TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, N.J.—Police plan to add approximately $250 in signs to discourage wrong-way driving on School Street near Memorial Field, following council concerns about traffic during sporting events.
In a separate discussion Sept. 21, police and council members considered a four-way stop at Ridgewood Boulevard North and Manhattan Avenue. Police said they would check vehicle speeds again after Ridgewood Boulevard North is repaved.
School Street carries one-way traffic east toward Pascack Road. Councilmembers said drivers unfamiliar with the area sometimes enter against traffic before, during and after games at Memorial Field, raising concerns about pedestrians and other vehicles.
Capt. Michael Glock said he would work with the road department to identify locations for additional one-way arrows and red “Wrong Way” signs on both sides of the street, approximately 20 yards beyond the entrance used by wrong-way drivers.
“It doesn’t seem to be a drastic problem but it is usually when we have events, or football games that draw out-of-town people here that aren’t familiar,” Glock told the council.
He attributed the turns largely to driver inattention and said additional signs could help, although they would not necessarily prevent every wrong-way entry.
Glock estimated one-way signs at approximately $39 apiece and “Wrong Way” signs at approximately $78 apiece. He said the road department likely already has posts. Township Administrator Mark DiCarlo said sufficient funds were available in the signage account.
If the problem persists, Glock said the township could consider pavement warnings.
Council President Michael DeSena said the situation is “bad” during baseball and football seasons. He suggested placing one-way signs back to back, an arrangement he said he had seen used effectively elsewhere.
Police report traffic findings
Police Chief Arsenio Pecora said six months of speed monitoring on Ridgewood Boulevard North recorded approximately 46,000 vehicles traveling at an average of 28.5 mph.
Some drivers were recorded traveling 40 to 50 mph, he said, but those speeds were not the norm. He suggested speeds could increase somewhat after the road is milled and paved.
DeSena proposed another speed study after paving, and Pecora agreed.
The intersection with Manhattan Avenue has stop signs controlling traffic on Manhattan Avenue. Glock said the last crash at the intersection occurred in 2022.
Pecora said police would not oppose a four-way stop, but he outlined potential drawbacks. Additional stops can produce noise as vehicles accelerate, he said, and some motorists may speed between intersections. He also said adding a stop could prompt requests for similar measures elsewhere.
Councilor Steve Cascio questioned whether a four-way stop would be “overkill” based on the conditions described. He said drivers accustomed to traveling through the intersection might not initially expect the change.
Glock described concerns about speeding as a “perception issue,” and DeSena agreed. Pecora said unusually fast drivers attract attention even when most vehicles are traveling more slowly.
For comparison, Pecora reported average recorded speeds of 27.8 mph on Colonial Boulevard, 26.4 mph on Beech Street and 30.9 mph on Van Emburgh Avenue.
Police also cautioned against estimating vehicle speeds by watching residential security-camera footage. Glock said Ring videos make speeds difficult to judge.
“It looks faster on camera than it truly is,” Pecora said.