By Mark Rosman
Staff Writer
ALLENTOWN – A regional traffic study that would likely include Allentown could be undertaken by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA).
In response to a letter Mayor Greg Westfall recently sent to the authority, borough officials heard from a representative of the NJTPA who appeared to offer hope that ongoing traffic issues in the borough could be addressed.
Westfall shared the NJTPA letter with members of the Borough Council and the public during the council’s Oct. 11 meeting.
In an Oct. 11 letter, the NJTPA’s David Behrend, department director, Communications and Government Affairs, thanked Westfall for following up with the authority regarding his request for a traffic study related to truck volume and other traffic related issues in Allentown and surrounding areas.
Behrend wrote, “Currently, the NJTPA is working closely with Monmouth County to gather information and define a scope of work for a regional study focused on truck traffic and other transportation management issues in western Monmouth County and nearby sections of Mercer County.
“This staff work is ongoing and is a critical first step toward the regional traffic study, as it will inform development of the scope of work for the study. This regional traffic study would be funded by the NJTPA and conducted by a consultant, with Monmouth County serving as project manager. … funding for this study will become available after July 1, 2017.”
The volume of traffic in Allentown, and specifically the issue of non-terminating truck traffic (i.e., trucks that do not make a delivery in the borough), has been a topic of discussion among council members for several months.
After Westfall read the letter from the NJTPA, he said that he and Borough Attorney Greg Cannon have discussed other issues relating to traffic with representatives of the Monmouth County Engineer’s Office.
County engineers are taking a close look at the intersection of Church and Main streets, specifically the turning radius for trucks. There is no plan to reconstruct the intersection, according to the mayor, but a solution to the problem trucks are having making the tight turn from Church Street onto Main Street may call for the removal of several parking spaces on Church Street.
Westfall and Cannon said the county engineer’s office has committed to sending staff to Allentown to examine the intersection with an eye toward correcting the problems that have been occurring at that location.
The discussion of traffic issues continued and council members eventually voted 6-0 to authorize Cannon to prepare an ordinance that would prohibit non-terminating trucks over 4 tons from borough streets (but not from county routes such as Route 539 and Route 524).
Councilman Rob Schmitt said, “There are easier ways around this town, but trucks are not using them. This (ordinance) is my arrow across the bow.”
Cannon cautioned the council members that adopting an ordinance is not likely to stop trucks weighing more than 4 tons from using borough streets.
“I think you are preempted by state law from doing this,” the attorney said. “A truck company will challenge you … You can adopt an ordinance to let people up the chain know you are serious (about this issue), but giving tickets to 5-ton trucks is not going to be upheld by a judge. Unfortunately, the answer lies above the authority of this council.”
Ann Garrison was one of several residents who spoke on the issue. Garrison said she is concerned that Monmouth County “is trying to accommodate trucks, not eliminate trucks in Allentown.”
Garrison said there has been a significant turnover of residents in certain areas of town as a result of the steady stream of vehicles and said, “Allentown cannot survive that.”
Linda Cotte said large trucks that travel through town cause vibrations and are ruining the borough’s streets.
Thomas Fritts, who is running for a seat on the council, seconded Cotte’s comment that trucks are rattling houses and said “people need to keep plaster handy” to repair the walls in their home.
Council President Wil Borkowski reiterated a point he has made at previous meetings: that officials may need to consider retaining the services of a traffic engineer who would represent Allentown’s interests and lobby other governmental bodies and agencies regarding the issue of traffic.
Borough officials expressed concern that as the holiday season approaches the traffic situation will get worse due to the presence of an Amazon distribution center in neighboring Robbinsville.