County proposes signal at Hance and Sycamore

TINTON FALLS - Residents who live near two intersections that the county wants to improve don't agree that the changes would be improvements.

The Tinton Falls borough engineer, police chief, mayor, and traffic safety officer all think the county's plan for a new light at Hance and Sycamore avenues, as well as road widening, is the best alternative.

Monmouth County Engineer Joseph M. Ettore presented the county's update on the project, which is designed to address safety considerations at the intersection, at the council meeting last week.

Included in the presentation was the intersection of Hope Road and Sycamore Avenue, which is about 400 feet east of Hance Avenue. All three are county roads and both are three-way intersections. The difference is that the intersection at Hope and Sycamore has a traffic light.

After conducting traffic studies, sight distance research and a crash history, the county recommended that a traffic light be installed that would be timed to the Hope Road light, as well as straightening the roadway west of Hance Avenue, which would involve carving away a portion in front of one property and adding a grass area in front of another.

It also recommends widening the roadway on Sycamore at Hance, which would involve taking a small amount of property in front of a house directly opposite Hance Avenue and another on Hope Road.

Ettore explained that there are too many accidents at the Hance Avenue intersection. He said the average number of crashes since 2001 is 9.4 per year. Many of them involve people attempting to make left turns onto Sycamore Avenue.

Sgt. David Scrivanic, Tinton Falls' traffic safety officer, said on Monday that he did his own study using data from 2001 to the present and found there were 200 accidents, with 167 reportable. He explained that the criteria for reportable accidents is damage of more than $500 and/or injuries.

He also said that he used not only that intersection but related intersections like the one at Hope Road and Sycamore Avenue, as well as traffic accidents on Sycamore Avenue just west of Hance.

Scrivanic said he looked at the entire area, and in his professional opinion, improvements are needed in that area.

Ettore said that most trees and shrubs would not be touched, but some within the county right of way would have to be cleared.

Ettore said the next step is for plan endorsement from the borough by June 2006, a final design phase by summer, state approval by spring 2007, and bidding by that fall. Construction would begin in spring 2008, he said.

Council members and residents made other suggestions to relieve the stress at the Hance Avenue intersection that Ettore said had already been considered and had been rejected because they would create other problems.

Councilman Paul Ford suggested that they limit left-hand turns onto Sycamore from Hance.

Ettore said that would force traffic to turn left at Apple Street, where a new light is going to be installed in the near future, adding to congestion on that road.

Ettore said that the existing traffic volume at peak times, even with full occupancy of Greenbrier Falls, a development of 168 high-end age-restricted town homes, will not grow significantly, but by 2014 the projection is that traffic volume will be significantly higher.

He said that right now there is a good level of flow on Sycamore Avenue, but on Hance it is very bad. The big problem is getting out of Hance onto Sycamore, he said, adding that "Hope Road is better."

He explained that the county looked at widening without any other changes, but it was still unacceptable at Hance, and a signal and no widening would improve the situation at Hance but reduce the flow on Sycamore. In addition, he said, the Hope Road intersection would become congested.

They also looked at realignment and diverting traffic onto other roads, but, he said, all of the roads in the area are at capacity now and all need improvements.

He said that the light and widening is the best scenario.

The room buzzed with the held-back comments of the residents who, for the most part, live in well-kept older homes on those roads. Finally, it was their turn to present their case.

Most residents were trying to protect their properties from being reduced by road widening, and some were concerned about changing the character of the

neighborhood.

"Nobody should be able to take people's property. This is like an eminent domain thing," said Ken Wells of Sycamore Avenue.

The residents seemed to think that speeding caused the accidents and wanted the speed limit, which is 40 mph, lowered.

Ettore responded that the Department of Transportation is the only entity that can reduce speed limits on county roads.

Later in the discussion, Police Chief Gerald Turning said he didn't think it was the speed factor that was causing the accidents at the Hance Avenue intersection. "Improperly entering the intersection is the problem."

He added that most people familiar with that intersection avoid it.

Residents expressed another concern about the traffic signal. Putting a light at Hance Avenue and making it easier to turn would just create more traffic at the intersection and on the roads, said one resident. He quoted New York City Developer Robert Moses, who is reputed to have said, "You build it and they'll come."

He suggested a 30-second delay at the Hope Road light to create a gap for people to make the left turn from Hance onto Sycamore. He added that the problem is really only during rush hour, three hours a day.

Ettore responded that delaying the light would back up traffic on Sycamore in both directions.

Another resident recommended putting a traffic cop at the intersection. Ettore responded that because of the limited sight distance there, it would create a potentially dangerous situation for a police officer.

Ettore and the council were asked when the process started, intimating that it started in 2004 when Laurino Farms was sold to a developer.

Ettore responded that the Greenbrier development will have minor impact, and Council President Therese Cahill said that this project has been discussed with the county for years, prior to the Laurino Farms sale.

Another resident suggested putting up a "no turn on red sign" at the corner of Shrewsbury and Sycamore avenues. Ettore said the department would look into the feasibility of doing that, but said, "We may be trading one problem for another."

When asked if the county needs the municipality's approval, Ettore responded that formal approval isn't needed, but the county is seeking plan endorsement.

Ettore said the county wants to meet with the homeowners.

"We have to weigh the overall good of the public and minimize the effect on homeowners."

Maclearie said on Monday that there is a public safety issue that can be remedied with a traffic light.

"The county indicated that they want to come to an agreement with the residents on extending the right of way a few feet at the four houses that would be affected. They want to purchase those rights.

"The county is asking for our support in terms of a timetable to make this work. They would like the town to be supportive of what they plan to do there. Everyone on the council heard the concerns of the residents who are trying to maintain whatever they see as the character of the road."

By the end of the 1 1/2-hour discussion, the only thing that was decided is that Ettore will see that the borough receives a copy of the proposal so that it can be put on the Tinton Falls Web site.

The traffic light issue is a tough one, said Councilman Brendan Tobin after the hearing.

"I don't like the idea of taking people's property," he said.

- Linda DeNicola