Residents press Long Branch officials for fixes to speeding, noise and beach-area parking

Multiple Long Branch residents used the public-comment portion of the June 11 meeting to press the city for action on speeding, noisy vehicles and dangerous parking near beach access.

Susan Hadea, who said she lives on Ocean Avenue, described congestion on Park Avenue and door-opening hazards for beachgoers and residents, and said trash and homelessness on the Elberon beach area were long-standing problems. She asked the city to consider restricting parking on one side of Park Avenue and adding bicycle lanes or pedestrian space to reduce conflicts.

Stephanie Jeffrey, who lives at 275 West End Avenue, told the council that the speeding problem on her street had grown worse and that "three weeks ago, somebody got hit by a car in front of my house." She said temporary radar signs had slowed drivers while in place but that the effect did not last and urged permanent measures such as speed bumps and continued enforcement. Jeffrey said she had been promised follow-up in a prior meeting but felt the response was insufficient.

Wall Street residents Julie Berg and Janet Rackham said temporary speed cameras and solar radar signs had reduced speeding while installed and that removal of those devices led to renewed high speeds and louder exhausts. Rackham described a noise camera system that measures decibels and photographs license plates as one possible enforcement tool. Scott Beaver and other speakers raised broader concerns about loud, modified vehicles and chronic high-speed driving across multiple neighborhoods.

City officials responded that the traffic department and public-safety staff will look into the complaints. Councilman Dangler said he had "confidence that the police department and traffic will certainly look into it and come up with some type of resolution," and administration staff said they would follow up with residents. No vote or formal policy change was taken at the meeting.

The comments repeatedly emphasized near-term safety concerns as schools finish for the year and bus stops become active; speakers asked the council to sustain measures that had been temporarily installed in neighborhoods and to consider infrastructure changes, camera enforcement or renewed patrols.