Rt. 1 needs on agenda

Department to discuss widening of road

By: Bill Greenwood
   The state Department of Transportation says widening Route 1 in South Brunswick might not be enough to address long-range traffic problems, township officials said.
   What exactly should be done is a question expected to be addressed in a study by the DOT and NJ Future, a statewide research and policy group.
   The DOT met Tuesday with representatives from South Brunswick, North Brunswick, Plainsboro, West Windsor and Lawrence townships to discuss improving the highway, Mayor Frank Gambatese said.
   The meeting was held in the Plainsboro Municipal Building on Plainsboro Road to discuss a $7 million federal grant given to the DOT in August 2005 to conduct studies on widening Route 1. Mayor Gambatese said the study has still not been started, but that the township has taken steps toward lowering congestion by rezoning the sections of Route 1 in South Brunswick so that no houses can be located along the road.
   Erin Fallon, a DOT representative, said NJ Future will help the DOT and the Office of Economic Growth coordinate an economic improvement study in conjunction with traffic improvements along the Route 1 corridor.
   NJ Future will meet with township officials in each affected community over the next month to conduct the study, which will take into account regional economic growth, land use and transportation. The plan was announced at Tuesday’s meeting.
   Township Public Affairs Coordinator Ron Schmalz said NJ Future, upon completion of the meetings, will then prioritize what it can do to improve traffic conditions and bring in businesses along the road.
   "We’re trying to do it in a smart way so that we don’t make congestion worse," Mr. Schmalz said.
   Mayor Gambatese said he was optimistic about the plan.
   "I think the state is finally recognizing that it needs to do more than have meetings in its own offices," he said. "It needs to involve the townships."
   Widening Route 1 and improving the affected intersections in South Brunswick is expected to cost $275 million, Mayor Gambatese said.
   Intersection improvements he said he would like to see include building overpasses at Sand Hills, Major, and Beekman roads to reduce the number of traffic lights along Route 1 in South Brunswick. There are currently seven. He also said Raymond Road should be closed off from Route 1.