West Deptford Township - Safe Routes To Schools Poster Child

From the Gloucester County Times:

W. Deptford walkway issue remains unresolved
Friday, April 04, 2008
By Siobhan A. Counihan
scounihan@sjnewsco.com

WEST DEPTFORD TWP. Township officials reaffirmed their position Thursday evening that there is nothing more they can do to resolve the issue of a now-defunct walkway that some residents had been hoping to restore.

The walkway, which was installed by the developer and connected the Grande at Kings Woods to the township middle school, was ripped out in August as the township prepared to release the easement granted to them. Since then, neighborhood children have had to walk along Grove Road to get to the middle school.

Township officials had cited safety issues for the walkway's removal. Most notably, the walkway at three to four feet wide was not handicap accessible, according to township Administrator Eric Campo.

Beth Tachdjian, a resident of the Grande and outspoken advocate for restoring the walkway, once again pleaded with the township committee for assistance at Thursday evening's meeting.

"Our development is in total chaos," Tachdjian said. "What has happened is it's this side against that side. You guys have worked very hard at this. This is something that no other development...should have to go through."

Tachdjian also expressed displeasure that the speed limit on Grove Road has yet to be reduced.

The speed limit on Grove Road, a county road, is currently 50 mph with a 35 mph school zone and the county has asked that the speed limits be reduced by 5 mph, according to police Chief Craig Mangano. The state Department of Transportation has yet to approve the change.

"It's a shame it takes so long, but we can't control what happens, especially at the state level," Mangano said. "We'll make it happen as soon as we can."

Mayor Anna Docimo said that while she understands the residents' concerns for the safety of neighborhood children, the issue is beyond the township's control at this point.

"We can't do any more," Docimo said. "We've done all that we can do."

Campo said that the residents interested in restoring the walkway must bring the matter before a judge to be litigated.

"It does not behoove the township to say anything further in light of the litigation that is to come," Campo said. "All these claims that everybody is talking about are going to have to be evaluated by a judge."

Vince McCloskey, another Grande resident, said he objected to the township's position that the issue of the walkway is no longer a matter to be solved by the township.

"The township removed the walkway," McCloskey said. "You shouldn't have touched it. You should've just let it be."

© 2008 Gloucester County Times
© 2008 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.

Safe Streets To Transit

NJDOT's Safe Streets to Transit (SSTT) program provides funding to counties and municipalities in improving access to transit facilities and all nodes of public transportation. The objectives of the SSTT program are:

• To improve the overall safety and accessibility for mass transit riders walking to transit facilities.
• To encourage mass transit users to walk to transit stations.
• To facilitate the implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety in the vicinity of transit facilities (approximately one-half mile for pedestrian improvements)

The SSTT provides $5,000,000 over five years for pedestrian safety improvements in areas surrounding transit facilities. This initiative is funded from the state Transportation Trust Fund and provides $1,000,000 each year.

Follow this link to learn more about the program

Google Map Shows Running Count of Bicyclists and Pedestrians Struck By Automobiles

Thanks to the ongoing research performed by Rutgers Interns at the NJ Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center we are now able to track newspaper and internet reports of bicyclists and pedestrians involved in motor vehicle crashes in 2008.



View Larger Map

Ground Zero so far: Toms River Township with 4 pedestrians killed since early January.

Pedestrian Killed at Featured Intersection

On Valentines day a 62 YO woman was killed at the intersection of Levitt Parkway and US 130 in Willingboro crossing into Edgewater Park at Levitt Parkway. The article was featured in the Camden Courier Post, of course the story was never followed up and we may never know the victims name.

This intersection was featured in a November 2006 posting Jersey Barriers Blocking Pedestrians

The current intersection note the hyper-extended Jersey barrier (which forces pedestrians into the green lighted traffic) and the occupied bus stop.

Simple safety improvements, removing the extra barrier, adding countdown signals, crosswalks, creating a pedestrian refuge in the center of the road, adding sidewalks.

NJDOT awards $3 million in municipal Bikeways grants

(Trenton) - Commissioner Kris Kolluri today announced that the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) will award $3 million in grants for bicycle compatible transportation projects throughout the state. The funds will be allocated through NJDOT’s Fiscal Year 2008 Bikeways program.

“The Bikeways grant program can help improve quality of life by reducing congestion, improving air qualityand encouraging residents to exercise in New Jersey’s communities,” said Commissioner Kolluri.

“The program illustrates NJDOT’s commitment to partner with towns to create 1,000 miles of dedicated bikeways statewide.”

The Bikeways program awards grants to municipalities to help increase the number of bicycle trips and improve bicycle safety in the state of New Jersey. NJDOT provides funds for local projects that will result in the creation of new, independent bicycle facilities. NJDOT encourages municipalities to apply for funding for bikeways that are physically separated from vehicular traffic by an open space or barrier.

All municipalities and counties are eligible to apply for Bikeway funds. Bikeways program funding is provided by the state’s Transportation Trust Fund.



Fiscal Year 2008 NJDOT Bikeways Grants:

Buena Borough, Atlantic County

$90,000

Montvale Borough, Bergenc County

$195,000

BordentownTownship, Burlington County

$350,000

GloucesterTownship, Camden County

$108,000

UpperTownship, Cape May County

$125,000

MillvilleCity, Cumberland County

$187,000

South OrangeVillage, Essex County

$210,000

MonroeTownship, Gloucester County

$200,000

PrincetonTownship, Mercer County

$190,000

AtlanticHighlands, Monmouth County

$300,000

ChathamTownship, Morris County

$95,000

SomervilleBorough, Somerset County

$450,000

KenilworthBorough, Union County

$500,000

Farewell Quick Release Bill

The end of the 2006 - 2007 Legislative Session on January 7 marked the demise of the dreaded Quick Release Bill. It remains to be seen if Rep. Paul "Can You Believe It" Moriarity tries to reintroduce the bill in the 2008 session, but the outcry of bicyclists and the bicycle industry assures that this bill will not be sneak through the Assembly as it did in 2007.

In response to the bill bicycling interests came together in the state as they never have done before, it's now our turn to keep the momentum going. If you live in NJ we urge you to support WALKBIKEjersey. The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is sponsoring the fledgling organization and we are accepting tax deductable donations on its behalf. It's important to follow these instructions to make sure your donation goes to WALKBIKEjersey.

No Movement on the Quick Release Bill - S2837

Here is the December 13, 2007 status for the Senate version of the Quick Release Bill


Identical Bill Number: A2686 (2R) Weinberg, Loretta as Primary Sponsor

6/21/2007 Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee
Introduced - 3 pages
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