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:

To the honorable mayor,

Thank you for your dedicated leadership and commitment to keeping Lakewood in good hands — your efforts truly make a difference in our community.

I’m writing to report a serious issue with the traffic lights at the intersection of Clifton Avenue and First Street. The timing of the lights ,especially those on the opposite side of the street, is causing significant traffic congestion. Drivers are frequently stuck for long periods, which has led to missed appointments and growing frustration among commuters.

More concerning, there have been several accidents in the area that appear to be related to this problem. I urge you to investigate the timing and coordination of these lights as soon as possible to improve traffic flow and ensure public safety

Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope to see meaningful action taken soon

Response from Mayor Coles:

Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I have forwarded your email to engineering and ask the time to look into it

Question:

Dear Mayor Coles,

I am writing to you today as a concerned resident regarding a persistent and dangerous illegal parking problem at several intersections in Lakewood. Despite existing regulations and signs, cars continue to park illegally, creating hazardous conditions for drivers and pedestrians. I believe that a renewed focus on ticket enforcement, updated no-parking signs, and the addition of clear yellow paint markings on the curbs could make these areas safe again.

I have included an attached picture that shows the location and its markings.

I would like to bring the following three locations to your attention:

School Gardens and East 5th Street: When traveling down School Gardens and turning onto East 5th Street, drivers frequently encounter vehicles illegally parked in the intersection. This obstructs the turn and poses a significant traffic hazard.

East 5th Street and Manetta Street: On the corner of East 5th and Manetta, vehicles routinely park too close to the intersection. This makes it extremely difficult for drivers to safely turn onto Manetta.

Manetta Street (First 25 feet): The beginning of Manetta Street is very narrow, and cars parked within the first 25 feet from the corner block the road and prevent other vehicles from turning onto the street. New Jersey state law prohibits parking within 25 feet of a corner or intersection, but this is often disregarded.

I am aware that some of the existing street markings may be faded, which could contribute to the problem. By increasing the frequency of ticket enforcement and refreshing the signage, along with adding highly visible yellow paint markings in these no-parking zones, we can remind drivers of the law and improve safety for everyone.

Thank you for your time and for your attention to this important matter.

Response from Mayor Coles:

Thank you. I have forwarded this to public works to inspect and verify curb markings are present and legible to ro PD to request additional enforcement

Thanks

Ray

Question:

Hi Mr. Mayor,

First of all, I wanted to thank you for the light at Chestnut and New Hampshire. I can’t even describe to you what a difference it makes both in safety and how much traffic it saves!

Secondly, I have a question regarding the LSTA. Can you explain their role and who they are? I have a very frustrating experience with my child’s bus. I called the school and they let me know to call the company. I called the company and the company told me I have to take it up with the LSTA. I went down to their office to speak with their staff and was basically told they can’t help me. Can you please explain the LSTA and who is in charge of the bussing in Lakewood?

Thank you!

Response from Mayor Coles:

Good morning

I could not agree more about that light. It took far too long, but I am happy it is finally operating and folks can get around that part of town quicker and, more importantly, safer. This has been the number one traffic concern we raised with the county at our annual infrastructure meetings every year. I am very happy I can cross this off the list!

The LSTA is a program that allows them to coordinate all the bussing needs for Lakewood and some of our surrounding towns. They move close to 60,000 children to and from school every day. They do an incredible job. But, there will always be some hiccups, especially ate the beginning of a new school year. I spoke to Abe at LSTA about your letter. He asked me to get some additional information so he can help with the issue.

Please reach out to me with the specifics and we will see what can be done

Thanks

Ray

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