Public to discuss speeding troubles

Two sessions with community will help gauge traffic problems

By:Eve Collins
   
   CHESTERFIELD — The Township Committee is mulling its options on what to do about speeding throughout the township, and has set up a series of meetings to discuss traffic with residents in those areas.
   The committee, along with the Chesterfield Police Department, will be hosting two meetings to discuss traffic and speeding issues with residents.
   Those who live in Voting District One, north of Old York and Margerum Roads, should attend the Jan. 22 meeting at the municipal building at 6 p.m.
   Those who live in Voting District Two, south of Old York and Margerum roads, should attend the meeting at the municipal building Jan. 23 at 6 p.m.
   Township Engineer Nancy Jamanow recommended at the committee’s meeting Jan. 9 that it consider doing a speed survey of Front Street before it decides to install speed humps.
   After finding that the county had no equipment available for the township to do the survey, Sgt. Kyle Wilson said a police vehicle will be equipped with radar for 14-hour shifts on Front and New streets to do the survey.
   The committee decided not to move on an ordinance that would make Front Street into a one-way street at its Dec. 27 meeting, but it is still considering making that change, said Township Clerk Bonnie Haines.
   Mayor Michael Hlubik said he hoped to get more feedback from residents at the meeting, which was attended by few.
   Another resident, Denise Darmody, was at the meeting and asked the committee to also consider Sykesville Road in its survey. The speed limit on the road is 50 mph, she said.
   The speed limit used to be 35 mph, but Ms. Darmody was told by the New Jersey State Department of Transportation that it could not be changed back, she said.
   The committee members assured her they were still communicating with the state about the proposed work on the Sykesville Road bridge located in front of her house.
   Besides speeding, the committee also must consider vehicle noise, signage and pavement markings that may be required and emergency vehicles and personnel, said Ms. Jamanow.
   The committee also briefly discussed the traffic light that would be installed at Route 537 and Monmouth Road.
   The committee has not yet heard back about whether the county will cover the entire cost of the light, said Township Attorney John Gillespie. The committee learned it would have to pay for a quarter of the cost of the light, which is estimated to cost $125,000 to $150,000.
   The township also would be responsible for the cost of electricity to power the light, which would cost about $30 per month.
   Committee members agreed the township could pay the electric bill for the light, but decided to ask the county to bear the full cost of the signal.
   In other news, the state has required that a report be done on a vault that recently was found in the township. The report is required because the vault may have historical value.
   The vault, found at Ward Avenue and Crosswicks Street, was found while workers were doing sewer construction, said Township Engineer Nancy Jamanow.
   Workers found it when construction equipment rode over the cement slab that covered the vault and broke it, she said.
   Ms. Jamanow said they are not quite sure what the vault was used for, but that they should know in the next couple of weeks, when the study is finished. In the meantime, the vault has been filled with sand and a new concrete slab has been placed over it, said Ms. Jamanow.