Study aims to address Route 79 'hot spots' BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer MANALAPAN - Traffic experts are looking to cool the "hot spots" along Route 79, one intersection at a time. On Thursday afternoon, Monmouth County officials hosted a slide-show presentation on the topic at the county library on Symmes Drive, Manalapan. Only one member of the public attended the slide show, held in hopes of gathering suggestions on ways to improve the road. Colts Neck resident Jim Raleigh called the study "a waste of his time," but decided to stay for the meeting anyway, pointing out ways to improve the roadway that he travels regularly. Raleigh said he was disappointed in the study because it did not include surrounding roads that are also highly traveled. Traffic Engineer David J. Thatcher of Stantec, the Mount Laurel firm hired to conduct the study, identified several hot spots along Route 79 that could use improvement. Thatcher added that the highly traveled road, which runs from Aberdeen to Freehold, is believed to have many other problem areas. The hot spots already earmarked for improvement are the areas near Throckmorton Avenue and Main Street, Freehold; Kozloski Road, Freehold; School Road, Marlboro; Marlboro High School/Quincy Street area, Marlboro; Route 520 in Marlboro; Lloyd Road, Marlboro; Wilson Avenue and Mill Road, Matawan; and Route 34, Matawan. The study is needed, Thatcher said, because increased development has led to more motorists using Route 79. Currently, during the peak hours of 4-6 p.m., the intersections at Ryan and Inverness roads see 574 vehicles going north and 656 going south. By 2015, Thatcher's firm estimates those numbers will increase to 1,736 vehicles northbound, and 1,448 driving southbound. By 2030, the picture is even more crowded, with an estimated 2,763 motorists driving north and 2,310 going south, Thatcher said. Is this a realistic scenario? Not really, Thatcher said. Route 79 could not handle this amount of traffic, he said. According to Thatcher, feedback from local governing officials suggests that the towns like Route 79 the way it is, and most are not interested in seeing the road widened for more lanes. Stantec planner Jeannette Brugger spoke about several ways municipalities can work together to improve the highway without resorting to additional lanes. "Many towns don't have circulation plans that incorporate Route 79," Brugger said. "The towns should work together to come up with a cohesive plan for Route 79." One way to do this is by steering away from "strips," or strip malls, and replacing them with "mixed-use centers that decrease dependency on cars," Brugger said. To do this, the towns might need to work together to coordinate updates to their master plans, Brugger said. Other ways to improve traffic conditions include: + Lowering the number of "curb cuts," or commercial exits along Route 79, Thatcher said. + Improving access to the Henry Hudson Trail could also cut down on vehicle traffic, Thatcher said. + Creating "kiss and ride" areas, or drop-off sites near public transportation, Thatcher said. + Widening existing lanes and/or providing two left-turn lanes. + Eliminating bottlenecks. + Signs that direct motorists to alternative routing, such as Route 18. Thatcher encouraged the public to add their input to the study by e-mailing suggestions to info@route79corridor.com. Thatcher suggests getting suggestions to him soon, by July 6 if possible. The final presentation to the public will take place on July 19 at the Monmouth County Engineering Department, located in the Hall of Records Annex Building, downtown Freehold. For more information, or to see a copy of the slideshow presentation, go to www.route79corridor.com.