Morris Township residents want more bike, pedestrian lanes, survey says

road paving, traffic signs
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By Tyler Barth

More than half of survey respondents in Morris Township say traffic is a problem, and two-thirds want more walking paths.  They also want more bike lanes.

Results of last November’s Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) survey were presented this spring at a township meeting.  More than 700 residents responded to questions about trails, transportation and infrastructure.

Deputy Mayor Mark Gyorfy, the TAC chairman, said the survey indicates transportation and movement around Morris Township generally is safe. However:

  • 56 percent believe traffic is “a problem”
  • 76 percent of those polled say there are certain walkways, roads, paths and intersections that are tough to navigate due to traffic
  • 66 percent think there should be more walking paths
  • 52 percent believe that the sidewalks need improving
  • 41 percent say the streets are too narrow
  • 70 percent desire special pedestrian/bicyclist lanes
  • 70 percent want safer recreational travel
  • 64 percent want safer crosswalks
  • 67 percent want to learn more about Township pathways and destinations

The advisory committee divided respondents’ suggestions by location, and further parsed them into walking, biking, driving and parking subcommittees. Here are recommendations from those TAC subcommittees.

Driving:

  • Implement a formal Morris Township Traffic Calming Policy
  • Develop and implement a Morris Township Complete Streets Policy
  • Publish a “Public Projects” list on the Morris Township website
  • Apply the Traffic Calming Policy, as appropriate
  • Perform a traffic study of busy Hanover Avenue

Parking:

  • Map parking locations for trails, parks and other recreation areas where feasible for residents to view before visiting recreation facilities, whether Township- or county-owned

Walking:

  • Collect, update, and adapt trail/path information and place it at a centralized location on the Township website, including:
  •  Township, county, federal and nearby municipalities paths/trails
  • Access and parking
  • Rules of the road
  • Recommend construction of a sidewalk along Normandy Parkway
  • Fill Madison Avenue sidewalk gaps between Madison Court and Punch Bowl Road
  • Fill sidewalk gaps to connect sidewalks between neighborhoods and recreation complexes

Biking:

  • Install lane narrowing and sharrows for speed/traffic mitigation and pedestrian/bike safety on selected roadways
  • Create a Loantaka Bike/Walking Loop for resident recreation
  • Create path extensions to Frelinghuysen School/Parks/Fields into the Summit neighborhood where feasible

According to the transportation committee, these projects already are under way:

  • Traffic calming measures as part of Sherman Avenue reconstruction project
  • Woodland Avenue sidewalk project
  • Adoption of a Traffic Calming Policy
  • Adoption of a Complete Streets Policy
  • Creation of a centralized website for traffic and circulation items
  • Publication of a Public Project list
  • Creation of a map of trails, sidewalks, parking lots, destinations
  • Sidewalk installation on Sussex Avenue between Patriots Path and Sunderland Drive
  • Lake Valley Road sidewalk project

The James Street sidewalk expansion, connecting the Township with Morristown sidewalks, recently was completed.

Public comments on the survey and its recommendations may be made via Zoom at TAC’s virtual meetings, scheduled for 7 pm the second Wednesday of every month. (This month’s meeting is canceled, according to the Township website.)

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