DeAngelo, Benson & Wisniewski Bill to Rid Red Tape for Towns Encouraging Roadway Safety in Local
(TRENTON) - Legislation Assembly Democrats Wayne DeAngelo, Daniel Benson and John Wisniewski sponsored to allow counties and municipalities to employ traffic calming measures, they deem necessary, in local businesses districts was recently signed into law. The new law will allow a municipality or county to construct to construct traffic calming measures in business districts on streets under municipal or county jurisdiction without approval of the Commissioner of Transportation. However, the Commissioner will still need to approve the construction of a speed hump or other traffic calming measure which places any impact on a state roadway. "These are local traffic issues that can be handled more quickly and efficiently if addressed by county and municipality traffic departments," said DeAngelo (D-Mercer, Middlesex). "This law allows them to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of their roads without having to cut through unnecessary red tape to do so." The legislation (A-1483) stemmed from concerns voiced during a small business roundtable held in part by Assemblyman DeAngelo in 2009, among the topics discussed was the need to decrease speed in business districts. "Municipalities understand what is required in their communities to ensure safe road conditions," said Benson (D-Mercer, Middlesex). "With this new law, counties and municipalities can more swiftly address traffic concerns in their towns." "This new law will increase roadway safety in our local business districts," said Wisniewski (D-Middles). "Local governments will now be able to take action when necessary and ensure traffic and pedestrian safety." A business district is defined under the law as a portion of a highway where within any 600 feet along the highway there are buildings in use for business or industrial purposes, including, but not limited, to hotels, banks, office buildings, railroad stations, and public buildings which occupy at least 300 feet of frontage on one side, or 300 feet collectively on both sides of the roadway. A traffic calming measure is defined to mean the combination of physical controls and community support to reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter driver behavior, and improve conditions for non-motorized users. And includes, but is not limited to, speed humps. The measure passed the Assembly, 78-1, in June and the Senate, 30-6, in October.
