Route 29 ‘circles’ worry residents

Some fear the "roundabouts" would harm their homes or businesses.

By: Linda Seida
   LAMBERTVILLE — A proposal by the New Jersey Department of Transportation to redesign Route 29 within city limits drew a mixed reaction from a group of citizens and merchants who gathered to discuss the plan with DOT representatives last week.
   Most of the 30 or so residents and business owners remained concerned the addition or roundabouts, a type of modified traffic circle, would harm their businesses and reduce the city’s already limited number of parking spaces.
   Others, however, welcomed the attention being paid by the state to making the roadway safer, especially for pedestrians. A frequent refrain was pedestrians "take their life in their hands" when trying to cross the highway, especially in the area of Route 165 and Franklin Street.
   The proposed changes to Route 29 will cost about $6 million and be performed in phases. The first phase runs from Mount Hope Street to Cherry Street and is slated to begin May 2006.
   The project, according to Charles Henry of the DOT’s Office of Project Management, is "really on the fast track."
   The work began with a desire to remedy drainage along Route 29, Mr. Henry said. As the project developed, the agency hoped to accommodate the city’s repeated desire to lower the speed limit along Route 29 within the city, he said.
   The speed limit is 45 mph at the southern end of the city. The speed limit drops to 40 mph, then to 35 mph. Mayor David Del Vecchio and the City Council have asked the state several times over the past few years to reduce the speed limit to 25 mph.
   "No one is driving the speed limit at all because the roadway allows them to drive faster," said Amy Kennard of the DOT’s Division of Project Planning and Development. "Everyone’s driving 10 mph above" the speed limit.
   Changing the speed limit isn’t the answer because people still would tend to drive above the speed limit, she said. Neither is added enforcement an answer, because it would require frequent and additional manpower.
   Ms. Kennard said the way to make drivers slow their speed is by changing the road itself.
   "The only way to change it is to change the design," she said.
   Al Tavares of the DOT’s Bureau of Mobility Strategies said, "You have to do something physically to reduce the speeds. Just lowering the speed limit is not going to do it."
   Gary Toth, also of the DOT’s Division of Project Planning and Development and a resident of Lambertville, said slower-moving traffic would "make it safer for pedestrians and make it more efficient for cars."
   Mr. Toth said the agency is willing to bring in trucks and simulate conditions if it would help allay the fears of merchants and residents.
   "I respect your fears," Mr. Toth said to Samuel and Bertha Marriot, who own S&B Petroleum. "If I had a business for 65 or 70 years, I’d be nervous, too."
   Mr. Toth said slowing traffic with the redesign could benefit local businesses.
   "I think putting roundabouts there will slow traffic, which will help business," he said.
   The redesign would include turning the four-lane road into three lanes. One lane would be for northbound traffic, a second would be for southbound traffic, and a center lane would be reserved for turning vehicles.
   The redesign would have the additional benefit of adding more than 30 parking spaces along Route 29 in the southern end of the city, according to Ms. Kennard.
   Ms. Kennard said there exists "a failing drainage system throughout" the area. The DOT "felt it wasn’t smart" to rip up the road for a drainage project without also addressing other needs at the same time to prevent another lengthy disruption several years in the future.
   The state hopes to award bids for the first phase of the construction work between Mount Hope and Cherry streets by the end of July of this year, according to Mr. Henry. This work, scheduled to begin in May 2006, will concentrate on safety measures for the intersections.
   The remainder of the project, which still is under discussion, but could include roundabouts and bicycle paths, would be put out to bid by July 2006.
   The next phase is scheduled for August to December, which will be followed by a period of "wintering over" for several months to accommodate winter weather conditions.
   A third phase will be under way from March to May 2007, followed by another phase from June to August 2007. A closeout phase will wrap things up from September to December 2007, Mr. Henry said.
   Vehicles traveling north will have one lane open at all times. Vehicles traveling south will detour around the construction zones.
   Tom Hood of Hood Floors remained concerned about the effect on his business and his neighbors.’
   "Did you take any consideration for the businesses that are struggling right now?" he asked.
   "It’s an important concern," Mr. Henry replied.
   He assured residents and merchants the agency again would discuss the project and try to address their concerns before the project begins.
   Dorothy Anthes reminded the engineers, "We are a walking school district," and any construction would have to make allowances for children trying to walk to and from the public school.
   Councilwoman Cynthia Ege requested that a map of the DOT’s plan be put on display at City Hall on York Street where residents and merchants may view it during normal business hours. Mrs. Ege is chairwoman of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, which hosted the meeting April 13 at the Lambertville Public School.
   "We’re open to any suggestions or recommendations," Mr. Henry said.
   Mr. Toth said, "Ultimately we’ll do what the city wants."
   Ms. Anthes remained unconvinced.
   Drivers will "dip and dodge the minute they can," she said. "You’re going to have a worse plan on Franklin and York streets than you do now" because of drivers who will try to avoid construction and roundabouts on Route 29.
   The DOT is proposing a roundabout on Route 29 at the intersection of Route 518 and another at the intersection of Bridge Street.
   The DOT said roundabouts are effective at getting drivers to slow their speed and more effective and safer than traffic lights.
   Mrs. Ege remained concerned by the proximity of two circles along the short length of Route 29, but said she is keeping an open mind.