TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, N.J.—Drivers here could soon see dozens of new stop signs installed across town, as police seek to make 68 currently uncontrolled intersections safer.
An updated ordinance is likely to be introduced at the June 2 council meeting to add stop signs at those intersections, following a recommendation from the police chief and a lieutenant who spoke at the May 19 Township Council meeting.
Police Chief John Calamari and Lt. Michael Glock presented council members with a long list of intersections in need of stop signs. Township attorney Siobhan Spillane Bailey will revise Ordinance #223-63 as necessary and present an amended version at an upcoming meeting, officials said.
Glock said there were 68 “uncontrolled intersections”—those lacking stop signs—and that the recommendation includes installing signage at each. He said that figure represented the “total for the town” and that additional signs were unlikely to be needed.
Using Pascack Road as a dividing line, Glock said approximately 50 stop signs are needed on the east side of town and 18 on the west.
Councilman Steven Cascio noted that although the intersections were uncontrolled, drivers should generally know who has the right of way. Police officials agreed.
Councilman Tom Sears asked whether a four-way stop could be installed at Manhattan Avenue and Ridgewood Boulevard North. Glock responded that the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, issued by the Federal Highway Administration, governs signage standards nationwide.
He said four-way stops are generally not recommended when there are “any differences in roadways.” As an example, he cited Pascack Road as it intersects with Ridgewood Boulevard East.
“Obviously, Pascack Road has a much higher traffic volume than Ridgewood Boulevard East, and they usually recommend a stop sign at the lower-volume street,” said Glock.
Mayor Peter Calamari, the chief’s brother, added that four-way stops are typically more appropriate where speed limits are similar, and Glock agreed.
Glock said the FHA recommends four-way stops only if five or more crashes are reported at an intersection within a 12-month period—a condition that had not occurred at the location suggested by Sears.
Sears also raised concerns about dump trucks parked on Van Emburgh Avenue at the Fillmore Drive intersection. He said they appeared to be parked facing oncoming traffic and were blocking visibility for drivers exiting Fillmore. He asked police to look into the issue.
Glock replied that the trucks should not be parking in the roadway and said the department would address the matter.
Cascio said residents had asked him about getting more crosswalks on Ridgewood Road and Washington Avenue. He noted there are only two crosswalks on Ridgewood and two or three on Washington.
However, he said the county will not install crosswalks on its roads unless ADA-compliant curb cuts are already in place.
Glock said he would speak with county officials about adding crosswalks at those curb cuts.