Council Takes Step To Fix Roads In Moorestown

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Golf View Road in Moorestown can be a dangerous place for children and pedestrians. The curvy connector road located in a wooded area has been patched several times. The edges are cracking. Drivers have been known to speed through the area, and the issue has come before Moorestown Council a few times in the past.

“We need to put up better signage and it needs repair,” Moorestown Councilwoman Lisa Petriello said. “It’s a good thing that it’s happening now.”

The road is included as part of a proposed ordinance that would set aside $2,500,000, including $2,375,000 to be borrowed in bonds or notes, for the 2018 Roads Resurfacing Program. The proposal was approved by council on introduction on Monday night, May 21. The public hearing and final vote on the proposal is set for the June 11 council meeting.

Petriello raised the issue during Monday night’s meeting, and Township Manager Tom Merchel said the road is being addressed, although he wasn’t sure what the specific plan for it was off the top of his head.

“We need to make it as wide and secure as possible,” Petriello said.

“We also need to talk to the neighbors about speeding,” Moorestown Mayor Stacey Jordan said. “There’s already a problem with speeding on that road, and with these improvements, we’ll probably see an uptick. We have to address it.”

Jordan mentioned the possibility that the road could become a one-way street. She emphasised the need to meet and speak with the residents of the road.

Council also approved a proposed ordinance on introduction to set aside $725,000, including $451,250 to be borrowed in bonds or notes, for the resurfacing of Garwood Road. The final vote on this proposal is also set for June 11.

Residents Fred and Kathy Sutherland also raised the issue of the speed limit on North Church Street. Kathy Sutherland said the county has said it will do a study of the street, but they need a letter from the township to do so. Merchel said the township will likely also do its own study.

The speed limit is 40 mph. Last year, resident Paul Conlaw submitted a petition requesting the speed limit be lowered to council. That petition included 73 signatures from residents, business owners and churches in that 10-block radius.

However, the county said the speed limit could be lowered on just part of the road that sees heavy truck traffic. Studies conducted by the township and the county showed that 85 percent of drivers on North Church Street adhere to the posted speed limit, suggesting that it didn’t need to be changed, outside that one area.

On Monday night, Merchel reiterated the township’s stance that there are things they can do to calm traffic, including painting the speed limit lines on the street and having a police car park in the area. He reminded the Sutherlands that there was always the chance a study could end up suggesting the speed limit be increased. The township would likely conduct the study in the fall.

Council approved one other proposed ordinance that was introduced Monday night. It calls for the creation of a Parking Enforcement Officer in Moorestown. The officer would make between $14 and $22 per hour. The final vote for that proposal is also scheduled for the June 11 meeting.

Patch file photo