Mass transit needs to be considered in Rt. 520 changes

(Open letter to the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders)

The Monmouth County League of Women Voters is concerned about the changes proposed for Route 520. The Orth-Rogers study done for the County Department of Engineering, addresses short-term traffic flow problems and engineering solutions, using data from accidents and several peak hour backups. As a major east-west corridor in our county, this entire corridor needs to be evaluated for current traffic usage and for long-term impacts from future development and road improvements.

We believe the Planning Board should be asked to review the way in which this study fits with the formally adopted Monmouth County Growth Management Guide. As the county department with expertise in land use and development, it is important the Planning Board be involved in overall considerations of the future integrity of this corridor. This would help ensure that long-term growth issues and protection of the adjacent Swimming River Reservoir are evaluated. An environmental impact study to assess the impact of improvements on this corridor, and west through Holmdel and Marlboro, is needed, and should address impacts to the reservoir as well.

This is primarily a residential corridor, and more than traffic flow is involved. Environmental and quality of life issues must also be addressed. The Orth-Rogers study, which focused on better traffic flow, does not seem to meet the new policy at NJDOT that calls for context sensitive "community-oriented" design. Does the real solution consist just in moving the traffic faster, or is it to have a well managed multifunctional corridor? This could include traffic calming, an attractive landscaped environment, safer — which means slower — speeds in the vicinity of schools and recreation areas, and more pedestrian and bicycle pathways with safe crossings.

Experience has shown that widening roads, and access to them, is a stopgap measure, not a solution. Improvements encourage more people to use a road. Before long more improvements become necessary. Increasing the flow/speed of traffic through the area may be an engineering solution, but may also increase the severity of accidents. This current study only looks at traffic issues until 2010. This is crisis management, not real planning.

As traffic to Brookdale is increasing, perhaps the Phalanx Road entrance to the college should also be studied. Anticipated growth of Brookdale, land-use changes and development farther west along the corridor, impacts to the Swimming River Reservoir, and congestion in the Route 35 area to the east all need to be considered, as do more flexible mass transit options. Mass transit was not even considered in this report. Pedestrians and bicyclists were only given minimal consideration.

The public hearing held in Lincroft was a good beginning for input. This traffic study should be incorporated into a comprehensive environmental impact study of this corridor. It should include consideration of flexible mass transit, pedestrian and bicycle use, and protection of the Swimming River Reservoir. The League asks that you ensure interdepartmental cooperation for a broad-based evaluation of the needs and future of this corridor.

Esther Greenberg

president

Louise Usechak

director of natural resources

Monmouth County

League of Women Voters