Politics & Government

Council to Discuss New Location for Beekman Road Park and Ride Tonight

The Township Council will consider an alternate site for a new Park and Ride previously approved at the intersection of Beekman Road and Route 27.

Discussions will continue at tonight's South Brunswick Township Council meeting over whether to change the location of a new Park and Ride facility previously approved for the intersection of Route 27 and Beekman Road.

A plan for two new Park and Rides was approved in December last year, with 

However, residents of the area have been vocal about their concerns about the negative traffic impact a new Park and Ride would present to Beekman Road.

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"This is a nightmare and it doesn't belong on Beekman," said "I don't think (this decision) is in our best interest."

At the time the Beekman Park and Ride was approved, the township had to commit to adding the facility or lose millions in transportation grant funds. The township had until the end of 2011 to spend approximately $2 million remaining from a $4 million federal transportation grant awarded to South Brunswick in 2006. 

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"This says we will build a new park and ride (at Beekman and Route 27) if we can't find a more suitable location," said Mayor Frank Gambatese when the plan was approved. "It might not necessarily be built there, but the main thing is not to lose that money. There is no time limit on when the project needs to be completed, so this protects us for the time being."

The Beekman Road intersection, was deemed unsuitable in its present condition for a Park and Ride.

"The bottom line is this will add more vehicles to Beekman, whether it's (a parking lot for) 85 vehicles or 40 to 50, it's still the same circumstance that led me (to vote against) the approval before," Councilman Joseph Camarota said last year. "This will add more traffic to Beekman, which is a concern."

Final approval for the new Park and Ride on Beekman and Route 27 was contingent on the completion of upgrades to the intersection, which have since been given the go ahead. 

After four years of waiting for the Department of Transportation to green light the upgrades for the Beekman Road and Route 27 intersection, the 

will include widening the intersection, an improved turn radius, and the addition of a right-hand turn lane. The intersection will also receive a new traffic signal.

The project is expected to alleviate some of the congestion issues on Beekman Road, caused by motorists making various turns and going to the shopping center across the street in Franklin Township. In addition, an estimated 3,000 cars per day travel on Beekman as a connector between Route 1 and Route 27.

"This work is just absolutely necessary to help with the backup on both Beekman and 27, which is bad in the morning and in the evening is just horrendous," Gambatese said last month.

Beekman Road will also receive improvements to address pedestrian safety, including the installation of two crosswalks and a speed limit reduction from 45 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour.

Now that intersection and safety upgrades for Beekman Road have been finalized, the council will discuss tonight whether the new Park and Ride on Beekman will offset those projects. 

In May, Public Affairs Coordinator Ron Schmalz said the township would be looking at alternative sites for the Park and Ride that were still close enough to Route 27 to present a viable commuting option for residents.

"We're going to be looking at sites south of Beekman Road that are close to Route 27 so people can park and walk to the bus shelters, or a large enough area on 27 so the buses can pull in," said Public Affairs Coordinator Ron Schmalz. "If we can get parking set back further from 27, it would be ideal for the buses to pull in, make a pickup and go."

Can Beekman Road sustain the traffic from a new Park and Ride? What other locations in South Brunswick do you think would be ideal for a Park and Ride? Tell us in the comments.


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