FREEHOLD – The creation of a three-way stop has been proposed at an intersection near Freehold High School where speeding has become an issue.
The plan to create a three-way stop at the intersection of Robertsville Road and Oak Street was discussed at the July 17 meeting of the Borough Council.
The intersection of Roberstville Road and Oak Street is across from a parking lot at the high school. At present, vehicles on Robertsville Road are not required to stop. Vehicles on Oak Street must stop at a stop sign before turning left or right onto Robertsville Road. The speed limit at the location is 25 mph.
Officials are considering a plan that will see stop signs placed on Robertsville Road and require motorists heading in either direction on the two-way street to stop at the intersection with Oak Street.
The recommendation to turn the intersection into a three-way stop was made by Freehold Borough Police Sgt. Eduardo Santana after he conducted a traffic study in the area.
In an July 3 email to Police Chief Glenn Roberts, Santana said the study indicated a speeding problem on Roberstville Road, specifically between Broadway and the borough’s border with Freehold Township.
Santana recommended creating a three-way stop at the intersection of Robertsville Road and Oak Street based on the study, complaints from residents and traffic observations.
“The [three-way stop intersection] would immediately make the area of Robertstville Road considerably safer for residents, as well as the [high school] students,” Santana wrote. “The two new stop signs would force all traffic to come to a complete halt and to travel at a slower speed. Therefore, it would discourage any reckless driving behavior.”
According to the traffic study which was conducted from April 1-10, 4,380 vehicles out of a recorded 17,186 vehicles were reported as speeding (25.5 percent). The maximum speed recorded was 62 mph, which is 37 mph over the 25 mph speed limit.
Councilman Jaye Sims brought the request to designate the intersection of Robertsville Road and Oak Street as a three-way stop before the council at the July 17 meeting.
Sims contacted Roberts to express his concern about the intersection in an email dated June 29. The councilman informed the police chief that his family was nearly struck by a speeding vehicle on Robertstville Road.
“School will be starting in September and I think this would be a time to get moving with [taking action],” Sims wrote.
During the meeting, Sims referenced Santana’s report and described how Robertsville Road is experiencing excessive speeding. He said the speeding problem appears to be occurring as vehicles enter the borough from Freehold Township.
Councilman Michael DiBendetto asked if the addition of stop signs might impact students who are dropped off at the high school entrance on Robertsville Road.
Sims said discussions with high school administrators are ongoing.
Following discussion, council members directed Borough Attorney Kerry Higgins to draft an ordinance designating the intersection of Robertsville Road and Oak Street as a three-way stop.
