EMERSON—Local officials say they are making incremental progress toward reducing the traffic backups that routinely gridlock downtown Emerson whenever a train stops at the station.
At the Nov. 10 meeting, borough engineer Dave Atkinson said he and borough officials recently met with Bergen County and NJ Transit to discuss congestion at the busy intersection of Kinderkamack Road, Linwood Avenue, and Ackerman Street. When a train pulls in, he said, traffic quickly stacks up on all approaches, creating delays for residents and storefronts.
Atkinson said any long-term solution will require involvement from the New Jersey Department of Transportation, which he described as “a lengthy process” but necessary for meaningful improvements.
In the short term, NJ Transit agreed to “minor changes” to the traffic signal timing, allowing up to five vehicles to stack on Linwood Avenue, make a left turn, and head south on Kinderkamack. Atkinson said the county would implement the adjustment “in the near future,” noting that it should provide some relief for businesses affected by train-related tie-ups.
Mayor Danielle DiPaola said she is “hopeful that something is actually going to happen.” She said her immediate priorities include the traffic light at Linwood Avenue — which she described as “way too long” — as well as issues at Ackerman and Lincoln.
DiPaola criticized the prior Kinderkamack Road improvement project, saying it “has been nothing but a nightmare since the improvement has been made,” and called for a comprehensive review involving all agencies. “Residents heading east to west in town need to be aided,” she said, in addition to motorists passing through the downtown.
During the meeting, Councilman Michael Timmerman asked why several ADA-compliant curb ramps had been redone after being recently installed. Atkinson said he suspected that the ramp slopes did not meet updated ADA requirements, which had recently changed. Officials said the borough is working to ensure full compliance.