By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR Village Road West is one step closer to getting a legal and lower speed limit.
The Township Council voted, 4-1, to introduce an ordinance that would establish a legal 40-mph speed limit. The ordinance initially appeared on the June 25 agenda, but was tabled after Councilman Bryan Maher expressed opposition toward lowering the speed limit.
Mr. Maher voted against the ordinance at the this week’s meeting.
Mr. Maher said he voted against it because he thought 45 mph was a proper speed limit for well-traveled main road. He added that he was particularly concerned that lowering the speed limit to an unnatural level could create future accidents.
”Whether it’s a double or dashed line it doesn’t matter, people in a rush who aren’t thinking clearly are going to pass and I fear there will be a head-on collision,” said Mr. Maher on Thursday. “People are rallying around that slower is better, but sometimes slower isn’t always better.”
He added that the problem lies in the inadequate police presence on the road and thought improvements could be made to make the road’s signage more consistent and pronounced.
The Department of Transportation currently does not recognize the road’s 45-mph speed limit because former mayor Thomas Frascella did not satisfy the necessary state requirements when he lowered it from 50 mph in 1993. This means drivers can do 50 mph and have any speeding tickets thrown out of court.
An analytical traffic study, spurred by a fatality in 2009, found that 40 mph is the lowest legal speed that can be enforced.
The public has continued voiced their support for the ordinance and urged the council to revisit the issue ever since it was put on hold in June. Many residents, particularly those who live on Village Road West, rallied for the speed reduction, often citing that one fatality is one too many.
”The opportunity to lower the speed limit seems like the wise thing to do any casualties are far too much,” said resident Brandon Goldberg. “It seems to me to be an issue when someone has died this seems like a smart thing to do.”
Mr. Maher interrupted a few residents during the public comment period, telling them to get their facts straight, before Council President Kamal Khanna ruled him out of order.
Resident Paul Cerna appeared to take offense to Mr. Maher’s interruptions.
”If you guys want people to come up here and speak, don’t tell them their facts are off,” said Mr. Cerna. “Treating me up here with bullying tactics is pathetic.”
Mr. Maher later explained that speed wasn’t a factor in the police report for the 2009 death and that it is frustrating to have people use that as an argument to lower the speed limit.
”It’s sad they can’t seem to separate the two. It’s unfortunate that the gentleman wasn’t paying attention, but speed was not a factor,” said Mr. Maher.
He added that the police report stated the victim had been texting his girlfriend before the accident and that he was perturbed that the phone was never recovered nor was a toxicology test administered.
The public hearing for the ordinance is slated for the Aug. 6 council meeting.
If passed, Mr. Maher didn’t think the 40-mph speed limit would make many people happy.
”If other council members vote in a manner that will get them, in their mind, political support there’s nothing I can do,” said Mr. Maher. “But I assure you that 8,800 cars a day driving on that road won’t be terribly pleased.”

