interest Research Group Citizen Lobby also testified in favor of the bill.

The signs have been the subject of dispute between towns desiring immediate, low-cost measures to make streets more hospitable to walkers, and NJ county and state transportation authorities insisting on their right to define the use of specific traffic control devices. The transportation officials had argued that temporary or lightweight in-street signs could fly into people or property if hit by cars. Dozens of mayors and municipal safety officials organized forums last spring and summer among themselves to advance a municipal pedestrian safety agenda, including more local control over street design and function. Some participants said the root issue was DOT engineers' prioritization of car and truck flow, regardless of consequences to towns and pedestrians. State law currently gives pedestrians the right of way in crosswalks, but drivers often fail to yield.

A compromise has permitted some towns to test various in-street sign designs. The Record reported last week that Ridgewood was testing flexible signs anchored to the street. Princeton and Belmar are also conducting tests. Passage of the Augustine/Bagger bill would force NJ DOT to conclude the tests and issue guidelines for all towns' use of the crosswalk signs.