TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Council members agreed in early December that something needs to be done to improve safety at the Van Emburgh–Washington Avenue intersection before two recently approved developments add traffic to the trouble spot.
Both Washington and Van Emburgh avenues are county roads. Their four-way intersection lies at a steep Washington Avenue decline heading east, crossing Van Emburgh Avenue, which turns into Wierimus Road in Hillsdale.
Busy Washington Avenue handles traffic using nearby exit and entrance ramps from Garden State Parkway Exit 168.
Following council comments, Mayor Peter Calamari told a resident who raised safety concerns to the county that he has been trying to set up a meeting with the county engineer and township engineer. So far no meeting has been set, he said.
Councilman Michael DeSena suggested that the developers of a newly approved 66-unit townhome and single-family home subdivision and 44-unit rental complex “should all share” in paying for a signal upgrade at the intersection, which now features a blinking warning light.
The light blinks amber for vehicles heading east and west along Washington Avenue and blinks red for vehicles heading north and south along Van Emburgh Avenue, which also has stop signs at the crossing.
Council President Stacey Feeney said the blinking light was installed in 1987 and that the intersection was a “sore spot” for her and her family, as a family member was killed and the other driver paralyzed from the neck down in an accident there.
She said she would partner with council members on efforts to upgrade the intersection, but noted a sidewalk along Van Emburgh “makes me nervous.”
Thirty-year resident Steven Kalish said he raised safety concerns to county planners on Nov. 9 and emailed his remarks to council members.
He said on Dec. 6 the township “needs to take the initiative to address the traffic situation” at the intersection… That’s where the real traffic and safety issues are going to be.”
In his statement to Bergen County’s Planning Board, Kalish said that three developments planned off of Van Emburgh Avenue and nearby Washington Avenue will add 52 single-family homes, 24 townhomes, and 44 apartments and called for a “comprehensive traffic study…to assess the cumulative effect of the increased traffic from these new developments and the existing traffic and safety issues in this area.”
The developments he cited include Gorga Place, an eight home luxury subdivision off Washington Avenue, plus the Viviano family’s “American Dream” development with 66 units and Franklin Court’s 44-unit rental complex off of Van Emburgh Avenue.
He said Bergen County officials will not address the traffic concerns on their own and the township “needs to commit” to addressing safety concerns before the two recently approved developments increase traffic in the area.
He said the township should consider a shared service agreement to improve the intersection similar to one signed in 2019 to upgrade the Pascack Road–Washington Avenue intersection.
That work, years in the making, finally is scheduled for a spring 2022 start.
The township needed to acquire 16 property easements, mostly via negotiation and one by a declaration of taking, similar to eminent domain, before the work could begin.
Eric Uderitz of Fillmore Drive said Van Emburgh Avenue “is horrible [and] backed up with traffic every morning. “I don’t find it safe at all.”
Council Vice President Desserie Morgan said a stop light should probably be put there and noted the blinking lights may be “misread” by approaching motorists.
She also suggested grooves on the road to alert traffic approaching the intersection. “In my book, safety trumps everything, even convenience.”
Councilman Tom Sears said “We are going to have a major problem at Van Emburgh” and wondered how the county approved a traffic study on the 44-unit Franklin Court development that he alleged was conducted during a snowstorm, when schools were closed.
During its hearing, the applicant’s attorney warned that the Planning Board could not reject the development based on traffic as the project was part of the township’s approved affordable housing settlement.
Councilman Steven Cascio said the blinking light in place was “totally inadequate” and was sure there were many things council could do to improve the crossing.