Upper Freehold group to address traffic woes
BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer

UPPER FREEHOLD - The governing body is looking for residents to serve on a new traffic task force committee.

Committeewoman LoriHorsnallMount, who will serve as liaison to the task force, spoke about the issue at theMarch 27 Township Committee meeting.

Township Administrator Barbara Bascomsaid aMonmouthCounty committee for the westerly-bypass issue has existed for several years. She said the county asks the township to appoint representatives to that committee.

Mount said the new committee should have between four and sixmembers, not including herself, from all areas of the township.

Mayor Steve Alexander said the committee should have a representative from each of the township's four voting districts. He also said that the task force should work closely with the township's engineer and planner.

Mount said the goals of the traffic task force are to ensure residents' safety, eliminate excessive noise along heavily traveled routes and apply legal solutions, including enforcement of speed limits. Other goals include rerouting traffic and educating residents

about hazards, she said.

The committee will discuss current traffic issues on Sharon Station and Polhemoustown roads and will develop a traffic plan,Mount said.

Township Attorney Granville Michael Magee said the task force should reviewpast traffic studies, such as the one TownshipEngineerGlennGerken did last year on Sharon Station Road.

Magee said the task force should also examine traffic studies submitted for Planning Board applications.He noted that the board may have issued resolutions of approval for some projects that lacked traffic requirements.

Resident Sal Diecidue, who has served on the county's committee for the westerly bypass, said the task force should include people who have been involved with this issue since 2003-04. He said the county has a 238-page document from 1992 that supports an I-195 interchange at Sharon Station Road as a solution for township traffic problems.

"People worked hard with the county to get support for the interchange," he said.

Anyone interested in serving on the task force should fax a note to (609) 758-1183 or email bbascom@uftnj.com.