Town accepts light at Independence Boulevard
Council may ditch
plans for sidewalks
on Route 130
NORTH BRUNSWICK — The Town-ship Council unanimously passed a resolution authorizing the Department of Transportation to install a traffic light at Independence Boulevard and Route 130.
"We tried very hard in every which way to get the traffic light put at First Union, but every time we tried it, that didn’t work," said Councilwoman Maureen Little during Monday night’s meeting. "Independence Boulevard is the safest area, and it is something that the school board requested. Without that break in traffic, cars would have a hard time getting out [onto Route 130]."
The council also tabled a vote to complete the construction project on Route 130 without a sidewalk. The vote was split with council President Francis "Mack" Womack, and councilmen Bruce Chandlee and Larry Baldini supporting the option to table, while council members Little, Adam Weiss and Carlo Socio wanted to vote on the item. Mayor David Spaulding broke the tie, voting to table the item.
Chandlee wanted more time to analyze the situation.
"I want to pull this item for further research," Chandlee said. "I talked to various people who have had similar situations in other towns. I am not sure if I want to do away with sidewalks."
Little said that she is in favor of having the project done without sidewalks.
"I don’t believe we should put sidewalks in that area. It might be dangerous to have people walking on Route 130," Little said. "Some of the kids might decide to walk on it. This is something that we will have to discuss at the workshop meeting."
Last month, Michael McClelland of CME Associates, Parlin section of Sayreville, said that the state did not think it would be a good idea to have a traffic light put at the First Union driveway.
"Based upon the analysis, the only feasible location for the installation of the traffic signal in this area is at Independence Boulevard," McClelland said. "Any decision by the council to install a signal at Independence Boulevard should be conditioned upon township review of the design, relative to minimizing delays to vehicles on Independence, where possible."
The DOT, however, would be more comfortable placing the light at Independence Boulevard, according to McClelland.
"The installation of a signal at Independence Boulevard would consist of installing a traffic signal with modifications to the existing median opening," McClelland said. "The current plans call for elimination of the median opening at this location."
Business Administrator Rob Lombard said the town will need some kind of signal to break the flow of traffic.
"There would be a timed metering light at Independence Boulevard," Lombard said. "The lights would go to red, and there would have to be a break in the flow of traffic that would allow for more cars to move onto Route 130. If there is not [a break], the cars will be sitting there forever trying to turn onto this road. It would be impossible to move onto Route 130, so we need to have a break in traffic."
— Dave Goldberg