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Resident urges traffic calming on Woodruff Road after years of near‑misses
Summary
A Morris Township resident told the committee that speeding and dangerous intersections on Woodruff Road and Columbia Turnpike threaten pedestrians and cyclists and asked the township to consider speed bumps and greater enforcement. Officials said they would share the township's traffic‑calming policy and continue to review the corridor.
Steve Lares, a Morris Township resident, urged the township committee on Jan. 29 to take stronger action to slow traffic and improve safety on Woodruff Road, saying drivers frequently speed and that his neighborhood contains many older residents and frequent pedestrians.
Lares described repeated near‑misses and a past bicycle collision at the corner of Columbia Turnpike and Woodruff Road. He said police have placed speed signs and conducted enforcement but that the problem continues and suggested the township consider installing speed bumps.
"Maybe we could think about more signage. What I'd like the township to consider is maybe an ordinance to bring speed bumps to the township," Lares said, noting he has raised the issue with past police chiefs over six or seven years.
Committee response and staff direction
Committee members acknowledged the concern. One committee member asked whether the township had provided Lares with the traffic‑calming policy explaining how residents can request traffic‑calming devices including speed tables. Township staff indicated the policy is posted on the website and offered to send it to Lares directly.
Mayor Greglia and committee members said there have been traffic studies and enforcement actions and that the township will continue to review options and coordinate with county and state authorities where the road or intersection is under their jurisdiction.
Context and next steps
Lares asked the committee to press county or state authorities about the Columbia Turnpike intersection; the committee agreed to continue reviewing the corridor and to provide Lares with the traffic‑calming policy. No formal action or ordinance was introduced at the meeting. The committee indicated it would consider additional measures, including signage and enforcement, and noted some improvements would require county or state cooperation where they own portions of the road.
Ending
The committee thanked Lares for bringing the concern to the committee's attention and said staff would follow up by sharing the traffic‑calming policy and reviewing prior traffic studies for the corridor.
