The improvements listed below are suggestions presented at a June 2009 Borough Council meeting. Any, all, or none of the following improvements may be subsequently approved by the borough of Metuchen.
At a June 1, 2009 Borough Council meeting, representatives from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and professional engineering firm McCormick Taylor presented the results of a study on how the borough can improve traffic flow at various major intersections around Metuchen.
During peak rush-hours, Route 27 in the Metuchen area sees 1200 to 1500 cars per hour, according to the consultants from McCormick Taylor. In fact, some stretches of Route 27 may see as many as 2000 cars per hour during peak hours. In total, about 15,000 cars a day go through Route 27, plus another 10,000 cars a day on Main Street.
The study was funded by a $700,000 contribution from the developer of the District at Metuchen, according to Andrew Clark of the NJDOT. The study is meant to produce a menu of traffic improvement options that the borough can now analyze and review.
According to Amy Sakowski of McCormick Taylor, the firm collected traffic count data in June 2008. Based on the data and other field observations, they then developed an existing conditions traffic model using computer software. That model was then presented to township officials including the police department, in order to get their feedback. That let them develop a calibrated existing conditions model that showed levels of service and delay for each intersection in the study area. That model was then used to analyze proposed improvements, so that the firm had a good level of certainty that they were coming up with good analysis results for any proposed improvements.
Route 27 and Grove Avenue
The consultants of McCormick Taylor believed that improving the Route 27/Grove intersection would give the borough the biggest ‘bang for its buck’ to alleviate general traffic congestion. The Route 27 and Grove Avenue intersection experiences the highest delays of all the study intersections, especially during the morning peak rush hour. Additionally, the lack of an exclusive lead left turn phase on Grove Avenue presents a safety concern for motorists and results in excessive delays for the Grove Avenue left turn movements. It is recommended that a Signal Timing Improvement (exclusive left turn phase) be constructed in conjunction with a Lane Improvement (add a Grove Avenue southbound right turn lane) because a Lane Improvement provides significant benefit during both the morning and afternoon peak rush hours.
Implementation of only the Signal Timing Improvement has a preliminary cost estimate of $200,000 because the traffic signal will need to be replaced to conform with current NJDOT standards. Since Route 27 is a state highway, the traffic light at this intersection would have to be upgraded to the latest standards, complete with pedestrian countdown heads (see photo at right). The traffic signal would be uncoordinated from the other traffic signals along Route 27 in Metuchen. However, construction of both the Signal Timing Improvement and Lane Improvement (addition of Grove Avenue southbound right turn lane) together has a preliminary cost estimate of $473,000. This does not include any right-of-way costs for the properties located along Grove Avenue southbound, where strip property acquisitions are anticipated to accommodate the proposed right turn lane. New curb and sidewalk would also be needed and some utilities would have to be relocated to Grove Avenue.
However, if Metuchen only wishes to implement the Signal Timing Improvement, this concept will still benefit traffic conditions during the morning and afternoon rush hours. Because the Route 27 and Grove Avenue intersection is located along a state highway, Metuchen may also submit a request to NJDOT to replace the traffic signal to include an exclusive left turn phase for Grove Avenue, similar to the request the borough submitted for the Route 27 and Main Street intersection. As a result, the borough would not be responsible for the cost of replacing the traffic signal. However, it may take two to five years for this improvement to be constructed.
Route 27 and Amboy Avenue
Signal Timing Improvement at Route 27 and Amboy Avenue: The peak hour red and green light cycle lengths would be revised. This improvement will provide traffic benefits and has no construction cost. There are no potential disadvantages to this improvement. There are no costs associated with the signal timing improvement at this intersection.
Lane Improvement at Route 27 and Amboy Avenue: The preliminary construction cost estimate for the Lane Improvement includes only restriping at the intersection to include a right turn lane on Route 27 northbound. This improvement will provide traffic benefits and has a relatively low preliminary construction cost estimate of $20,000. It is assumed that the pavement will not be milled and resurfaced.
Main Street and Amboy Avenue
Signal Timing Improvement at Main Street and Amboy Avenue: The peak hour red and green light cycle lengths would be revised. This improvement will provide traffic benefits and has no construction cost. There are no potential disadvantages to this improvement.
Lane Improvement at Main Street and Amboy Avenue: This improvement includes widening of the Amboy Avenue eastbound and Main Street northbound intersection approaches. This intersection is lower on the priority list because although it will provide some traffic benefit, it will result in the loss of 18 total parking spaces along Amboy Avenue and Main Street. Additionally, the cost estimate for this concept is $345,000, which makes this one of the higher-cost improvements.
Main Street and New Street
The Lane Improvement for Main Street and New Street means constructing a Main Street northbound left turn lane and the installation of an exclusive left turn phase for Main Street northbound. The Signal Timing Improvement means changing the traffic signal from a pre-timed signal to an actuated signal, which will require video detection. It is likely that the traffic signal will need to be replaced to accommodate these improvements due to the age of the traffic signal. Therefore, it is recommended that the Signal Timing Improvement and Lane Improvement be constructed simultaneously. If only the Signal Timing Improvement is constructed, the preliminary construction cost estimate for the Main Street and New Street intersection is $200,000. Otherwise, the cost estimate for the Signal Timing Improvement combined with the Lane Improvement is $245,000. The left turn lane would help the train station traffic but would have some parking impact on Main Street, with five to six parking spaces possibly having to be eliminated. However, prohibitions on some parking spaces between 7-9am and 4-6pm may be placed instead of permanently eliminating spaces. The cost estimate also assumes that the intersection only will be restriped and that the pavement will not be milled and resurfaced.
Central Avenue and Durham Avenue
The Signal Timing Improvement includes the addition of exclusive lead left turn phases for Central Avenue northbound and Durham Avenue eastbound and an actuated traffic signal, which will require video detection. It is anticipated that the traffic signal will need to be replaced due to the age of the traffic signal. Because the cost of traffic signal replacement is approximately $200,000 and the traffic benefits are not significant, this improvement is not recommended at this time. However, if the traffic signal is replaced by Middlesex County, it is recommended that the proposed signal timings be implemented at the intersection to further improve traffic operations.
Central Avenue and Middlesex Avenue, Route 27/Lake Avenue and Middlesex Avenue
Signal Timing Improvement at Central Avenue and Middlesex Avenue, Route 27/Lake Avenue and Middlesex Avenue: The traffic signal timings should be revised to reduce the green time for the Middlesex Avenue northbound lead phase. This improvement will provide traffic benefits and has no construction cost. There are no potential disadvantages to this improvement.
Lane Improvement at Central Avenue and Middlesex Avenue, Route 27/Lake Avenue and Middlesex Avenue: At the Central Avenue and Middlesex Avenue intersection, striping could be added on Middlesex Avenue just south of the intersection to indicate two through lanes on Middlesex Avenue through the intersection. At the Route 27/Lake Avenue and Middlesex Avenue intersection, the lane configuration on Route 27 northbound could be revised to have one left turn lane and one shared left turn/right turn lane. This improvement would reduce queuing and delay, improve level of service, and provide a larger turning radius for trucks making left turns from Route 27 northbound because they are now using the right lane. This concept has a preliminary construction cost estimate of $90,000.
