Moorestown Council Discusses 1-Way Option On Golf View Road

MOORESTOWN, NJ — In an effort to improve pedestrian safety in a high-traffic area in Moorestown, council heard a presentation on proposed traffic changes on Golf View Road last week.

Representatives from local engineering firm Pennoni presented plans to turn an “S-curve” on the road into a one-way street during the council meeting on Aug. 10.

The proposal calls for traffic to go one-way, from Maple Avenue toward Park Drive, in the direction of William Allen Middle School and Moorestown High School.

Paving is scheduled for this month, followed by the installation of signs that would indicate the traffic change.

“We’re trying to make the area safe for bicyclists and walkers,” Moorestown Police Chief Lee Lieber said. “We’ve been trying to do this for several years. The S-curve is the only section where it’s a problem.”

There was some pushback from residents who live in the area who believe changing the pattern in the area will create more of a problem, both with backups and accidents.

“People are speeding on that street all day long,” one resident said. “If you change the pattern, that will only encourage people to speed more. They’re already going 50 mile per hour, and this will encourage them to speed more with no consequence.”

“Our major problem is speeding,” resident Beth Tomasco said. “We’ve complained about it for years, and all we’ve gotten is a flashing sign that’s done nothing. It’s an absolute nightmare. I don’t know why we’re talking about a one-way solution; why not just repave the road and let policemen do their job?”

Deputy Mayor Brian Donnelly asked if the township could reduce the speed limit and penalize drivers who speed through the area twice as harshly.

“Our officers have been out there on numerous occasions, and there’s not a lot of excessive speeding,” Lieber said. “Very few people go more than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit.”

He said the problem is that drivers don’t slow down when they go through the curve, and nearly hit pedestrians and bicyclists as they try to navigate the area. He said he and his officers have nearly been hit several times. They put signs up, but they didn’t work the way they had hoped.

Council members agreed more data was needed before making a change. However, Mayor Nicole Gillespie said now is not the time for a traffic study, as students are not going to school currently.

Even when school resumes in the fall, many students will be enrolled remotely. Read more here: Moorestown School Reopen Plan Includes In-Person, Remote Learning

The discussion took place during council’s workshop session, and no official action was taken.