Churchill plan might increase traffic New bus route could snarl traffic on Renee Road

Churchill plan might increase traffic
New bus route could snarl traffic on Renee Road

By Nicole C. Vaccaro

Staff Writer

Many details regarding the proposed Churchill School referendum have finally been made public, with East Brunswick Board of Education members itemizing $26,834,084 in desired improvements to the existing structure.

Included on this list are plans for the construction of an alternate bus route to alleviate traffic within the school’s parking lot that could have an impact on some area residents used to less traffic along their streets.

Instead of using the University Road entrance, buses would access the school via a newly constructed shortcut from Renee to Norton roads.

This will feed buses into a special lane located between the Churchill building and new connector core, keeping that traffic separate from all other traffic.

"The buses will only be allowed to pick up and drop off the children at this point," said Jennifer Forbes, director of community relations for the Board of Education. "Therefore, we don’t anticipate any backup on Renee Road."

Forbes said board members have been consulting with the township Planning Board and traffic office on the matter and that the Planning Board is said to be devising renovation strategies for Renee Road that will help to lessen the traffic impact.

While the bus route may appear to be a creative solution for eliminating school yard congestion, neither the planning nor school boards have yet to prove that it won’t create traffic headaches for homeowners living in the vicinity of these two roads.

The Commons and Cross Pointe are two condominium developments located along Renee Road, just off Tices Lane. Police say traffic there is generally quiet and is created mostly by condo residents.

According to Leslie MacGowan, township director of planning and engineering, it is too preliminary a plan to assess whether traffic will be affected in those areas.

"The school board has sought our advice on the matter but nothing has been formalized in the township master plan as of yet," said MacGowan.

"I do know, however, that whatever steps [the board] takes will be made with the intent of alleviating traffic, not increasing it."

MacGowan said she knows nothing about Forbes’ mention of renovations to Renee Road. Furthermore, she had no knowledge of any special steps being taken to notify condo residents about the construction.

Nobody from either condominium’s tenant association was available to confirm whether or not they were aware of plans for the proposed bus route.

"I cannot speak for the Planning Board, but we (Board of Education) have not yet notified the residents," said Forbes. "The decision, however, will be brought before the public vote."

This vote, however, will not be separate but included as part of the school referendum vote on Oct. 17.

Thus, a vote in favor of construction would not only affect taxpayers, but a good number of residents living within a few hundred feet of the school.

The N.J. Department of Education approved the board’s request for financial assistance last Monday.

As speculated, the Department of Education will contribute 40 percent of the total cost, or $10,733,633. The township will be responsible for the remaining $16,100,451.