HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP: County says no to 25-mph limit at Bear Tavern

Committeeman Jim Burd suggested the township consider suing the county over its refusal to lower the speed limit

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
   Mercer County has denied the Hopewell Township Committee’s request to lower the speed limit on Route 579 near Bear Tavern School to 25 mph from 6:45 a.m.-6:45 p.m. on school days and during special events at the school.
   In a June 13 letter to Mayor Vanessa Sandom, County Executive Brian Hughes also said the county is willing to discuss turning over jurisdiction of portions of Route 579 to the township. If that happened, the township could set whatever speed limit it pleased, with a price tag attached: the township would be responsible for all costs of maintaining the road. The county pays those costs now.
   Early this month, at the urging of residents Kim Robinson and Adam Finkel, the Township Committee passed a resolution formally requesting the county to lower the limit in front of the school from the current limit of 30 mph when warning lights are flashing and 45 mph when they’re not flashing to 25 mph during the aforementioned times.
   In his letter to Mayor Sandom (in response to the township resolution), Mr. Hughes reiterated the county’s position that state and federal traffic engineering guidelines hold that the 30 mph limit in front of the school when the lights are flashing, and 45 mph when they are not flashing, is the best course.
   He also repeated the county’s statement that the issue of speed limits in front of the school would be revisited when the Jacobs Creek Bridge reopens. The new bridge will cross Jacobs Creek on Route 579. A bridge built in the late 19th century was removed well over a year ago by the county, which said safety concerns mandated the removal. The county closed the bridge in September 2009.
   In his letter, Mr. Hughes said he is willing to discuss turning sections of the county’s jurisdiction over Route 579 to the township. The sections, Mr. Hughes said, could run either from Jacobs Creek Road north to Route 546, located just north of the school, or from Jacobs Creek Road north to Harbourton-Woodsville Road, which is north of Route 546. The county would be responsible for the new bridge, Mr. Hughes said, if either of those arrangements were implemented.
   Mayor Sandom said Tuesday that, if the township took control of Route 579 up to Route 546, the township would be responsible for repaving the road. That is done every 15 years and costs $763,000, she said. The cost of repaving it up to Harbourton-Woodsville Road would be $2,200,000, she said.
   At Monday night’s Township Committee meeting, Committeeman Jim Burd, a staunch supporter of the 25-mph limit near the school, suggested the township consider suing the county over its refusal to lower the speed limit.