The Big Clean Up
Tag: Garber Square
Ridgewood Police Issue Traffic Alert for Monday June 30th
Ridgewood Police Issue Traffic Alert for Monday June 30th.
Weather permitting, Monday, June 30th from 7:30am to 11:00am, the Village Streets Department will be patching the road at Garber Square. For safety, one lane will be closed during this work. The Police will be monitoring traffic to ensure that the flow in both directions moves. This work is in preparation for the July 4th Parade and holiday festivities. The Complete Streets paving project will not take place until after the July 4th holiday.
Ridgewood approves changes to Garber Square project
Ridgewood approves changes to Garber Square project
JUNE 12, 2014 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014, 5:20 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood Council has approved a modified road improvement plan for Wilsey and Garber squares that reduces the size of a controversial median island, allowing the village to return to two lanes in both directions if traffic congestion becomes an issue.
Despite the council’s changes, the ire of many residents was amplified and expressed on social media on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, after residents found themselves sitting in traffic in Garber Square. On a Ridgewood parent Facebook page, one resident said she waited 11 minutes in traffic to get out of the train station parking lot. The remark sparked a torrent of commiserating replies.
But at Wednesday night’s meeting, Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld said residents mistakenly blamed that traffic jam on the Garber Square construction. Instead, “it had to do with emergency work” by Verizon, she said, adding that she was told a clay tile conduit had collapsed, completely unrelated to the construction project.
“We haven’t even touched that area of road,” she told The Ridgewood News after the meeting.
The road improvement project, which began May 7, still includes the addition of bike lanes in both directions, the reduction of traffic lanes from two lanes to one lane and a median island, as well as paving work on Ridgewood’s west side from Godwin Avenue to Franklin Avenue beneath the New Jersey Transit train trestle.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/transportation/council-approves-modified-construction-1.1034627#sthash.Leig4D8P.dpuf
Readers not sold on Village “Road fix” plan for Garber Square
Readers not sold on Village “Road fix” plan for Garber Square
If they are going to waste $45,000 ripping out the just-poured curbing for the median, not installing the $5,000 worth of trees and $20,000 sprinkler system, and start over, why make it 4 feet wide?
We have always needed MORE width, not less. Before, it was 3.5 feet. Forget about “traffic calming”–we need 2 lanes, period, and making them too narrow is NOT the answer to anything.
Village Manager was concerned about cars jumping the median and hitting a bicyclist–have never seen that in 40 years. The difference between 3 feet and 8 feet to a moving, out-of-control car is zero.
Why not just make the median NARROWER and HIGHER, preferably with some material that allows light through, such as stone or brick?
Better, how about ONE foot wide and a foot or more high? Really think about it–actually DESIGN it. A lot of people are going to be looking at it and driving around it for a long time.
More space between bikes and cars would only be a good thing. And when they repaint it for two lanes in each direction, they’d have accommodated the trucks, ambulances, fire trucks, and supersize vans that zip through there constantly and might otherwise clip the cars and bicyclists.
Bike lanes are great on a straightaway but on a 90-degree curve with walls on both sides and in the middle, NO.
Are they going to rush to make the changes on Wednesday or have the public meeting urged by the League of Women Voters to enable more people to comment?
The “improved” width of 4 feet is too wide.
Ridgewood to alter road fix plan
Ridgewood to alter road fix plan
JUNE 7, 2014 LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2014, 1:21 AM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — The Village Council agreed revisions need to be made to a street-improvement project that some residents and business owners have been critical of in recent weeks.
Although it may cost Ridgewood an extra $45,000 in capital funding, the governing body on Wednesday night accepted project modifications recommended by Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld.
The council will vote on the changes Wednesday.
The $500,000 project was the subject of a recent meeting between Ridgewood officials and residents of the neighborhood where the work is taking place.
Residents have opposed the project, saying it will create traffic snarls and endanger bicyclists.
Under the original plan, bike lanes as well as an 8-foot-wide, tree-lined median would be installed, swallowing up two traffic lanes where four currently exist.
Village officials maintained the work, as first planned, would improve safety for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians around Garber Square, as well as along Franklin Avenue and Broad Street. The project is expected to be completed in July.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-to-alter-road-fix-plan-1.1031128#sthash.ZgpIQhdm.dpuf
Lane change an unpleasant surprise
I have resided in Ridgewood for 35 years, and the first whiff I got of the drastic underpass plan was on May 23, 2014. David Shaw
Lane change an unpleasant surprise
David Shaw
To the editor:
Very few people appreciate unpleasant surprises. Fewer yet appreciate being blind sided.
The May 23 issue of The Ridgewood News supplied the citizens of the village an amplitude of both. I have yet to find anyone in my neighborhood who knew that one lane-each direction automobile traffic under the bridge was soon to be irrevocably in their long-term future, nor did they understand why such a thing would be contemplated.
The article stated that the plan had been fully vetted by the council and the DOT, the Ridgewood engineering and police departments, as well as the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee. Critically and significantly, there was no mention that the taxpaying residents of this community were in the vetting loop. Is it unreasonably inquisitive to ask why the people most affected by this decision weren’t included, or, for that matter, even aware of the plans? Could this be construed as government by fiat?
Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh was quoted as saying “the project and the Complete Streets program was formulated many years ago and is coming to fruition now.” It may have been formulated eons ago, but it surely was not communicated. I have resided in Ridgewood for 35 years, and the first whiff I got of the drastic underpass plan was on May 23, 2014.
Ridgewood will allow changes to Wilsey and Garber Square Road Resurfacing
Ridgewood will allow changes to Wilsey and Garber Square Road Resurfacing
MAY 30, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014, 1:21 AM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — Officials say a street-improvement project that has upset some residents is likely to be revised to allow traffic lanes to be restored later if the plan doesn’t work.
Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld said at Wednesday night’s council meeting that proposed changes could be made to the $500,000 project based on “residents’ concerns, and some of our own internal brainstorming.”
She was among several Ridgewood officials who met on Tuesday night with residents of the neighborhood where the work, which should be completed in July, is taking place.
Shovels first hit dirt last week on the project, which officials maintain will improve safety for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians around Garber Square, as well as along Franklin Avenue and Broad Street.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-will-allow-changes-to-road-repairs-1.1026433#sthash.kegMzthf.dpuf
Readers Question the wisdom of reducing traffic lanes at Garber Square
photo Ridgewood police
Readers Question the wisdom of reducing traffic lanes at Garber Square
Would be interested in knowing how much additional funds were needed to make Wilsey and Garber Squares into one lanes vs. repaving existing setup. Not completely sure what they are trying to achieve at this location with the narrow roadways — is speeding/pedestrian safety a major issue around that stretch?
Starting Wednesday, May 7th, paving construction work will begin on the West Side at Wilsey and Garber Squares from Godwin Avenue to under the train trestle on Franklin Avenue. Expect traffic congestion in this area for the next 3 months during construction. To avoid delays, we suggest the use of alternate streets to get across the train tracks – Ackerman Avenue or W. Glen Avenue.
