Home » Hopewell Township Asking NJDOT To Eliminate Pennington Circle Proposed Traffic Lights

Hopewell Township Asking NJDOT To Eliminate Pennington Circle Proposed Traffic Lights

by Mary Galioto

Hopewell Township will be presenting a resolution at its committee meeting tonight requesting that the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) relocate the traffic metering signals currently proposed for the Route 31 Pennington Circle improvements.

Last month, MercerMe covered the planned improvements for the Pennington Circle in “Pennington Circle Construction to Start Soon, Improvement Details,” following the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Hopewell Township June 29th information session regarding the upcoming Pennington Circle changes. At that meeting, it was indicated that the metering signals to be installed are traditional traffic lights with the obligatory green/yellow/red, will be installed north and south of the circle on Route 31 to provide gaps in traffic, particularly during peak hours, and will run on a 1-minute cycle.

“The main reason for the changes is to improve safety and performance in the circle — the signals will help improve traffic flow,” said Stephen Schapiro, NJDOT Communications Director.

In the proposed resolution before the Hopewell Township committee tonight, Hopewell Township states that Township residents raised formal concerns and objections after the information session particularly about the placement of the signal because the signal would permit stopped traffic to block driveways and deny safe access to residences fronting the west side of Route 31 between the signal and Ingleside Avenue.

The Township is requesting that NJDOT eliminate the proposed metering signal to be located south of the Pennington Circle, eliminate the proposed metering signal to be located north of the circle and replace the existing flasher type signal at the intersection of Ingleside Avenue and Route 31 with a full traffic signal that includes accommodations for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Hopewell Township’s committee meeting is tonight, July 27, at 7pm at the Township Municipal Building.

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