An idea worth pursuing

The Manalapan Township Committee should not be deterred from its attempt to secure bus service for residents living along the Route 33 corridor because of one recent setback.

The Knob Hill residential development board of directors has rejected an offer from the township to send a commuter bus into the Route 33 community in order to transport residents to the Route 9 corridor.

The offer was discussed at a recent meeting of the township transportation committee.

Knob Hill directors raised safety issues relating to buses coming into the development to pick up passengers.

Mayor Rebecca Aaronson said the bus would have gone straight to the clubhouse, picked up passengers and left the development.

Regardless of the specifics, the trustees, acting on behalf of the residents, said no to the plan, as is their right.

The fact remains that the Route 33 corridor is becoming a primary residential area in Manal-apan and will continue to develop in that manner over the next decade as developments are built near Millhurst and Woodward roads.

The goal of the governing body and the township transportation committee is to keep some traffic off Route 9. A commuter lot on Route 33 where residents can catch a bus to Route 9 should help accomplish that goal.

This is a detour on the road to Route 33 bus service, not a knockout blow.

Municipal officials should keep moving forward with their plan to serve residents — current and future — in this part of town.