| Author | Message | ||
     thegoodsgt Citizen Username: Thegoodsgt Post Number: 244 Registered: 2-2002 |
Perhaps lines could be painted in the intersection and a sign installed that says "Do Not Block the Box." I'm not sure how effective this would be without enforcement (even periodic enforcement), but it might be a first step. At least it would get people thinking (I hope) about what they're doing. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 429 Registered: 4-2002 |
I don't think the county can handle two requests at the same time, so let's see if the situation improves when the lights are synchronized and the time to turn leaving the parking lot is increased. | ||
| bets Citizen Username: Bets Post Number: 331 Registered: 6-2001  |
If we had the resources to place an officer at every corner where there are traffic problems we would do so. However, the budget and the size of the police force does not allow for that. So what you're saying is that commuters who break the law by running the red light and blocking the intersection will not be ticketed? Maybe if a few officers spent a couple of days handing out tickets, the problem would subside until the county can synchronize the lights. | ||
| woodstock Citizen Username: Woodstock Post Number: 162 Registered: 9-2002 |
I think what bets is getting at (if not stating explicitly), is that the problem is bigger than just the timing of the light. People ignore the intersection and block the box constantly. Even if the timing of the light is changed, there will still be a need to get around all the people who sit in the intersection waiting for the light under the tracks. | ||
| Jeff Alexander Citizen Username: Jalexander Post Number: 7 Registered: 5-2003 |
So if it is a county road, ask Essex County to provide the enforcement. With Millburn and Montclair pulling out, I'm sure they will have all sorts of extra people to put to work  Lets not forget that blocking the box is illegal. How long do you think a policeman would have to stand there handing out tickets before people got the idea that maybe blocking the box was not such a good idea? You would also SIGNIFICANTLY increase revenues by handing tickets out... I see at least 2 cars "in the box" every light. | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 172 Registered: 3-2003 |
It seems to me the reason a lot of drivers block the box is that it just doesn't seem like a real intersection. Even though there is a red light, the exit seems like an afterthought, and a lot of drivers probably don't even realize they're blocking the box until they're actually in it. As suggested, putting a "stop here on red" sign might work; it usually does in places where I've seen them used. I know Steve Steglitz is anti-sign (and I agree with him on a lot of signs),but at this location it probably is necessary. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 431 Registered: 4-2002 |
BETS: I never said we never have cops there, but we cannot have one at that intersection every day. I am sure the people who have received tickets wishes they had stopped at the light or stop sign. Woodstock, DoubleA: I will pass on the suggestions at the next public safety meeting for discussion and see what the Police Director has to say and what he thinks should be done to improve the situation. The next public safety meeting is on 7/7/2003 at 7:30P.M. for anyone who wants to come and have input. | ||
| bets Citizen Username: Bets Post Number: 332 Registered: 6-2001 |
Didn't Police Director Andrew retire? Who is his replacement? | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 432 Registered: 4-2002 |
Police Director Tom Andrew is retiring soon and tonight there is a resolution on the agenda to make James Chelel the acting Police Director. | ||
| mrmaplewood Citizen Username: Mrmaplewood Post Number: 77 Registered: 5-2001 |
Gee, what do you think could account for all this traffic congestion in the village at rush hour? It wasn't this bad before all the "Traffic Calming" changes. Strange. Don't you just love that euphamism? It seems to make it seem politically correct when you intentionally create congestion for the expressed desire of slowing traffic. Who dreamed this up? | ||
| ril Citizen Username: Ril Post Number: 83 Registered: 6-2001 |
Still waiting for the lights along South Orange Ave. to be synchronized. Does someone, anyone, have an idea WHEN this will be done? (I mean, c'mon--it's a NO COST way to fix a dangerous, inconvenient, annoying, pollution-causing traffic nightmare.) | ||
| Jeff Alexander Citizen Username: Jalexander Post Number: 14 Registered: 5-2003 |
So 6 weeks later, we can't even get the lights synced? Is this really THAT big of a deal? | ||
| woodstock Citizen Username: Woodstock Post Number: 207 Registered: 9-2002  |
Mssrs. Rosner, Joyce and Matthews, Do you know who specifically we could contact at the county about this issue? Perhaps if a hundred irate taxpayers/voters/PITAs call, they'll move on this. It's really a ridiculous situation, especially with the jitneys. They don't exactly burn rubber off the line when the light changes. Don't crush that dwarf, hand me the pliers. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 480 Registered: 4-2002 |
Ed Matthews posted earlier about contacting Sal Renda at village hall. He is the village engineer but the county engineer controls the situation so I would suggest calling there. Mr. Renda (973-378-7715 ext 7706 ) can give you the number to call at the county level. By the way, I asked Trustee Rosen to put this item on the next public safety meeting agenda. My feeling is with the back up of traffic especially because of the light at Vose ave. that it could be a problem for the fire trucks to maneuver across Sloan Street and onto S. Orange Ave. Maybe having the Police Director or Fire chief contacting the county will encourage them to adjust the lights already. One would also think increasing the time at Trenchard Place for cars to exit from the current 8 seconds to at least 15 seconds would be a no-brainer and certainly help with the cars that want to go west onto S. Orange ave. The cars waiting to go east will still have a problem if they don't synchronize the light at Vose ave to change at the same time as the light on Sloan Street. Very frustrating. | ||
| ril Citizen Username: Ril Post Number: 85 Registered: 6-2001 |
Jeff, it's been way longer than 6 weeks! It's been months--so long that I've lost the name/number for the county person I contacted about the synchronization problem way back in the early spring. I left several messages--was never able to get a real person, so I gave up. This is VERY discouraging. There's a problem, there's a simple, no-cost fix--and we STILL can't get it done. Sigh. | ||
| snshirsch Citizen Username: Snshirsch Post Number: 78 Registered: 1-2003 |
Just got off the phone with the county. (973) 226-2218 then press 1 and then press 1 again. It looks as though they have no record of that street. However, he did say that since it is a relatively new street it should have detectors under the ground that when no cars are present the light will go back to green on SO Avenue. I asked that they come out to the street and check that it is working correctly. I would suggest that more people call and complain and perhaps we will get some results. I don't use this lot, but understand the frustration, it should definitely be fixed, it seems that it should be easy enough to accomplish. | ||
| Jeff Alexander Citizen Username: Jalexander Post Number: 15 Registered: 5-2003 |
Where is the the next public safety meeting held? Maybe a few of us should show up.. I can't believe we can't get this fixed!! | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 483 Registered: 4-2002 |
S. Orange Public Safety meeting is 7/7/2003. I am not sure what time it is scheduled to start but you can call village hall that day. It usually starts around 7:30p.m. I asked Trustee Rosen to put the item on the agenda although I probably won't be able to make the meeting. | ||
| Jeff Alexander Citizen Username: Jalexander Post Number: 16 Registered: 5-2003 |
But, where is the meeting? | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1569 Registered: 9-2001 |
I've been watching this thread wondering how long it will take to bring some relief to a very serious traffic problem in a very important location. If this was in Maplewood and no action was taken, I'm afraid I'd have to go out there and direct traffic myself... BEST TEMPORARY SOLUTION AWARD Can someone please have a policeman direct traffic on South Orange Avenue for the 2 hours or so a day when the problem exists? That would take care of the blocking the box and the light timing problems. BEST PUBLIC ACTION SUGGESTION AWARD Where is the next public safety meeting held? Maybe a few of us should show up.. BEST TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE AWARD Mrosner |
