Author Topic: Traffic Light to be installed at Beech Street and Prospect Avenue  (Read 11996 times)

Offline swapcatsr@aol.com

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Hearing it's in the budget. What year do you think it will be installed.



Offline Homer Jones

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Re: Traffic Light to be installed at Beech Street and Prospect Avenue
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2016, 01:20:37 PM »
First of all the New Jersey Department of Transportation has to approve the installation of a traffic signal at that location. The approval of the signal is determined by what they call Warrants at the location eg. Accidents, fatalities etc.
If and when approval is granted then the City can hire an engineer to prepare the bid documents for the light.
Then it goes out to bid and a contract is awarded.
Unless and until the State gives it's approval, nothing happens. Talk about a light here has been bouncing around for at least the last 35 or 40 years.


Offline swapcatsr@aol.com

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Re: Traffic Light to be installed at Beech Street and Prospect Avenue
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2016, 07:47:31 AM »
And then there is this:

During the Excelsior III application, there was some discussion about adding a light to Prospect Avenue (collector road) and Beech Street which in the end was discarded as a traffic mitigator for Excelsior III due to the insufficient distance between the existing traffic light on Summit Avenue/Beech Street and the proposed traffic light on Prospect Avenue/Beech Street (Iowa State University Institute for Transportation: when the spacing between signals falls below the minimum spacing of one-quarter mile (1,320 feet or two-three blocks), the traffic flow along the route may be disrupted and the ability of the route to carry through traffic will decrease, travel speeds may decrease, and delays and queues may develop at intersections).

Other than the above is there any reason why a light can not be installed. After 35 or 40 years shouldn't we know if a traffic light can be installed at Beech Street and Prospect Avenue. Should the City be spending money on this? Or do you think that they are just going thru the motions. Some people down by Beech were very excited to hear this news.

Offline Homer Jones

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Re: Traffic Light to be installed at Beech Street and Prospect Avenue
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2016, 12:17:54 PM »
The easiest way to get the answer to your question is to ask the City Manager. The principal function of the manager is to prepare and submit a budget to the City Council. You mentioned that someone has "heard" that the traffic signal is set for inclusion in his budget. Since he is preparing the budget he would be the person who can give you a definitive answer. The last that Ol' Homer remembers about pressure to locate a light at the intersection would have been when Barbara Elder was running for Council in the very early 1980's and the subject of the signal was her pet cause. She won; but no light was approved. When the two Excelsior buildings were being constructed there may have been some discussion of placing a traffic signal on Prospect and Beach; but, apparently the State DOT determined that the 4 way Stop Signs were sufficient.

Offline just watching

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Re: Traffic Light to be installed at Beech Street and Prospect Avenue
« Reply #4 on: February 05, 2016, 05:26:50 PM »
Long overdue.  And every single hospital expansion should have put funds into a trust fund for this project.  Should have, but didn't

Offline swapcatsr@aol.com

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Re: Traffic Light to be installed at Beech Street and Prospect Avenue
« Reply #5 on: February 07, 2016, 09:22:50 AM »
Maybe what is in the budget is the money for the research and studies not the actual installation of the traffic light:

CITY OF HACKENSACK
MINUTES
 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2015

       The Committee-of-the-Whole Meeting of the City Council of the City of Hackensack was held at City Hall, 65 Central Avenue, Hackensack, New Jersey, on Tuesday, October 6, 2015.

 The meeting was called to order at 6:40 p.m. by Mayor Labrosse and he asked the City Clerk to call the roll.

Present:  Mayor John P. Labrosse, Jr., Deputy Mayor Canestrino, Councilman Battaglia, Councilman Sims, Councilman Some, City Attorney Judge Alexander Carver and City Manager David Troast were in attendance.

Ms. Karlsson: “In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, Laws of 1975, adequate notice of this meeting was provided by sending a notice to The Record and the Star-Ledger and by posting a copy on the Bulletin Board in City Hall."

Manager’s Report:

Cultural Arts Board – There will be two ordinances on tonight’s meeting,

.....

Prospect and Beech Streets – There has been some talk about making this a blinking light stop or putting a traffic light at this location.  In light of the most recent accident there we will be looking into this further.  The traffic division will get some prices for both types of lights.

Snow Removal – Winter 2015-2016 – The County will be plowing and

Offline swapcatsr@aol.com

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Re: Traffic Light to be installed at Beech Street and Prospect Avenue
« Reply #6 on: February 15, 2016, 10:22:46 PM »
@Homer Jones has a good memory. The first mention that I found of a traffic light at Beech Street and Prospect Avenue was in 1976 (40 years). Last week someone involved in fight against PC Air Rights reminded me that in addition to the too short distance between Summit and Prospect Avenues a traffic light was not recommended because of the driveways. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor will be holding a forum at our building so I will ask if they have state approval yet:

1976
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Hackensack was held at City Hall, 65 Central Avenue, Hackensack, N.J., on Monday, September 20, 1976, at 7: 30 P.M.

1.    Mayor D' Arminio: "The meeting of the City Council of the City of Hackensack will please come to order. In the absence
of Clergy, let us all please stand for a moment of  silent prayer. "Mrs. Dukes, will you please call the roll."

Present - Councilmen Howard Gregory, George B. Holman, Frank C. Zisa, Deputy Mayor Kazmier Wysocki, Mayor Michael J.
D'Arminio, City Attorney Seymour Chase, City Manager Joseph J. Squillace and City Clerk Doris L. Dukes.

2.    Mrs. Dukes: "Adequate notice of this meeting was provided …

Susan Rosen, 100 Prospect Avenue, read the following petition signed by 350 residents on Prospect Avenue:

"We, the undersigned, being residents of the area located at Beech Street and Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, New Jersey do hereby
petition the City of Hackensack, the Mayor and the Council of the City of Hackensack to install a light at the Intersection of Beech
Street and Prospect Avenue due to the fact that there have been numerous accidents resulting in serious bodily harm and property
damage."

The Mayor asked the City Manager for a report. City Manager Squillace:  “Mr. Mayor, in view of the fact that this was brought up at the last meeting, the Police Department
reviewed the complaint and we have, on behalf of the City Council, requested the State to allow us to install a traffic light.
We do need State approval and I don't know how long it will be.".


1987
The regular: meeting of the City Council of the City of Hackensack was held at City Hall, 65 Central Avenue, Hackensack, New Jersey, on Monday, October 19, 1987, at 7:30 P.M.

Mayor Cerbo: "The meeting of the City Council will now come to order. Mrs. Dukes, will you please call the roll".

Present - Mayor Fred Cerbo, Deputy Mayor Thomas Della Torre, Councilwoman Barbara J. Elder, Councilmen Conrad Francis and John R.
Smith, City Manager Robert F. Casey, Acting City Attorney Philip DeVencentes and City Clerk Doris L Dukes.

Absent - City Attorney Robert L. Galantucci...

The Mayor opened the meeting to the public for discussion of City business.

Elaine Berger, 185 Prospect Avenue, stated that at the last meeting two matters were brought forth, the traffic light on Prospect
Avenue and the Air Condition to be included in the heat ordinance. The Manager stated that nothing can be done with the traffic
light on Prospect until there is a change in the traffic flow and the Chief has advised that the intersection is ok for now.

2000
The Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Hackensack was held at City Hall, 65 Central Avenue, Hackensack, New Jersey, on Monday, August 7, 2000, at 8:00 P.M.
Mayor Zisa called the meeting to order and asked everyone to stand for the flag salute…

Nat Schatzoff, 101 Prospect Avenue, addressed the situation on the corner of Prospect Avenue and Beech Street relative to the four
way stop sign. He stated that it is very dangerous and suggested that a survey be done or consideration be given to placing a
traffic light at this corner.
He also mentioned that the "stop and walk" button on the traffic sign on Central Avenue does not work.
Mr. Stein informed him that it does work but it is a new type of signal and explained how it worked.

Mr. Schatzoff asked Council if the exit on the Beech Street side of 101 could be stripped around the driveway portion of the
street. He was told that it would be checked.

2015
CITY OF HACKENSACK MINUTES COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015

       The Committee-of-the-Whole Meeting of the City Council of the City of Hackensack was held at City Hall, 65 Central Avenue, Hackensack, New Jersey, on Tuesday, October 20, 2015.

 The meeting was called to order at 6:40 p.m. by Mayor Labrosse and he asked the City Clerk to call the roll.

Present:  Mayor John P. Labrosse, Jr., Deputy Mayor Canestrino, Councilman Battaglia, Councilman Sims, Councilman Some, City Attorney Judge Alexander Carver and City Manager David Troast were in attendance.
….

Beech Street –The Police Department recommends a signal for this intersection.  We will need to get a quote and estimates will be in the 2016 Capital Budget.  The Mayor stated that we need extra lighting in the area, maybe PSE&G can send a rep out to look at all of the intersections.
….

Rick Salkin – Yes we do need a traffic light at Beech and Prospect.  You should also look at Atlantic at Union.  There is a lot of pedestrian traffic on Atlantic Street in the area of the hospital.  The Mayor stated that the police department has looked at the area.

Offline Editor

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Re: Traffic Light to be installed at Beech Street and Prospect Avenue
« Reply #7 on: February 15, 2016, 10:34:33 PM »
Wow.  Nice to see someone else making use of the Historic Meeting Minutes.

Great research.

Offline swapcatsr@aol.com

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Re: Traffic Light to be installed at Beech Street and Prospect Avenue
« Reply #8 on: February 23, 2016, 08:26:44 AM »
Regarding the traffic light at Beech/Prospect these are the questions that I asked the Mayor and Deputy Mayor:

  • Do the police say that the number of accidents increased at that intersection
  • Why a blinking light instead of a red/green light
  • Have the issues uncovered in the traffic study commissioned by Hackensack Hospital and Excelsior III been resolved
  • Have you received State approval yet

The Mayor confirmed from his own knowledge that there are too many accidents at that intersection. He said that they chose the blinking light over the red/green light. He spoke about the blinking light on Atlantic then about Thompson. He agreed that the red/green light would impede residents from exiting their driveways once a queue started forming when the light was red. They have not received State approval.

An hour later I received an email from the meeting host telling me the Mayor wanted me to know "that a traffic light will, in fact, be installed at Beech and Prospect.  I understand it may be 6 months before it is in place".

All I can say to that is to look for the light after the long dog days of summer have waned and let me know if you see it.

Offline swapcatsr@aol.com

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Re: Traffic Light to be installed at Beech Street and Prospect Avenue
« Reply #9 on: October 05, 2016, 08:15:32 AM »
In the works.

CITY OF HACKENSACK
RESOLUTION NO. 328-16
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR ENGINEERING
SERVICES FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT PROSPECT ST. & BEECH ST.

WHEREAS, the City of Hackensack requires engineering services
related to the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Prospect
Street and Beech Street; and

WHEREAS, the City solicited Requests for Proposals regarding said
services; and

WHEREAS, proposals were received from Boswell Engineering and
Neglia Engineering; and

WHEREAS, it was determined that the proposal from Neglia
Engineering was most advantageous to the City based on cost and other
factors considered.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Council of the
City of Hackensack, County of Bergen, as follows:

1. Neglia Engineering of 34 Park Ave., Lyndhurst, N.J. 07071 is hereby
awarded a contract in the amount not to exceed $24,300 for the New
Traffic Signal Installation – Prospect & Beech Project in accordance with
the proposal attached thereof.

2. A Certification of Funds has been prepared and authorized by the
Chief Financial Officer for the said contract assuring that there is a
sufficient appropriation to fund the purchases authorized in this
resolution as an express and mandatory condition of the award of this
contract.

3. The City Manager is hereby authorized to execute any contract
documents necessary to effectuate the award of this contract. The
City Attorney shall review any and all contractual documents
prepared in furtherance of this award.

Offline swapcatsr@aol.com

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Re: Traffic Light to be installed at Beech Street and Prospect Avenue
« Reply #10 on: February 04, 2018, 06:19:21 PM »
Traffic Light installed at Prospect Avenue and Beech Street

Offline ericmartindale

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Re: Traffic Light to be installed at Beech Street and Prospect Avenue
« Reply #11 on: February 06, 2018, 01:43:32 AM »
At least 20 years overdue. Nice work, Mayor & Council and citizen advocates who pushed the issue. 3. Park & Passaic

And what's 50 years overdue and EXTREMELY NEEDED is to align The Esplanade with Byrne Street (at Passaic Street) and put a traffic light there. This requires the cooperation of Maywood. I recall that it has been discussed in the past, but no agreement has ever been made.

Since I now live in Maywood after 11 years in Essex County, I could help in the lobbying for that. The two municipalities should split the cost, with Hackensack paying 60% (not 50%) because Byrne Street is located entirely in Hackensack, while the Esplanade runs the border.

Offline Homer Jones

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Re: Traffic Light to be installed at Beech Street and Prospect Avenue
« Reply #12 on: February 06, 2018, 03:51:38 PM »
Isn’t Passaic Street a County Road? If I’m correct, the County would be the key player here.

Offline ericmartindale

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Re: Traffic Light to be installed at Beech Street and Prospect Avenue
« Reply #13 on: February 06, 2018, 07:27:49 PM »
good observation, Homer.  The County should pay for most or all of any intersection reconfiguration for Byrne, Esplanade, and Passaic Street.