Residents air traffic issues

Pedestrian, bicyclist safety among topics discussed

By: Lacey Korevec
   More than 40 residents came to the Cranbury School on Monday to talk about traffic and pedestrian safety.
   During the three-hour discussion, officials and residents only made it through three of the topics listed on the agenda — school bus safety on Shady Brook Lane and various safety issues on Old Trenton Road and Plainsboro Road — leaving the last two topics, Main Street and Route 130 traffic concerns, for another discussion.
   Residents who attended said they wanted to see changes made to areas such as Old Trenton, Plainsboro, Station and Cranbury Neck roads to ensure better safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, and especially children who use the roads. Many asked if the township could have the speed limits lowered on Old Trenton Road and Plainsboro Road. Others said a solution is to increase police presence.
   The discussion was part of an initiative to gauge ongoing traffic problems in Cranbury.
   A number of residents also complained about sidewalk obstructions on Station Road, saying that parallel parking on the side of the road and the placement of telephone poles in the middle of sidewalks make it impossible to walk safely, especially while pushing a stroller.
   Officials said the township has little control because Station Road is a county road. But Committeewoman Pari Stave said the township is currently looking to change that.
   "One of the things we intend to talk to the county about is having (Station Road) given to the town so that we have more control," she said.
   Resident Bob Dylan, of Cranbury-Hightstown Road, said he would like to see the township look into new streetlights along Main Street. He said the current ones are dim and obstructed by trees, creating visibility problems at night.
   "The problem is, the trees are so nice, the lighting is very poor," he said.
   Mr. Dylan also said the township should make a long-term plan for traffic east of Route 130, which is having a major effect on the west side of the highway.
   Other residents expressed concerns about development in Monroe Township, which they said is increasing traffic through Cranbury.
   The Township Committee will look at the budget and consider what can be done about the issues discussed. One immediate idea the committee has is to add a traffic bureau to the Cranbury Police Department, Mayor Tom Panconi said.
Shady Brook Lane
   Traffic Engineer Andrew Feranda said the Shady Brook Lane area is a particular problem for school buses. Because there is an island in the cul-de-sac, buses and other large vehicles can’t turn around without backing up. However, the cul-de-sac meets state standards.
   He also said there are mailboxes and trees on residents’ property that hang over the curb, making driving space even smaller and there are often landscaping vehicles parked in the cul-de-sac.
   "The island is a problem," he said. "With that removed, we might be able to determine how buses can get around."
   Kay Davison, a Cranbury resident and Cranbury School bus driver, spoke about her experiences trying to drive a bus around the cul-de-sac.
   "It has to hug the curb, and I mean hug the curb," she said. "You’re talking about safety. What do you think the driver of that bus sees behind that bus? Zero."
   Since Shady Brook Road is owned by the township, Cranbury has the right to remove the island if it is in the public’s right of way, Mr. Feranda said. But some of the residents who live on the road said they like it.
   Mr. Feranda said the township could consider a mountable curb around the island that large vehicles could drive over when turning around, but he said the island will become a maintenance issue if there are vehicles driving over it.
   Mr. Feranda also talked about moving the bus stop to Shady Brook Road’s intersection with George Davison Road. Photographs presented by Mr. Feranda show that the school bus would pull to the side of George Davison Road, and block both lanes of traffic on Shady Brook Road. However, blocking the road would likely cause traffic problems on George Davison Road, where the speed limit is 50 mph, said Mr. Feranda.
   Mayor Tom Panconi said an immediate way to begin helping the situation on Shady Brook Road is for residents to not allow parking anywhere where it makes it difficult for large vehicles to use the roadway.
   "The first step is self-enforcement," he said.
Old Trenton Road
   Old Trenton Road poses a problem because it is a county road, Mr. Feranda said.
   "The township has some influence in that it can make suggestions and requests, but the county has the ultimate say," he said.
   He said the 50-mph road is wide and very straight, which makes it easy for drivers to speed. Though many residents suggested it, he said the township probably would not be able to get the county to lower the speed limit because a traffic study would have to prove that the change is warranted.
   Mr. Feranda suggested narrowing a section of the road that runs past Cranbury Millstone Park, which he said would encourage drivers to slow down and would make it impossible to pass on the right.
   He also said the township should look into adding left turning lanes at dangerous intersections so that vehicles that are not turning can continue safely down the road, rather than passing other vehicles on the right hand side.
   Township officials said they plan to meet with county freeholders soon to discuss options for Old Trenton Road.
   "I want to talk about common sense things," Committeeman David Stout said. "I want to talk about our children. But unfortunately, there’s only so much we can do when it’s not our road."
   Resident Jim Taylor, who lives on Scott’s Court, said the township has been trying for decades to make changes to Old Trenton Road, but the county will not budge. He said the best answer for now is to put more police officers on the road.
   "They’re not going to change the speed limit, no matter what we do," he said. "You have to make people afraid to speed on Old Trenton Road."
   Resident Diane Stasi, of Old Cranbury Road, said she agrees.
   "It would do a lot to slow traffic and we can do this without getting approval from the county," she said.
Plainsboro Road
   Safety on Plainsboro Road can be increased by refurbishing signs and reflectors, Mr. Feranda said.
   Mr. Feranda showed a number of photographs taken on Plainsboro Road and discussed ways the township can make it safer. One photograph showed that the yellow dividing lines are cracked and faded and that the reflectors on the road, also meant to help drivers stay in their proper lanes, are worn and broken. Another photo showed faded yellow signs that read, "Dangerous curve ahead" and "Caution: Hidden Driveway" but were missing letters, making them difficult to read.
   To increase safety on Plainsboro Road, Mr. Feranda said the township should repaint the yellow divider lines and invest in new reflectors. He also said the township should replace old signs with newer ones and put additional signs up to warn bikers and pedestrians that it is not a safe road to use. He estimated the entire expense to be between $5,000 and $6,000.
   But some residents said signs wouldn’t be affective because bikers and pedestrians wouldn’t read them. Instead, they suggested widening the road and adding a shoulder.
   However, Mr. Feranda said wide shoulders can result in an increase in speeding.
   "My concern is it would become more like Old Trenton Road and it would increase the speed," he said, adding that widening the shoulder might provide more space but it would not appropriately protect bikers and pedestrians from traffic. "The best thing to do would be to separate the bicyclists and pedestrians from the vehicles."
   Mr. Stout said widening the road does not seem like an answer, because it could encourage bikers to feel safe using the road. He said adding warning signs will help bikers and pedestrians understand the risk before they use Plainsboro Road.
   "I think it’s still important to give them a warning," he said. "I think it’s fair to warn them of the hazards that exist."
   Mr. Stout also said that widening Plainsboro Road could cost over $1 million.
   Some suggested lowering the road’s speed limit, but officials said even though Plainsboro Road is owned by the township, a traffic study has to be done to provide proof to back up the decision before the limit can be lowered. Township Engineer Cathleen Marcelli said speed studies done in the past have not provided sufficient proof.
   "We’re still required to follow state procedures," Mr. Feranda said. "Even though this is a municipal road and we’re not under county regulations, a speed study needs to be done."