Your Turn

'We should turn over the roadway and work with the cty.'

John A. Mele

Guest Column At the request of one of our township committeemen I was asked to attend the Sept. 7 township committee meeting. This was the first township meeting that I attended since I left the committee back in December 2004. I would like to highlight the events for your long-time readers.

The opening presentation addressed grant applications that had been submitted to Monmouth County to request money for additional recreation land. I think this is a great idea. Anything that we could do to provide active recreational space is good planning. We heard our political officials, who sit on the township's recreation committee, read off the number of children in baseball, soccer, etc., and illustrate the need for more land. Once again, a great cause. But it dawned on me that these are some of the same officials who have done everything to place road-blocks in the way of our middle school. The outcome as I see it, is a township that can provide for a great number of athletic opportunities, but has no place to educate the children. What is wrong with this picture?

But I digress from the main feature of the night, because after the next two action items I could not stay in fear of having a heart attack. A resolution was passed by our committee to place on hold what took more than 15 years of negotiations with the county to have the county take over the responsibility of Sharon Station Road. This all at the request of township citizens, some of which have lived here in the township for less than two years.

They have taken the roadway with the highest liability here in the township and delayed the transferring of ownership to the county. Monmouth County can properly make the roadway safe for our township and all the people who use this it. What is so amazing is this resolution was approved by some of the same officials that lobbied the county and state to make sure that every sign on both state and county roads pointed the way to this easterly bypass, by way of Sharon Station Road in an effort to stop other needed infrastructure that our growing community requires to move into the future.

The same officials stated they would be in favor of a separate entrance to Interstate 195 off Sharon Station Road. The same officials stated that with the signage and the easterly bypass, there is no need for any other bypass. The same officials have stated if we make access to I-195 all of our problems would go away. Let me ask, how could you vote for this delay? By the way, I personally was not in favor of either of the above suggestions because of the impact it would place on the residents who live on both Sharon Station Road and Route 526.

The reason for the resolution? The room was filled with parents and their children who live at the Woods at Cream Ridge. Their children were wearing shirts that had tire treads and comments that our mayor does not care, on the backs of them.

But I digress - this roadway transfer, which took years to complete, connects two county roadways to the bypass with Route 195. The estimate three years ago was that the cost to reconstruct would be around $2 million. The deal was agreed upon that the county would take the roadway as is because of its significance, and because some of the same officials once again lobbied that all inter-county traffic be routed to this roadway to ensure the use of the easterly bypass.

The residents of the Woods at Cream Ridge are facing real problems. I estimate that if the township needs to reconstruct this roadway to make it as safe as possible, it would need the following: an island down the center, turn-lanes with shoulders on both sides and a bike lane, which would cost us around 4.5 million dollars. This is the solution and we should turn over the roadway and work with the county to make it safe.

Remember this is at the same meeting where the township is looking for grant money from the county because our needs are so desperate because of our growth.

This is on the same roadway where discussions of building a town center (Imlaystown South) are being considered. One that would have 1,000 to 6,000 homes with its own wastewater treatment plant and those beautiful water towers. With most of the traffic using Sharon Station Road on its way to the easterly bypass to Route 195. Just think what the Woods residents along with Golf Edge Estates would think of this plan.

Last week I mentioned the Twilight Zone in my comments regarding the embarrassment over our middle school. This statement holds true for this meeting and the events that took place. I hope the township does not get hit with the cost to correct the roadway.

Yes, trucks have always been a problem on Sharon Station Road. Yes, the traffic has increased and it will continue to do so. Sharon Station Road is part of an inter-county roadway system, but the roadway needs to be made right and the county has the ability to do that. Our directions should be to accept the counties offer and work with them to put in-place the improved roadway that would be safe for all.

Lastly, a second resolution I heard was made before I left, when I could not bear to stay any longer. The township officials followed-up the above with a resolution that would send a letter asking commercial vehicles to refrain from driving on Sharon Station Road during certain hours of the day. Once again, great planning for a big problem.

John A. Mele

former committeeman

Upper Freehold