Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Traffic Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press Somerset County for immediate fixes after pedestrian crash on Allen Road; Franklin speakers seek no-left-turn signs on Easton Avenue
Summary
Multiple residents urged Somerset County officials to take immediate short- and long-term safety measures after a serious pedestrian crash on Allen Road and repeated crashes on Easton Avenue. County officials said subject-matter experts and the township will be involved and that staff will follow up; no formal action or vote was taken.
Residents from Basking Ridge, Franklin Township and neighboring areas used the public-comment portion of the Somerset County meeting to demand immediate safety measures following a serious pedestrian crash on Allen Road and ongoing hazards on Easton Avenue.
Sanjay Berry, a Basking Ridge resident, described a pedestrian struck on Allen Road on Oct. 31 who was on a ventilator at the time he spoke and said at least two people have died on that stretch since 2016. "Enough people have been...enough cars have died," Berry said, urging short-term and long-term action, lower speeds, pedestrian lighting and crosswalks and saying residents have submitted petitions and emails without satisfactory responses.
Anand Rai, also of Basking Ridge, told the board officials should not wait for a final police report to begin traffic studies or implement mitigations and offered resident volunteers to help with solutions.
Michelle Peterson of Somerset urged immediate, low-cost measures for Easton Avenue dynamics that she described as among the county’s worst roads. She proposed installing up to 10 "no left turn" signs at key spots to reduce risky turning movements while the larger corridor study proceeds. "This simple proposal is both practical and hopefully feasible," Peterson said, adding that minimal sign installation costs could save lives.
County officials and board members (unnamed in the transcript) acknowledged the concerns, said a meeting with county and township engineers is scheduled and emphasized involving township law enforcement for enforcement and monitoring. Officials also noted some no-left-turn signs had been placed previously on parts of Easton Avenue and said staff would follow up to replace any damaged signs and coordinate enforcement, but the board recorded no formal motion directing immediate construction or purchases at the meeting.
The board closed public comment and moved into an executive session later in the agenda to discuss litigation and contract negotiations; the traffic issues were left for follow-up with engineers and the township.
