Township Council Agenda — Packet

Safety Study Mountain Way South & Mountain Way Project No.: 241193 February 4, 2025 Page 5 of 7 RECOMMENDATIONS It is our recommendation that a STOP sign be installed on the Mountain Way South approach at the study intersection. Treatments which can be considered include but are not limited to: Sight Distance Improvements – At the intersection of Mountain Way South & Mountain Way, the line of sight of approaching vehicles was found to be obstructed due to foliage and the intersection’s geometry. We observed that if vehicles stop closer to the mainline on Mountain Way, then they would have clear visibility of the traffic conditions at the intersection and would be able to safely make a turn onto Mountain Way. It is our opinion that if the tree and other foliage at the corners of the intersection are cleared, then the sight distance can be improved. We recommend that the Township cooperate with its residents to trim overgrown foliage and clear obstruction from sight triangles, as reasonable. FIGURE 3 – Intersection Sight Distance 70 South Orange Avenue, Suite 109 Livingston, New Jersey 07039 C: (732) 236-7557 T: (973) 228-0999 F: (201) 753-3904 BrightViewEngineering.com PO Box 99 Roseland, NJ 07068

Safety Study Mountain Way South & Mountain Way Project No.: 241193 February 4, 2025 Page 6 of 7 STOP Sign Installation – A STOP control on the minor-road approach should be considered as per Section 2B.11-Minor Road Stop Control of the MUTCD (11 th Edition). The STOP sign would provide the appropriate traffic control at the study intersection to improve safety and circulation of traffic. We recommend that the Township install a STOP sign on Mountain Way South at the study intersection. The installation of the STOP sign should be implemented per the guidance presented within Chapter 2B-Regulatory Signs, Barricades, and Gates of the MUTCD (11 th Edition). FIGURE 4 – STOP Sign Installation Striping and Signages – Given the wide curb radius at the study intersection and roadway geometry, we recommend the implementation of additional striping to support the installation of the stop sign. We recommend that the Township provide a stop bar and double yellow line striping on Mountain Way South to support the stop sign. Sidewalk and Crosswalk Markings – We recommend that the Township consider installing sidewalks and marked crosswalks within the study area to improve pedestrian safety and circulation. The implementation of the roadway striping, and signs should follow the guidance presented within the latest edition of the MUTCD. 70 South Orange Avenue, Suite 109 Livingston, New Jersey 07039 C: (732) 236-7557 T: (973) 228-0999 F: (201) 753-3904 BrightViewEngineering.com PO Box 99 Roseland, NJ 07068

Safety Study Mountain Way South & Mountain Way Project No.: 241193 February 4, 2025 Page 7 of 7 SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONS It is our recommendation, based upon our field observations, the guidance from MUTCD and Title 39, and the existing conditions, that the Township of West Orange should consider the installation of a STOP sign and additional striping at the intersection of Mountain Way South & Mountain Way. Should you have any questions or require additional information please do not hesitate to contact me at (732) 236-7557. Very truly yours, Bright View Engineering John Jahr, P.T.P., T.S.O.S. Principal Joseph A. Fishinger, Jr., PE, PP, PTOE Director of Traffic Engineering JJJ/am Https://bvengr.sharepoint.com/sites/bvengr/proj/241193-WOT-StopControl/7-Reports-Analysis/Stop-Control/13-Mountain-Way-S-Mountain-Way.docxs 70 South Orange Avenue, Suite 109 Livingston, New Jersey 07039 C: (732) 236-7557 T: (973) 228-0999 F: (201) 753-3904 BrightViewEngineering.com PO Box 99 Roseland, NJ 07068

February 4, 2025 VIA EMAIL Zayibeth Carballo, PE, PLS, PP, CME, CFM, CFS Director, Municipal Engineer Department of Engineering Township of West Orange 25 Lakeside Avenue West Orange, New Jersey 07052 Re: Safety Study Sylvan Place & Burnett Terrace West Orange Township, Essex County, New Jersey BVE Project No.: 241193 Dear Ms. Carballo: Bright View Engineering was tasked by the Township of West Orange (the Township here-in) with performing an evaluation of the existing traffic controls at the intersection of Sylvan Place & Burnett Terrace. This analysis was performed to assess the safety conditions at the intersection and the installation of a stop control on Sylvan Place. Bright View Engineering (BVE here-in), in coordination with the Township, collected data during various site visits, reviewed crash information provided by the Township and reviewed data provided by NJDOT’s Safety Voyager to assess the existing conditions at the study location. The collected data and observations were utilized to determine if the existing traffic conditions in the project area justify the implementation of the new traffic pattern. Our methodology conforms with the provisions set forth in NJSA Title 39:4-8, Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) literature, and the applicable requirements of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The following points were considered within the scope of our study:     An inventory of the roadway facilities in the project vicinity, including the existing physical and traffic operating characteristics; Crash data along roadway segments interconnecting the study intersections; Recommendations; Summary and Conclusions. 70 South Orange Avenue, Suite 109 Livingston, New Jersey 07039 C: (732) 236-7557 T: (973) 228-0999 F: (201) 753-3904 BrightViewEngineering.com P.O. Box 99 Roseland, NJ 07068

Safety Study Sylvan Place & Burnett Terrace Project No.: 241193 February 4, 2025 Page 2 of 7 EXISTING CONDITIONS Multiple field investigations were conducted to obtain an inventory of existing roadway conditions, posted traffic controls, adjacent land uses, lane configurations of the roadways in the study area, and existing vehicular and pedestrian traffic patterns. The following is a brief description of the roadways: The intersection of Sylvan Place & Burnett Terrace is a 3-legged unsignalized intersection. There is no traffic control at the intersection. Sylvan Place is an east to west local street under the jurisdiction of the Township of West Orange which spans 0.04 miles between Mountain Way and Burnett Terrace. There are not NJDOT Straight-Line Diagrams available for this roadway. There is no speed limit posted along the roadway. It is our opinion that a 25 MPH speed limit is appropriate and conforms with the guidance set forth within the New Jersey Statutes Title 39. Sylvan Place provides an approximate pavement width of 30-ft and allows for bi-directional travel with one travel lane for each approach. On-street parking is permitted along both sides of the roadway. The land use along Sylvan Place is generally residential in nature. Burnett Terrace is a north to south local street under the jurisdiction of the Township of West Orange which spans 0.47 miles between Walker Road and the Cul-de-sac located at the bottom of Burnett Terrace. There are no NJDOT Straight-Line Diagrams available for this roadway. Burnett Terrace is STOP-controlled on its intersection with Walker Road. The speed limit on the roadway is posted at 25 MPH. It is our opinion that a 25 MPH speed limit is appropriate and conforms with the guidance set forth within the New Jersey Statutes Title 39. Burnett Terrace provides an approximate pavement width of 30-ft and allows for bi-directional travel with one travel lane for each approach. On-street parking is permitted along both sides of the roadway. The land use along Burnett Terrace is generally residential in nature. . 70 South Orange Avenue, Suite 109 Livingston, New Jersey 07039 C: (732) 236-7557 T: (973) 228-0999 F: (201) 753-3904 BrightViewEngineering.com PO Box 99 Roseland, NJ 07068

Safety Study Sylvan Place & Burnett Terrace Project No.: 241193 February 4, 2025 Page 3 of 7 FIGURE 1 STUDY LOCATION Sylvan Place & Burnett Terrace West Orange Township, Essex County 70 South Orange Avenue, Suite 109 Livingston, New Jersey 07039 C: (732) 236-7557 T: (973) 228-0999 F: (201) 753-3904 BrightViewEngineering.com FIGURE 1 PO Box 99 Roseland, NJ 07068

Safety Study Sylvan Place & Burnett Terrace Project No.: 241193 February 4, 2025 Page 4 of 7 DATA COLLECTION CRASH HISTORY DATA BVE obtained crash data from the Township and through the NJDOT’s Safety Voyager. We were provided with a data range from April 2022 through May 2022. These are shown in Table 1 below: Table 1 – Crash Data 04/22 to 05/22 DATE 04/16/22 05/16/22 STREET Burnett Terrace Sylvan Place CROSS STREET Sylvan Place Burnett Terrace TYPE Backing Encroachment Circumstance Failed to Yield ROW Improper Turning Based upon the provided crash data, we observe that two (2) incidents was reported at the study intersection. The incident was not contributed to speeding but improper passing and failure to yield to right-of-way. FIELD OBSERVATIONS BVE conducted field data collection and performed vehicle runs along the study area. We observed that presently, there are no traffic controls at the study intersection. The study area is a residential neighborhood with primarily single-family housing. We observed that the horizontal and vertical sight lines at the intersection of Sylvan Place & Burnett Terrace are obstructed due to overgrown foliage and roadway’s grade. Sylvan Place has an uphill grade as approaching the intersection. FIGURE 2 – Sylvan Place & Burnett Terrace 70 South Orange Avenue, Suite 109 Livingston, New Jersey 07039 C: (732) 236-7557 T: (973) 228-0999 F: (201) 753-3904 BrightViewEngineering.com PO Box 99 Roseland, NJ 07068

Safety Study Sylvan Place & Burnett Terrace Project No.: 241193 February 4, 2025 Page 5 of 7 RECOMMENDATIONS It is our recommendation that a STOP sign be installed on the Sylvan Place approach at the study intersection. Treatments which can be considered include but are not limited to: Sight Distance Improvements – At the intersection of Sylvan Place & Burnett Terrace, the line of sight of approaching vehicles was found to be obstructed. We observed that if vehicles stop closer to the mainline on Burnett Terrace, then they would have clear visibility of the traffic conditions at the intersection and would be able to safely make a turn onto Burnett Terrace. It is our opinion that if the tree and other foliage at the corners of the intersection are cleared, then the sight distance can be improved. We recommend that the Township cooperate with its residents to trim overgrown foliage and clear obstruction from sight triangles, as reasonable. FIGURE 3 – Intersection Sight Distance 70 South Orange Avenue, Suite 109 Livingston, New Jersey 07039 C: (732) 236-7557 T: (973) 228-0999 F: (201) 753-3904 BrightViewEngineering.com PO Box 99 Roseland, NJ 07068

Safety Study Sylvan Place & Burnett Terrace Project No.: 241193 February 4, 2025 Page 6 of 7 STOP Sign Installation – A STOP control on the minor-road approach should be considered as per Section 2B.11-Minor Road Stop Control of the MUTCD (11 th Edition). The STOP sign would provide the appropriate traffic control at the study intersection to improve safety and circulation of traffic. We recommend that the Township install a STOP sign on Sylvan Place at the study intersection. The installation of the STOP sign should be implemented per the guidance presented within Chapter 2B-Regulatory Signs, Barricades, and Gates of the MUTCD (11 th Edition). FIGURE 4 – STOP Sign Installation BURNETT TERRACE Striping and Signages – Given the wide curb radius at the study intersection, we recommend the implementation of additional striping to support the installation of the stop sign. We recommend that the Township provide a stop bar and double yellow line striping on Sylvan Place to support the stop sign. Sidewalk and Crosswalk Markings – We recommend that the Township maintain their sidewalks and update their marked crosswalks within the study area to improve pedestrian safety and circulation. The implementation of the roadway striping, and signs should follow the guidance presented within the latest edition of the MUTCD. 70 South Orange Avenue, Suite 109 Livingston, New Jersey 07039 C: (732) 236-7557 T: (973) 228-0999 F: (201) 753-3904 BrightViewEngineering.com PO Box 99 Roseland, NJ 07068

Safety Study Sylvan Place & Burnett Terrace Project No.: 241193 February 4, 2025 Page 7 of 7 SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONS It is our recommendation, based upon our field observations, the guidance from MUTCD and Title 39, and the existing conditions, that the Township of West Orange should consider the installation of a STOP sign and additional striping at the intersection of Sylvan Place & Burnett Terrace. Should you have any questions or require additional information please do not hesitate to contact me at (732) 236-7557. Very truly yours, Bright View Engineering John Jahr, P.T.P., T.S.O.S. Principal Joseph A. Fishinger, Jr., PE, PP, PTOE Director of Traffic Engineering JJJ/am Https://bvengr.sharepoint.com/sites/bvengr/proj/241193-WOT-StopControl/7-Reports-Analysis/Stop-Control/10-Sylvan-Pl-Burnett-Terr.docxs 70 South Orange Avenue, Suite 109 Livingston, New Jersey 07039 C: (732) 236-7557 T: (973) 228-0999 F: (201) 753-3904 BrightViewEngineering.com PO Box 99 Roseland, NJ 07068