Politics & Government

Township to Continue Search for Alternate Park and Ride Location

Concerns remain about traffic impact from a Park and Ride at intersection of Beekman Road and Route 27.

South Brunswick Township will continue to seek an alternative location for a new Park and Ride previously approved for the intersection of Beekman Road and Route 27.

During Tuesday evening's Township Council meeting, township officials confirmed talks are ongoing to find an alternate site for the Park and Ride due to concerns about the added traffic the facility could add to Beekman Road.

"We've been looking at other locations, but it needs to be on property the township has ownership of," said Public Affairs Coordinator Ron Schmalz. "We can't discuss where we're looking, but we are looking for another location."

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A plan for two new Park and Rides was approved in December 2011, with 

"Independence Way and Route 1 was always our number one site because it will provide direct service to lower Manhattan," Schmalz said.

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While the township previously hoped work would start on the Independence Way Park and Ride this year, Schmalz said the state has yet to begin surveying the area and performing drainage work, so that project isn't expected to be completed for a couple of years.

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. 

"We were under a deadline and what we had to do was give an alternative site," said Mayor Frank Gambatese. "That's not necessarily the final site."

Beekman Manor resident Sue Nissenblatt spoke at the council meeting and expressed concern that if an alternative site is not found, the Park and Ride would still be constructed at the Beekman Road and Route 27 intersection.

"The Park and Ride for Beekman and Route 27 was only chosen, not because it was the best place, but because it was township land and the township would've lost the grant money," Nissenblatt said. 

During initial discussions for the Park and Ride, Councilman Joseph Camarota expressed hesitance to place the site on Beekman and Route 27 due to numerous concerns about traffic and issues with the intersection. An estimated 3,000 cars per day travel on Beekman Road as a connector between Route 1 and Route 27.

"What makes no sense to me is why this location was ever thought about," Nissenblatt said. "I don't understand why you would consider putting more traffic in an area that is already a problem."

was contingent on the completion of upgrades to the intersection, which have since been given the go ahead. The Department of Transportation approved upgrades for the intersection 

will include widening the intersection, an improved turn radius, and the addition of a right-hand turn lane. The township will go out to bid on the project next week, according to Township Manager Bernard Hvozdovic.

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.

While concerns remain from Beekman residents about the possibility of a new Park and Ride being placed there, Gambatese pledged that another location will be found.

"We do have several sites that we're looking at but we won't know until we negotiate with the owners," he said. "There are possibilities where we're interested in moving it, and we will be aggressive in our attempts."


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