Residents press Bernards officials for more enforcement, lights and traffic controls on Allen Road after fatal collisions

Residents told the Bernards Township Committee on Jan. 13 that Allen Road remains a safety hazard for pedestrians and urged faster action than the county's planned spring study.

"We would request for the study team to get started as soon as possible so that they can see the traffic and the pedestrians who walk on the street," resident Sundria Arie told the committee, adding that crosswalks lacked adequate lighting and that a recent fatality on Allen Road highlighted the danger. Arie asked the township to examine adding more lights at crosswalks, installing pedestrian-activated flashing beacons or push-button signals, and improving high-visibility zebra crossings.

Resident Suhas Kundi said radar speed-feedback signs alone were insufficient and called for expanded enforcement and engineering changes: "We need stop lights again, pedestrian triggered stop lights at these intersections. We need higher police enforcements... We need the speed limits to be reduced." Kundi said he walks Allen Road daily and that stronger deterrence and physical changes, not only education, are necessary.

Both speakers urged the township to coordinate with county authorities that lead the study. The transcript records requests for more visible lighting, replacement or augmentation of radar signs with active pedestrian controls, and more police enforcement at peak times. The committee did not adopt any new traffic measures at the Jan. 13 meeting; the mayor noted that deployment of police resources is a matter for the police department to manage.

The township will continue to receive comments and has opened a second public-comment period at meetings going forward; residents said they will press for quicker progress.