RCRA Report to Readington Township Committee and Hunterdon County Freeholders
The Readington Citizens for Roundabout Alternatives (RCRA) was formed in the Fall of 2019 after the Hunterdon County Engineer’s Office announced that a roundabout (RA) would be constructed at the intersection of Route 523, Route 629 and Springtown Road. The RCRA was concerned that no alternatives had been offered or even considered before the most expensive and most disruptive option – to construct a RA -- was selected. This was born out by a review of documents received under a comprehensive OPRA request. The RCRA agrees that something has to be done at the intersection to reduce accidents, but respectfully suggests that effective alternatives are available that are less expensive, less disruptive and more environmentally appropriate than a RA. For more information about RCRA email us at RCRA2020@yahoo.com or find us on Facebook at Facebook Link .
Federal Funding is Available for Alternative Solutions
Readington was initially told that federal funding was available for a RA but that it could only be used for this purpose and that if it wasn’t used, we would lose it. This is not the case. U.S. Code Title 23 Section 148 titled Highway Safety Improvement Program (the program that provides funding for RAs) describes more than 20 other programs and initiatives that can be funded from the same funding source in addition to RAs. These include improved signage, lights, road markings, and traffic research studies to name a few. [See Note 1]
Roundabouts Do Not Always Reduce Traffic Accidents
A number of studies have shown that RAs can be effective in reducing accidents – particularly fatal accidents – but in many other situations, particularly when no fatal accidents have been reported, a RA can actually increase the number of non-fatal accidents. There has never been a fatal accident reported at the Readington intersection in question. [See Note 2]
Federal Guidelines Argue Against a RA in This Location Based on Topography
The Federal Highway Administration advises in a publication titled Roundabouts - An Informational Guide (FHWA-RD-00-067), that roundabouts should not be located where grades through the intersection are greater than 4%. The grades through the intersection on Route 523 are greater than 4%: they are 6% (southbound) and 8% (northbound). Additionally, both of these approaches into the intersection are curved which reduces the line of sight for approaching drivers. Besides the unsafe gradient, this line-of-sight factor could independently make the proposed RA unsafe. One of the factors known to decrease the effectiveness of RAs is challenging topography. [See Note 3]
State Statutes Argue Against a RA in This Location Based on Environmental Disruption
In March 2019, NJ DEP upgraded 749 environmentally important streams to C1 Status. This designation is designed to protect water quality under the Clean Water Act. It also protects critical habitat, buffers streams and keeps out pollution discharge from sewage and other sources. C1 also requires higher standards for storm water management and specifically restricts road construction within a buffer zone of 300 feet. The intersection in question has been built immediately over and through one of those C1 protected streams -- the Pleasant Run. It flows through an aqueduct that runs under the intersection. This stream along with other tributaries of the South Branch of the Raritan River have a unique status for local residents due to its location in between upstream and downstream water sources and their related pumping/treatment stations. This placement results in the Pleasant Run flowing directly into the clean water drinking supply of local residents without treatment. The construction of a RA in the area proposed will introduce silt and other forms of sediment into the Pleasant Run resulting in the destruction of all life forms for years to come. The impact on Readington’s fresh water supply would be devastating. [See Note 4]
The Township of Readington Opposes Moving Forward with the Roundabout as Proposed and Supports the Exploration of Effective Alternatives
In addition to the factors already cited, Readington citizens also feel that the proposed RA is not consistent with their rural environment and culture. This view has been consistently expressed through a growing number of citizens signing an online petition to this effect and the recent unanimous vote of the Readington Township Committee’s resolution supporting the same position. [See Note 5]
What the Citizens of Readington and their Township Committee are asking the County Free Holders to Consider has Already Been Substantiated by a Recent Natural Experiment
According to accident data for the 523/629 intersection covering the past several years, there was a one-year period when speed reduction measures were introduced and these measures were also aggressively enforced. That one year period saw a 50% annual reduction in accidents at the intersection. However, once aggressive speed enforcement was eliminated, the number of accidents increased back to the previous level recorded prior to speed measures being introduced. Alternatives can be effective if managed properly. [See Note 6]
Possible Alternatives to Consider
Through its research, the RCRA has identified many ways to make the intersection safer. The alternatives could be implemented in phases and overall more quickly than a roundabout – conservative estimates for which are 2 - 3 years to completion. As mentioned, a review of previous Readington accident data for the intersection in question supports the notion that this type of straightforward approach has already been shown to be effective in reducing accidents. (See above)
o First, there are a number of simple steps that could be taken immediately to improve the safety of this intersection that would not require complicated engineering plans or significant amounts of funding. For example, when proceeding west on CR 629 toward the intersection and attempting to make a left hand turn onto CR 523 South, the view is completely obstructed by foliage (brush and small trees) at this corner. This is now the most dangerous turn at the intersection and this foliage is the possible cause of some of the accidents that have been recorded there. This hazard could be completely eliminated by some aggressive pruning – a simple first step that should be taken NOW.
o Second – because CR 523 and CR 629 do not intersect at a 90 degree angle, some of the turns into and out of the intersection are difficult to negotiate. In fact, accidents at this location tend to occur when a driver is attempting to turn left – either into or out of the intersection. When this happens, and at the same time a second speeding driver appears from around one of the curves on 523, a dangerous situation is created. In addition to slowing down all incoming traffic, another solution would be to introduce a NO LEFT TURN policy at the intersection from all four directions.
o Third - reduce the speed limit on the approaches into the intersection to 35mph and within the intersection to 25mph. These reductions must be accompanied by suitable signage. Enforce these new speed limits aggressively by issuing speeding tickets. It is important to note that the speed limit along much of CR 629 through Stanton is now 40 mph. This stretch includes the downtown area of Stanton -- one of our most cherished hamlets where the Stanton Reformed Church, the Stanton General Store, and the Stanton Post Office are located. The current speed limit of 40mph is TOO HIGH in this area. In 2019 a near fatal accident occurred just adjacent to the Stanton Reformed Church driveway on CR 629, requiring MEDEVAC evacuation.
o Fourth, the intersection is now a five-way but with the closing of Springtown Road, it could be converted into a much more manageable four-way. RCRA has been given verbal assurance by officials from our Rescue Squad and our Fire Fighters that this closure would have zero impact on their ability to do their job effectively. In addition, the disruption and expense generated when Springtown Road floods, which it does several times each year, would be eliminated as the flooding occurs in the area between the entrance to Springtown and the first bridge where there are no homes located. The potential impact of such a closure on about 10 Springtown residents must be taken into account as well and is currently under review.
A Possible Traffic Light Solution
The suggestions above do not include a traffic light because that is one option that is known to be somewhat controversial. However, with careful planning, a strategy that coordinates traffic lights with speed reductions could create a viable alternative. For example, a multiple traffic light solution has been suggested that phases all traffic into the intersection in manageable groups. Lights would be installed on CR 523 southbound near the Golf Course entrance and CR 523 northbound in the area on the level part of the road before the hill and the curve begin. Then a four-way traffic light would be installed at the intersection. The main idea is to use the lights on CR 523 to manage the flow into the intersection thereby avoiding backups. All traffic passing through these uphill lights would be limited in their approach to the intersection to 25 mph. Traffic light experts can optimize the timing needed to “clear” the intersection approaches on 523 before 629 turns green. Also so-called smart traffic lights could be used to monitor levels of traffic entering from CR 629 (which varies at different times of the time) and relay this information to the CR 523 lights for additional optimization. It is further assumed that No Turn on Red would be standard practice at the intersection and that all lights could be synchronized remotely so that new trenching would not be required.
A FINAL NOTE FROM RCRA: the individuals making the suggestions above are not traffic engineers, but the ideas suggested are known to have resolved safety issues at many other intersections without resorting to the roundabout solution. These suggestions are simply proposed by concerned citizens who have done a lot of research to determine what alternatives might be available. From the outset, our request has been that all available alternatives be considered before proceeding with a RA – an extreme approach that could be more expensive, disruptive and environmentally irresponsible than is necessary. We are confident that an optimal solution can be identified and we stand ready to assist our Township and our County in every way possible.