Brick Lowers Speed Limit On Mandalay Road

BRICK, NJ — The Brick Township Council approved four ordinances related to roads on Tuesday night, including one to lower the speed limit on Mandalay Road. Do

That ordinance, to lower the speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph, was the result of recommendations from the Brick Township Police Department that followed complaints from residents about the speed of traffic along the road that runs from Drum Point Road to St. Lawrence Boulevard in the Baywood neighborhood.

The plan to lower the speed limit was met with some opposition.

Resident Vic Fanelli read a portion of a traffic study conducted by the police department to determine whether the speed should be lowered. The report by Sgt. Keith Donnelly, in part said the data did not support lowering the speed limit, Fanelli said.

"Don't do something just because you can," Fanelli told the council.

Residents of Mandalay Road, who had been urging the town to lower the limit, said people walk their dogs, ride bicycles and that their children play in their yards along the road. A serious crash along the stretch where a driver hit several parked cars during the day increased their concerns, one man said.

Brick Township Police Chief James Riccio said Donnelly's report included something else: that Donnelly had driven down the length of Mandalay, which is lined with homes, and found that the speed felt too fast.

The speed limit on Mandalay was raised to 35 mph in 1989, Riccio said, noting that at that time, there were few houses and lots of trees. Now, 32 years later, there are 18 homes that line the road. The road is 28 feet wide, about 8 feet narrower than Drum Point Road, where the speed is 40 mph. Mandalay Road does not have a shoulder for much of its length, though there are sidewalks along it.

"It comes down to (the question) is that the proper speed," Riccio said.

His conclusion was that 35 mph was too fast, and Riccio, who said he drove Mandalay Road again Monday before the council meeting, said he agreed with Donnelly's recommendation that the speed limit be lowered.

The council approved three other ordinances related to roads:

• Overnight parking of vehicles that have a gross weight of 5 tons or more is barred. Previously, the weight restriction was 4 tons or more, but officials noted that many of the newer pickup trucks surpass that weight limit.
• Folsom Drive, off Route 88, was designated as a through street, so the town can install stop signs at the intersection with Center Street.
• Street parking of all vehicles has been banned on the length of Jeannette Street for safety reasons. Officials said the street is narrow and with vehicles parked, emergency vehicles, especially fire trucks, cannot get down the street safely.

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