For years, there was no sidewalk that permitted Edison residents who live in the Edison Tower area to walk to the Metro Park Train Station in a safe manner. It was particularly dangerous to walk along the narrow path located on Route 27 from Cedar Lane to the Exxon Gas Station, and doing so caused many pedestrians who tried to navigate the hazardous path to simply walk on a poorly lit section of Route 27. A sidewalk extending only 284 feet would have been perfect, yet it amazed me how difficult it was to try to get this accomplished — that is, until a person in government who really cares, state Sen. Barbara Buono, got involved.
While a sidewalk exists across the street from the property that I am describing, it is practically useless since it ends abruptly, is adjacent to the train tracks and leaves one stranded because there is no traffic light at this junction.
A few months ago, I contacted Sen. Buono about this situation. She and her staff investigated the matter and then contacted the state Department of Transportation, which told her about a Route 27-Wood Avenue intersection improvement plan — a plan envisioning that Route 27 will be elevated to rise above Wood Avenue, allowing avenue traffic to pass underneath.
When I explained to Sen. Buono that I had been told more than a dozen years ago that a public hearing would soon be held on this futuristic plan to improve the entire intersection, she made further inquiries that resulted, at long last, in the construction of a temporary but safe path. The state Department of Transportation decided it would be temporary in anticipation of the Route 27-Wood Avenue intersection improvement project.
Having waited the 25 years I have lived in Edison to finally see a safe path constructed at this dangerous location, I have found out — like I know many other Edison residents have — that we are indeed fortunate to have such a caring and capable state senator as Sen. Buono.
Leonard Goodman
Edison