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Council adopts traffic ordinance changes and hears extended public concern about speed and cut-throughs on North Watchung and Ray Avenue
Summary
Council passed first-reading ordinances to standardize speed limits and restrict certain turns; residents urged enforcement after repeated high-speed and heavy-truck complaints on North Watchung Drive and Ray Avenue extension.
The council approved first readings of two ordinances to adjust speed limits and prohibit certain turns at locations across town, and members discussed enforcement and monitoring arrangements after extended public comment about high speeds and cut-through traffic.
Ordinance 23-64-25 would amend the borough's traffic schedules to set a uniform 35 mph speed limit on named local streets and add specified "no right turn on red" locations. Ordinance 23-65-25 would prohibit or limit turns at additional intersections and add restricted left-turn times at North Watchung and Pasadena, among other locations. Both ordinances passed first reading and were scheduled for final consideration on April 16, 2025.
Public safety concerns: Multiple residents, including Kathy Sarafin of 148 North Watchung Drive, said traffic on North Watchung and Ray Avenue extension has become louder and faster in recent years, at times resembling "the Indianapolis 500." Sarafin said she sees three or four speeding cars daily and urged sustained police presence and enforcement.
Council members and staff said enforcement will be key. The ordinance committee and police recommended monitoring traffic after the restrictions are put in place and reintroducing or amending rules if neighboring streets see a traffic increase. Borough engineer Joe Byrne and the traffic division will compare baseline counts (a Boswell traffic study and police counts from 2024 were referenced) against post-implementation data.
Enforcement tools discussed included dedicated police enforcement shifts, portable speed signs with cameras, pole-mounted speed/detection units and counters on alternative routes (Faber/Third Street) to detect displacement of traffic. Council members emphasized the limits of enforcement capacity but pledged to deploy temporary enforcement measures to educate drivers and create initial compliance.
Council and administration said they will coordinate with the police traffic bureau and the DPW on signage and street sweeping schedules; Lieutenant Michalski (traffic bureau) and the police department will supply additional counts to the council committee for monitoring.
