Who thought it was a good idea to propose changing to one way traffic on Maplewood Ave in the village?

Who thought it was a good idea to propose changing to one way traffic on Maplewood Ave in the village?    This is one of the dumbest ideas I have heard in a long while.  

I believe it is not all of Maplewood Ave..only from Baker to Lenox Terr. Still not sure if it will work/help tho/

notupset said:
Who thought it was a good idea to propose changing to one way traffic on Maplewood Ave in the village?    This is one of the dumbest ideas I have heard in a long while.  

 You sound upset.

It's pretty silly to get upset about someone asking whether something is a good idea or not.  It might be, or it might not be.  If nobody asks, nobody can figure out which it is.

Seems like fixing something that isn't broken.   Have there been many serious accidents?   Seems like 90% of the day traffic flows just fine for a 15 mile an hour street with lots of crosswalks.   If it is too crowded for someone at the 10% of peak times either put up with it or walk or ride your bike.   We don't have a parallel road like in Millburn.   The residents on Baker and Lenox will not be happy either.   I am curious who thought this was a good idea.    

notupset said:
Seems like fixing something that isn't broken.   Have there been many serious accidents?   Seems like 90% of the day traffic flows just fine for a 15 mile an hour street with lots of crosswalks.   If it is too crowded for someone at the 10% of peak times either put up with it or walk or ride your bike.   We don't have a parallel road like in Millburn.   The residents on Baker and Lenox will not be happy either.   I am curious who thought this was a good idea.    

 So we'll mark you as a "No"?

you are a mindreader nohero  -  really   though  - does anyone think this is a good idea?  An improvement?   And if so, why?

the intersection at Maplewood and Baker is notorious for people going through stop signs, cutting other drivers off, not yielding to pedestrians, etc. Do we need to wait until someone is hit by a car to do something?

I don't know if a one-way section of Maplewood Ave is the answer. But it's at least worth studying. 

It has the potential to ease traffic to and from the post office during the day. Currently if there are no spaces on that block anyone that needs to go into the post office must circle up via Ridgewood to access a potential parking spot. 

Adding a mail drop off box in the parking lot so a driver would not need to exit the car would be a bonus.

It's very wide at that intersection. Put a small island in the middle. 

krnl said:
It has the potential to ease traffic to and from the post office during the day. Currently if there are no spaces on that block anyone that needs to go into the post office must circle up via Ridgewood to access a potential parking spot. 

Adding a mail drop off box in the parking lot so a driver would not need to exit the car would be a bonus.

 Very good idea. There used to be drop off boxes in the lot next to the old PO. I used them all the time.

Is the proposal that from Baker to Lenox be one-way going South? When will the TC be considering this?

LOST said:

When will the TC be considering this?

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

A public meeting will be held on Thursday, May 31, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. at The Woodland, 60 Woodland Road, in the Great Hall, to present and discuss proposals for pedestrian safety improvements and traffic flow changes, including making Maplewood Avenue one-way from Baker Street to Lenox Place and reversing the direction of the NJT lot. Your presence is encouraged to appraise you of these proposed changes.

Read more

Public meeting to discuss this proposal is scheduled for May 31, 2018 at the Woodland starting at 7:30 pm.

I agree that the intersection of Baker and Maplewood Avenue is dangerous as much due to line of sight issues as problems with yielding.  I don't know how making Maplewood Avenue one way between Baker and Lenox would resolve that problem since it is likely to divert more traffic onto Baker; but, I am not a Transportation Engineer.  

There will be a group of transportation experts at Mayfest tomorrow who will be focusing on pedestrian safety on Prospect Street and Burnett Avenue.  They may be able to shed some informed light on the Maplewood Avenue proposal.

ridski said:

notupset said:
Who thought it was a good idea to propose changing to one way traffic on Maplewood Ave in the village?    This is one of the dumbest ideas I have heard in a long while.  

 You sound upset.

 I always thought it was No Tupset, like he lost it or something.

joan_crystal said:
Public meeting to discuss this proposal is scheduled for May 31, 2018 at the Woodland starting at 7:30 pm.
I agree that the intersection of Baker and Maplewood Avenue is dangerous as much due to line of sight issues as problems with yielding.  I don't know how making Maplewood Avenue one way between Baker and Lenox would resolve that problem since it is likely to divert more traffic onto Baker; but, I am not a Transportation Engineer.  
There will be a group of transportation experts at Mayfest tomorrow who will be focusing on pedestrian safety on Prospect Street and Burnett Avenue.  They may be able to shed some informed light on the Maplewood Avenue proposal.

Making Maplewood Ave 1 way on that stretch would definitely make the interesection of Maplewood and Baker safer as cars heading towards Millburn would only have the option of going left or right (assuming the 1 way traffic flows south). This should allow cars at the stop sign on Baker to “cheat” a little further out into the intersection and improve their sight line with less risk.

Meanwhile, 

There was a traffic accident in the village this afternoon directly in front of Kings. Apparently someone jumped the curb and smashed the railing of the steps in front of "The Cassidy".

-Not sure how that was accomplished.

-While that was being cleaned up (two police cars, a firetruck and a flatbed wreaker) I saw another driver decide that it was the perfect opportunity to drive the wrong way behind the new building.

I observed all this while carrying my two little grocery bags to my car parked in the Ricalton lot. Naturally another driver stealthily followed me (I could practically hear them thinking "Ah, he's leaving, there'll be a spot!). As they wait with blinker on for me to put my bags in the trunk, two other cars attempt to squeeze past him on either side simultaneously!

It's a mad house! A maaad house!

I think I may go to the Woodland public hearing.

That building is now experiencing the curse of the Postal Gods...............two police and fire calls within two weeks does not bode well .   And there were no red balloons or obstructionists present.

No wonder there has never been a building Grand Opening. Repent.

For a small donation you will be forgiven your sins.  Larger donations forgiven first.

Amstel said:
Making Maplewood Ave 1 way on that stretch would definitely make the interesection of Maplewood and Baker safer as cars heading towards Millburn would only have the option of going left or right (assuming the 1 way traffic flows south). This should allow cars at the stop sign on Baker to “cheat” a little further out into the intersection and improve their sight line with less risk.

I’m not following. Where would drivers have only the option of turning right or left if Maplewood were one way from Baker toward Lenox?

If I’m reading the proposal correctly, the NJT lot would switch from an entrance at Baker/Maplewood to an exit, adding yet another point to watch for traffic coming into the intersection. Or am I getting it wrong?

steel said:
Meanwhile, 
There was a traffic accident in the village this afternoon directly in front of Kings. Apparently someone jumped the curb and smashed the railing of the steps in front of "The Cassidy".
-Not sure how that was accomplished.
-While that was being cleaned up (two police cars, a firetruck and a flatbed wreaker) I saw another driver decide that it was the perfect opportunity to drive the wrong way behind the new building.
I observed all this while carrying my two little grocery bags to my car parked in the Ricalton lot. Naturally another driver stealthily followed me (I could practically hear them thinking "Ah, he's leaving, there'll be a spot!). As they wait with blinker on for me to put my bags in the trunk, two other cars attempt to squeeze past him on on either side simultaneously!
It's a mad house! A maaad house!
I think I may go to the Woodland public hearing.

People are doing whatever the [expletive deleted] they please in the village when they get behind the wheel of a car.  I don't even know how we stop this.  The police can't be everywhere all the time.  And they have other priorities.  

ml1 said:

steel said:
Meanwhile, 
There was a traffic accident in the village this afternoon directly in front of Kings. Apparently someone jumped the curb and smashed the railing of the steps in front of "The Cassidy".
-Not sure how that was accomplished.
-While that was being cleaned up (two police cars, a firetruck and a flatbed wreaker) I saw another driver decide that it was the perfect opportunity to drive the wrong way behind the new building.
I observed all this while carrying my two little grocery bags to my car parked in the Ricalton lot. Naturally another driver stealthily followed me (I could practically hear them thinking "Ah, he's leaving, there'll be a spot!). As they wait with blinker on for me to put my bags in the trunk, two other cars attempt to squeeze past him on on either side simultaneously!
It's a mad house! A maaad house!
I think I may go to the Woodland public hearing.

People are doing whatever the [expletive deleted] they please in the village when they get behind the wheel of a car.  I don't even know how we stop this.  The police can't be everywhere all the time.  And they have other priorities.  

 I may have been behind or in front you, steel. That wreck was frightening enough without having to dodge people going the wrong way through Ricalton Square.

Does anyone know of a pedestrian who has been injured by a car in the village?

is it your position that we must wait until AFTER someone is injured to remedy potentially unsafe conditions?

notupset said:
Does anyone know of a pedestrian who has been injured by a car in the village?

Yeah. I helped someone cross Maplewood Ave once because she was scared of getting hit a second time. That was before they reduced the speed limit, though. 

You could make the argument that all streets should be one way and the speed limit 10 miles an hour I suppose.    But if the town just worked a little harder enforcing the laws we have we probably don't need to reinvent the traffic pattern - it is overkill and will be more of an inconvenience than it is worth.  

And really  - if anyone can figure out who is pushing this, who the great minds are, I would appreciate it.  

notupset said:
You could make the argument that all streets should be one way and the speed limit 10 miles an hour I suppose.    But if the town just worked a little harder enforcing the laws we have we probably don't need to reinvent the traffic pattern - it is overkill and will be more of an inconvenience than it is worth.  

notupset said:
And really  - if anyone can figure out who is pushing this, who the great minds are, I would appreciate it.  

 Just a thought...instead of spewing all this BS here, show up to the 5/31 meeting and make your pitch. That's the purpose of the meeting, and I'm sure your input will be welcome. Unless that's too much effort for you.

I think we should employ a squirrel ranger in the park because although it hasn’t happened yet, it’s a just matter of time until one of those little bastards goes off.

It is not worth discussing this with people who think it is a good idea.   Whoever thought it up and pushed it through are dopes.   I have dealt with Township government before here and it is a waste of time.  I live close enough to town I can walk any time I need to.   I really just want to know who came up with this, rather than just assume it is the entire town government that is clueless.   

DaveSchmidt said:

If I’m reading the proposal correctly, the NJT lot would switch from an entrance at Baker/Maplewood to an exit, adding yet another point to watch for traffic coming into the intersection. Or am I getting it wrong?

Even if I read it right, I got it wrong. The exit from a rerouted parking lot would not be “yet another point to watch” at the intersection, because the one-way change on Maplewood Avenue would eliminate one of the other intersection entry points.