The borough had sought to have the speed limit on Mercer Street dropped to 25 mph.
By: Scott Morgan
HIGHTSTOWN The New Jersey Department of Transportation has rejected the borough’s request to lower the speed limit on Mercer Street from 35 mph to 25 mph.
In a letter from DOT’s Bureau of Traffic Engineering and Investigations, the department said field investigation of the 35-mph zone on Mercer Street showed no evidence of excessive speeding. According to the letter, 85 percent of the traffic DOT surveyed drove between 39 mph and 41 mph. The letter concluded by saying a reduced speed limit "would appear to be unreasonable and unduly restrictive."
Phyllis Deal, a member of the borough’s traffic committee, said at the Sept. 4 Borough Council meeting she was unhappy to find out DOT turned down the borough’s request. Ms Deal said later she feels the 35-mph zone, which lies between Academy Street and Grape Run Road to be a school zone. She said the number of school-age children who go to the Hightstown-East Windsor YMCA itself should suggest the zone should be considered a school zone.
"I find the whole thing very distressful," she said.

