Date: Fri 09-Feb-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Borough-traffic-Church-Hill

Full Text:

Borough Presses For Study Of Church Hill Road Traffic

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

Borough zoning officials are seeking a state study on possible traffic signal

installation at the intersection of Church Hill Road and The Boulevard to

improve traffic flow in the town center.

The request comes in light of expected increases in town center traffic

stemming from the planned expansion of Newtown Shopping Center on Queen

Street.

Borough Zoning Commission Chairman Robert Connor, Sr, told Police Commission

members February 6 that some residents who use the Church Hill/Boulevard

intersection have voiced concerns about expected traffic build-ups on Church

Hill Road resulting from the planned construction of a Big Y supermarket and

other new stores at the shopping center. On January 30, the borough zoners

unanimously approved the shopping center expansion and renovation project

requested by The Kasper Group. Big Y Foods wants to occupy a new supermarket

by December.

Mr Connor termed residents' concerns about anticipated congestion a

"legitimate point."

At the January 30 session, residents voiced concerns over the difficulty of

making a left turn from The Boulevard onto eastbound Church Hill Road, as well

as the difficulty of making any turns from Church Hill Road businesses onto

Church Hill Road.

"I'd like to see a study really done," Mr Connor said.

Robert Klein of Budd Drive, a member of the Borough Zoning Commission, said "I

use The Boulevard all the time." Mr Klein said people in the area have told

him an expanded Newtown Shopping Center will worsen traffic problems along

Church Hill Road.

"'Just a little increase in traffic would be too much' they say," Mr Klein

told Police Commission members.

"There are a lot of complaints from (just) about everyone who meets me from

The Boulevard," he said.

Tom Johnson, owner of Lexington Gardens on Church Hill Road, said traffic flow

on the road has grown heavier over the years. Mr Johnson approved of a "No

Turn On Red" sign posted on the traffic signal at the intersection of Church

Hill Road and Queen Street, prohibiting northbound vehicles on Queen Street

from turning onto eastbound Church Hill Road when the light is red. That sign

is believed to create "gaps" in eastbound traffic on Church Hill Road,

allowing traffic waiting to turn onto Church Hill Road from businesses to

eventually enter the thoroughfare when those traffic gaps appear.

Mr Johnson observed that motorists speed up as they drive on the downhill

slope of eastbound Church Hill Road. "It's going to get worse... I worry about

somebody, frankly, getting killed there."

There's no doubt there will be increased traffic in and around the town center

after Newtown Shopping Center expands, he said.

Police Captain Michael Fekete acknowledged that there are traffic problems on

Church Hill Road. But, he noted, the state Department of Transportation (DOT),

in a previous traffic study, found that placing a traffic signal at the Church

Hill/Boulevard intersection could worsen overall traffic congestion on Church

Hill Road.

Some measures other than traffic signal installation would be needed to

improve conditions at the intersection, he said. Capt Fekete said a new study

of the traffic flow problems is needed. The traffic diffiuculties stem from a

combination of problems, he noted.

Mr Klein suggested that altering the timing on the traffic signal at the

Church Hill/Queen Street intersection might improve traffic conditions on

Church Hill Road.

Mr Klein suggested that the sight lines at the Church Hill/Boulevard

intersection be increased for motorists who are turning left from The

Boulevard onto eastbound Church Hill Road.

Police Chief Michael DeJoseph said the presence of the "No Turn On Red" sign

for northbound motorists on Queen Street turning right onto eastbound Church

Hill Road "is critical for businesses on Church Hill Road" in terms of

allowing motorists to exit from businesses' driveways onto the road.

"We would appreciate anything that could be done," Mr Connor told the Police

Commission. The commission serves as the town's Traffic Authority.

William Meyer, a Police Commission member, acknowledged there's a serious

traffic flow problem on Church Hill Road. He said he hopes the state approves

installing a traffic signal at the Church Hill/Boulevard intersection. The

planned bypass road across the Fairfield Hills grounds also would redirect

some traffic away from the town center, he said.

Police Commission Chairman Carol Mattegat said a letter requesting a study on

improving traffic flow on Church Hill Road will be sent to the state. The

state has final say on whether and where traffic signals are installed.