PLAINSBORO: Edgemere Ave. speed to be reduced

By Victoria Hurley-Schubert, Staff Writer
   PLAINSBORO — A 25 mph speed limit on Edgemere Avenue will go into effect later this summer with an ordinance adopted Wednesday night by the Township Committee. The current speed limit is 35 mph.
   Edgemere Avenue connects Plainsboro Road, Dey Road and Maple Avenue, in the center of the older residential district of the township.
   A traffic and speed study was conducted in October of last year in response to concerns from residents and businesses, said Sgt. Fred Tavener.
   ”We collected traffic data, we monitored vehicle speeds, amounts of traffic,” he said. “We also looked into the existing road conditions with the existing development of several new commercial and residential developments in the area.”
   Speeding has been an issue in the village area, with several tickets issued over the past several years.
   ”There have been a lot of significant improvements in the past couple of years,” said Sgt. Tavener.
   Thanks to a change in Department of Transportation laws, township engineers can change speed limits without DOT approval.
   ”Prior to 2008 you could reduce speed limits, but you had to put together your study and have DOT approve it,” said Mr. Tavener.
   Now, with the change in the law, municipalities need approval from their engineering department and governing bodies.
   Based on these conditions and recommendations from the township engineers office, the police recommended the speed be reduced, said Sgt. Tavener.
   Edgemere Avenue will also undergo roadway improvements with repaving within the next couple of weeks and new speed limit signs will be installed followed by the police conducting an educational enforcement campaign.