Study aims to address Route 79 'hot spots'
BY KAREN E. BOWES
Staff Writer

Traffic experts are looking to cool the "hot spots" along Route 79 one intersection at a time.

On June 21, Monmouth County officials hosted a slide show presentation on the topic at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Manalapan. Only one member of the public attended the slide show, which was held in the hope of gathering suggestions on ways to improve Route 79.

Colts Neck resident Jim Raleigh called the study "a waste of his time," but decided to stay for the meeting anyway, pointing out ways to improve the road that he travels regularly. Raleigh said he was disappointed in the study because it did not include surrounding roads that are also highly traveled.

Traffic Engineer David J. Thatcher of Stantec, the Mount Laurel firm hired to conduct the study, identified several hot spots along Route 79 that could use improvement. Thatcher said the highly traveled road, which runs from Aberdeen Township to Freehold Borough, is believed to have many other problem areas.

The hot spots already earmarked for improvement are the areas near Throckmorton and Main street, Freehold Borough; Kozloski Road, Freehold Township; School Road, Marlboro; Marlboro High School and Quincy Street area, Marlboro; Route 520, Marlboro; Lloyd Road, Marlboro; Wilson Avenue and Mill Road, Matawan; and Route 34, Matawan.

The study is needed, Thatcher said, because increased development has led to more motorists using Route 79.

Currently, during the peak hours of 4-6 p.m., the intersections at Ryan and Inverness roads see 574 vehicles going north and 656 going south. By 2015, Thatcher's firm estimates those numbers will increase to 1,736 vehicles northbound, and 1,448 vehicles driving southbound. By 2030, the picture is even more crowded, with an estimated 2,763 motorists driving north and 2,310 going south, Thatcher said.

Is this a realistic scenario? Not really, Thatcher said. Route 79 could not handle this amount of traffic, he said.

According to Thatcher, feedback from local officials suggests that the towns like Route 79 the way it is and most are not interested in seeing the road widened.

Stantec planner Jeannette Brugger spoke about several ways municipalities can work together to improve the highway without adding additional lanes.

"Many towns don't have circulation plans that incorporate Route 79," Brugger said. "The towns should work together to come up with a cohesive plan for Route 79."

One way to do this is by steering away from "strips," or strip malls, and replacing them with "mixed-use centers that decrease dependency on cars," Brugger said. To do this, the towns might need to work together to coordinate updates to their master plans, Brugger said.

Other suggested ways to improve traffic conditions include:

+ Lowering the number of "curb cuts," or commercial exits along Route 79.

+ Improving access to the Henry Hudson Trail could also cut down on vehicle traffic.

+ Creating "kiss and ride" areas, or drop-off sites near public transportation.

+ Widening existing lanes and/or providing two left-turn lanes.

+ Eliminating bottlenecks.

+ Signs that direct motorists to alternative routing, such as Route 18.

Thatcher encouraged members of the public to add their input to the study by e-mailing suggestions to info@route79corridor.com. Thatcher suggests getting suggestions to him soon, by July 6 if possible.

A final presentation to the public will take place on July 19 at the Monmouth County Engineering Department in the Monmouth County Hall of Records Annex, Freehold Borough. For more information or to see a copy of the slide show presentation, go to www.route79corridor.com.