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Resident raises safety concerns at Molla Boulevard intersections; police say county control and enforcement limits constrain remedies
Summary
A resident urged the council to make a lane a right-turn-only at Molla Boulevard and Molnar Drive and to address aggressive merging on Market Street; the police chief said the intersections are county-designed and that enforcement options are limited without focused enforcement operations.
A resident used the public comment period at the Feb. 20 Elmwood Park council meeting to urge changes at two busy intersections: Molla Boulevard at Molnar Drive (near the bar under the bridge) and the Molla Boulevard/Market Street intersection.
The resident said drivers repeatedly “jackrabbit” from designated left-turn lanes and cut across queued traffic to beat others through the intersection, causing near-misses and minor collisions near the Vietnam Memorial area. Specifically, the resident asked whether the right lane could be designated “right-turn only” at the Molla Boulevard/Molnar location to prevent drivers from cutting across traffic.
Police Chief Filigno responded that both intersections are configured and signed by the county, and that any permanent change would require a county traffic study and county approval. The chief acknowledged the behavior is common and said enforcement is limited by staffing priorities: “I drive an unmarked police car, and I see violation after violation. If I was driving in the marked unit, everybody's driving like an altar boy,” he said, adding that targeting such violations would require officers dedicated to that enforcement.
Council discussion noted the borough could request a county traffic study but cautioned that converting a lane to right-turn-only could create backups in other lanes. The chief offered to check signage and asked that the resident provide specific locations if targeted enforcement is requested. No ordinance or formal action was taken during the meeting.
Why it matters: The intersections cited are high-traffic corridors with commuter and business traffic; any operational changes would affect traffic flow and could require county approval and additional enforcement resources.
What’s next: The police chief said he would review existing lane markings and signage and the borough may coordinate with county engineers if further study is warranted. Residents were encouraged to report repeat problems to the police traffic division for targeted enforcement.
