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 Posted: Sat, Sep 22 2007, 9:02 am EDT Post subject: PLEASE help flight for lower speeds on Old Trenton Road |
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From the letters to the editor section of the Cranbury Press, Sept. 21st:
Help fight for lower speeds
Posted: Friday, September 21, 2007 7:50 AM EDT
Phylissanne Stehn of Cranbury
To the editor:
I would like to thank Assemblyman Bill Baroni for helping us draw attention to the safety issue of Old Trenton Road in Cranbury. It took his help to get the issue addressed. Thanks to his help Middlesex County finally looked at the road and evaluated the speed, traffic, passing zones and safety.
My concern (along with many other residents) was and still is the speed limit of 50 mph and the passing zones. This is a heavily traveled road (cars and trucks) especially during the morning and evening rush hours. A speed limit of 50 mph is too fast for this residential road.
Adults and children ride their bikes, jog, cross and walk this road. There should be a double line designating a no-passing zone from Main Street until the bridge that connects us to East Windsor.
Interestingly, Cranbury has the highest speed limit on Old Trenton Road. It is 40 mph in East Windsor and 45 on the way to Mercer County Park. It is extremely frustrating to see a problem and know that common sense can address it, but when one has to navigate the bureaucratic path a simple issue gets complicated.
After the county’s study, Mr. Baroni’s office once again stepped to the plate and reissued the safety concern. Thanks to their follow up the county has approved reducing the speed limit to 40 mph.
The next department that needs to approve this is the state Department of Transportation. I have been informed that Mr. Baroni has already contacted the DOT and supports the reduction of speed/safer passing zones.
I implore any resident of Cranbury that agrees with lowering the speed limit to increase resident safety to send a letter to: Kris Kolluri, commissioner, Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 600, Trenton, N.J. 08625-0600
It is a matter of time before a pedestrian is injured using Old Trenton Road, even though we educate our children about the dangers they do not stand a chance with a dump truck going 50 mph. Please join my effort. |
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jcl
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| Posted: Sat, Sep 22 2007, 10:13 am EDT Post subject: Re: PLEASE help flight for lower speeds on Old Trenton Road |
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| Guest wrote: |
...
I implore any resident of Cranbury that agrees with lowering the speed limit to increase resident safety to send a letter to: Kris Kolluri, commissioner, Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 600, Trenton, N.J. 08625-0600
It is a matter of time before a pedestrian is injured using Old Trenton Road, even though we educate our children about the dangers they do not stand a chance with a dump truck going 50 mph. Please join my effort. |
I agree.
There are two sections that I found dangerous to have a 50 mph speed limit: 1) the section that meets the Main Street traffic lights, and 2) the section that meets the Ancil Davidson Rd. before the bridge. Also, allowing the passing zones on this stretch of Old Trenton Rd. is highly dangerous for all the residents live along this stretch of road.
If some one can post a sample form letter, I'll print it, sign it, and send it to
Kris Kolluri
commissioner, Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 600
Trenton, N.J. 08625-0600 |
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otr-resident
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| Posted: Tue, Sep 25 2007, 10:11 am EDT Post subject: Re: PLEASE help flight for lower speeds on Old Trenton Road |
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This is the letter I just sent to the commissioner:
| Quote: |
September 25, 2007
Kris Kolluri
Commissioner
Department of Transportation
PO Box 600
Trenton, NJ 08625-0600
Dear Commissioner,
I am writing to you regarding the proposed lowering of the speed limit on Old Trenton Road in Cranbury, NJ to 40 miles per hour. The Middlesex County Department of Transportation has approved the reduction in the speed limit from 50 MPH to 40 MPH, and I understand it is now up to your department to make the final decision. I ask that you approve this reduction in speed limit as soon as possible.
I understand a traffic study was conducted and it was found that 85% of drivers are driving near the 50 MPH speed limit. After looking into the "85% rule" from an engineering standpoint, I understand that this rule relates only to driver safety, and does not take into account other factors such as pedestrians, sidewalks, driveway access, or residential density. In other words, the "85% rule" is really just about the safety of the drivers, not the safety and comfort of the people who live along the affected roadways.
The current design of Old Trenton Road is intended for the safety of drivers traveling at 50 MPH, and the speed limit is posted as such, so it logically follows that the majority of people will drive at 50 MPH on this road. If the road were designed for faster speeds, the majority of drivers would drive at that speed as well, but that doesn't make it safe for residents. Safety for drivers passing through the area has no correlation with the safety of pedestrians, or of residents attempting to access their driveways or access the roadway from their driveways.
From my personal experience I present the following safety issues:
- Crossing Old Trenton Road is extremely dangerous. At certain times of day, we have to wait 5 minutes or more for a break in traffic in order to cross safely.
- Walking or riding a bicycle along Old Trenton Road is extremely dangerous. We have had several close calls with drivers using the shoulder to pass on the right at high speeds.
- Accessing the roadway by car from our driveway is extremely dangerous.
- Slowing down to access our driveway by car from the roadway is extremely dangerous.
- Drivers frequently pass me on the right, using the shoulder, even though I am traveling at the speed limit.
- Due to asymmetric shoulders near Old Cranbury Road, cars making a left turn onto Old Trenton Road from Old Cranbury Road frequently drive southwest in the northeast-bound lane.
- Drivers frequently speed, pass, and generally drive as if Old Trenton Road were a limited-access highway, not in an appropriate manner for a residential street.
Also, I want to bring the following quality-of-life issues to your attention:
- The truck traffic on Old Trenton Road continues to increase.
- The truck traffic is literally damaging our house. Heavy trucks traveling at high speed cause our entire house to shake, which is causing cracks in our plaster and foundation.
- Noise from trucks traveling at high speed, and also from "Jake Braking" has become a serious problem. We are frequently woken in the middle of the night and in early morning hours due to this, and is a great annoyance during outdoor activities.
- I hope that lowering the speed limit to 40 will encourage truckers to use Rt. 133 instead of our street as a through route.
I feel that the 50MPH speed limit on Old Trenton Road is inappropriate. It is a residential street, not a highway. Other roadways in the area with less residential density have a much lower speed limit. A 50 MPH speed limit is appropriate for a divided, limited-access highway (Such as Rt. 133, which has a 50 MPH limit), not a residential street. I strongly believe that the speed limit should be lowered to 40 MPH or less on Old Trenton Road. If necessary, the roadway should be re-designed so that the 40 MPH speed limit meets the "85% rule". The excessive speed and noise is negatively impacting my family's safety, comfort, and home value.
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Guest
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| Posted: Wed, Sep 26 2007, 4:04 pm EDT Post subject: Re: PLEASE help flight for lower speeds on Old Trenton Road |
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Thanks!
I'll send my version (based on yours) to Kris Kolluri this weekend. |
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anthony famig
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| Posted: Thu, Dec 27 2007, 10:16 pm EST Post subject: Re: PLEASE help flight for lower speeds on Old Trenton Road |
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this should be posted in the cranbury mother's club to help gain traction. Is it too late?
afamig@yahoo.com |
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Leave it alone . . .
Guest
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| Posted: Wed, Mar 5 2008, 12:42 pm EST Post subject: Re: PLEASE help flight for lower speeds on Old Trenton Road |
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| Old Trenton Road, between the five points at Edinburg Road and just past the old RCA/Lockheed Martin plant is plenty wide and clear enough to sustain 50 mph. If we reduce every road in the state to residential limits, traffic will come to a standstill. Concentrate on enforcing 50 mph, and have the cut-through traffic monitored, where people are doing 45 mph in 35 and 25 mph zones, and leave the major roads alone. The biggest problem are the people that get on the 50 mph roadways, pull out directly in front of people driving the speed limit, and/or decide it is their job to regulate it down to 25, 35 or 40 mphs. They are the real problem and the real danger - not the people doing the speed limit. |
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Guest
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| Posted: Wed, Mar 5 2008, 1:42 pm EST Post subject: Re: PLEASE help flight for lower speeds on Old Trenton Road |
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| Leave it alone . . . wrote: | | Old Trenton Road, between the five points at Edinburg Road and just past the old RCA/Lockheed Martin plant is plenty wide and clear enough to sustain 50 mph. If we reduce every road in the state to residential limits, traffic will come to a standstill. Concentrate on enforcing 50 mph, and have the cut-through traffic monitored, where people are doing 45 mph in 35 and 25 mph zones, and leave the major roads alone. The biggest problem are the people that get on the 50 mph roadways, pull out directly in front of people driving the speed limit, and/or decide it is their job to regulate it down to 25, 35 or 40 mphs. They are the real problem and the real danger - not the people doing the speed limit. |
That section of road is not in Cranbury and is not the subject of this discussion. |
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