Residents seek immediate action to ban large trucks
By: Matthew Armstrong
Residents gathered Saturday at the corner of Douglas Drive and Raymond Road to mount a "Stop the Trucks" campaign to protest truck traffic on Raymond Road.
Residents have long been complaining about the volume of traffic on Raymond Road, especially from trucks coming from Route 1 to Route 27, or going to the Trap Rock Industries quarry, just north of Raymond Road on Route 27, and the speed of vehicles using the road.
Residents this week submitted a letter signed by more than 150 families to the Planning Board, the Township Council and Township Manager Matt Watkins demanding immediate action to address the traffic problem, which they say has become increasingly dangerous. The letter calls for banning heavy trucks from using Raymond Road and establishing Route 522, just north of Raymond Road, as the east-west truck route.
"Something has to be done to calm traffic on Raymond Road," said resident Maddie Stewart. "It is the major road trucks take to get to Route 27 and this is a residential street."
Township Manager Matt Watkins said he will talk with the residents to see what the township can do to alleviate the problem.
"We are going to sit down with the residents and see what we can do," said Mr. Watkins. "Certainly we can do something about speeding on the road. The problem with banning trucks from the road is that it would affect Ridge Road, New Road, Sand Hills, and Promenade. We have to try and balance out concerns. A lot of truck traffic has come from the truck ban on Route 518 in Somerset. It’s a problem in a lot of parts of the township."
About 40 residents took the problem into their own hands Saturday by standing on the side of Raymond Road with signs urging drivers to slow down.
Residents complain that trucks drive 55 mph through the residential neighborhood where houses are not set far back from the road. Raymond Road has a posted speed limit of 40 mph.
In addition to the noise, fumes and danger residents face when they come out of their driveways, they say traffic also poses a danger for children. Children say they are afraid to wait on the side of the road for the school bus.
Residents say police have tried to help the situation by placing an officer on the road at various times, but even this has not solved the problem.
The police have increased monitoring vehicles on Raymond Road to reduce speeding. So far this year, 35 speeding tickets have been issued, 10 tickets for non-hazardous operation of a motor vehicle, three tickets for hazardous operation, and two for motor vehicle accidents.
But residents say the only way to reduce the traffic is to construct a jughandle on the northbound side of Route 1 at Route 522, near Stouts Lane. Route 522 runs from Route 130 to Route 27. The portion between Route 1 and Route 27 also is known as Promenade Boulevard.
"Then trucks driving on Route 1 north could access Promenade Boulevard to travel west, instead of Raymond Road," Ms. Stewart said. "Raymond Road is not designed to handle truck traffic. The houses are set right next to the road."
However, residents say the problem can not wait for action by the state Department of Transportation who would have to approve a jughandle at Route 1 and Route 522. For an immediate solution, they want trucks banned from Raymond Road.
Ralph Martinson, who lives on the corner of Route 27 and Raymond Road, said trucks have to drive over his lawn to make the turn onto Raymond Road.
"In the last five years the truck traffic has become impossible," said Mr. Martinson. "The roadway is actually too narrow to accommodate these monsters."
Residents also want the speed limit on Raymond Road reduced and crosswalks added to the road.
"We are the only east-west residential connector road with a speed limit above 25 mph," said Ms. Stewart.