The following is an ‘Ask The Mayor’ question submitted to TLS, and the Mayor’s response. Email your questions for the Mayor to [email protected].

Question:

Dear Mr. Mayor

I appreciate all the great work both you and other officials are doing for our town. I live in south Lakewood. Almost every night there is road work in the route 9 area. While I am sure this work will be beneficial to Lakewood residents in the long run, it causes a great traffic disaster. Especially now during the holiday shopping season, it can be disturbing.

Can you please suggest that all this work be done after 12 am?

Thank you once again for all your great work .You are the only mayor in USA THAT ANSWERS SO MANY EMAILS.

Response from Mayor Coles:

Good morning,

We put as many time restrictions as to when & for how long road work can go on. Thankfully this is a relatively short-lived project which is progressing well. I’m not sure if we can legally stop the state from working on their own road until midnight. If we did the inconvenience would definitely be extended by months.

Our traffic & safety department works with the contractors to try to minimize any disturbances.

Thanks

Ray

Question:

Hi, as the amazing misameach campus is set to complete as well as what seems may be a temporary school of sorts right next door the opportunity people will have to attempt to cross 3 lanes to make a left turn in or out will wreak havoc on cedarbridge ave (and as we are all well aware no left signs are just a very cute recommendation, which is usually ignored), that being said the islands installed closer to main street seem to have helped so if a similar concept can be rolled out there as well prior to completion(which can potentially add a left turning lane on to clover as well, or better yet a jug handle on clover for u and left turns))can help avoid a massive future headache. That said the left on to main from new Hampshire (i haven’t taken this route in some time so could be things have changed) causes a major backup on new Hampshire (similar idea by cedarbridge left turn from new Hampshire) that said if we can lengthen the left turning lanes and take away a bit of the shoulder in both those areas it can help avoid blockage. The issue with Laurelwood ave with people complaining 2 lanes, 1 lane, 2 lanes. keep it 1 lane straight through with the current second lane being a two way left turning lane. other issues to keep in mind which apply to hope chapel north bound in the am, southbound in the pm, the lights aren’t timed long enough to allow for a smooth flow of traffic, maybe try adding 10-15 seconds to each light by the lake(synchronized by time of day in either direction) to help avoid backups.(light timings are a issue on route 9 as well, if you look at southbound 7 pm there is generally no traffic or at least limited traffic past prospect (by the cvs) if we can lengthen those lights somehow it would help alleviate traffic as far back as 5th street where the backup can begin, of course synchronizing in either direction depending on time of day will do most of the work for u). Thank you.

Response from Mayor Coles:

Thank you for taking the time to put together such a well-thought-out proposal.

The building next to Misameach is the LEAP Head Start project. The plan is for them to exit through a current paper street onto Cedarbridge Ave. We are hoping to have a traffic light installed there. I am fairly sure that Misameach will also have access to that street.

I am forwarding your comments to the county engineer. Cedarbridge is a county road. I hope you comments, added to our own will prompt them to address this situation

Thanks again

Ray

Question:

Good Afternoon Mr Mayor,

A new light was installed on the corner of Gudz and New Egypt 3 Months ago which is very much appreciated. But there is a very big problem with it, there is no eye sensor to have the traffic flow as needed. The light keeps on just doing its cycle, turning red when no one is waiting, and always having turn arrows even if no one is waiting to turn. I know this has been brought up before but nothing has been done in 3 months.
Can you please help with this?

Thank you for all that you do for our town.

A Lakewood resident

Response from Mayor Coles:

Thanks for reminding me about this. I will ask engineering to find out what is up.

Thank you

Ray

Question:

To the Honorable Mayor Raymond G. Coles,

I recently came across a beneficial platform offered by a local news website, LakewoodScoop.com, that gives the public an opportunity to issue a complaint, or, to make a request to the Mayor of Lakewood, New Jersey.

After reading many excerpts of the ‘Ask the Mayor’ articles, I am aptly aware of all the bureaucracy involved in solving the traffic conditions and road safety hazards of this town. Fortunately, there seems to be a competent Mayor who is knowledgeable and skillful in navigating all the red-tape. The incidents get attended to, in an orderly & efficient way and, most-important, with the needs of the locals in mind.

In light of the above, I considered sending in an email to make a request, regarding a road safety issue that I often encounter.

After crossing the sizeable intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Cedarbridge Avenue on innumerable occasions, I’ve witnessed some dangers, as well as, some irregularities regarding the timing of the traffic lights.

Firstly, the left-turn signal prior to the primary green light for vehicles on Cedarbridge Avenue, grants, on average, a mere 3.5 vehicles, per each green turn-signal light. The .5 amounts to the single car that invariably enters the intersection on the short yellow turn-signal, but only concludes the turn after the the light is already green for oncoming traffic. This insufficient time for drivers wishing to make a left turn is often a catalyst for aggressive driving behavior, because many drivers don’t want to wait for the next green signal.

Furthermore, I was wondering why the primary green light for vehicles traveling on Cedarbridge Avenue is significantly shorter than the light for those traveling on New Hampshire? Granted, one may be a County Road, and the other, a Township Road, however, there are an almost equal amount of vehicles driving in either direction, so even the County vs. Township differentiation, should not make one a preference over the other.

I figured I ought to share the above, in hope that it can alleviate some hazards and irregularities.

Thank you to the Editors of the LakewoodScoop for offering this service. Thank you Mr Coles, for taking the time to read this email.

Respectively,

Seth

Response from Mayor Coles:

Hi Seth

Thank you for the kind words. I am also grateful to the Scoop for allowing me to use this platform to interact with our residents. I read every email and do my best to respond to them in a timely fashion.

While I may get the initial email, there are quite a few folks who do their best to see that any changes or upgrades are done.

In regard to New Hampshire & Cedarbridge. Both of these roads belong to the country. We have spoken to them many times. I will send this email as a reminder that we still need to get some timing improvements done there.

What I will do is give you the advice I have given my family and friends, not just here but at any busy intersection. Take your time before proceeding when the lights change. I look ahead and left and right twice before moving through.

We can make all the safety improvements known, and someone will still not pay attention and drive through a red light causing an accident. Be aware and take your time.

Thanks

Ray

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