Township Council Meeting — Packet

All-Way Stop Warrant Analysis Dartmouth Road & Forest Hill Road Project No.: 251404 November 7, 2025 Page 14 of 14 • It is our recommendation that the Township consider implementing an international crosswalk pattern throughout all of its pedestrian crossings. This striping pattern should be comprised of white 24” thick bars, set 4’ on center, and no less than 8’ wide. We recommend an 8’ wide crosswalk for this area where school crossing signs are present. This pattern provides greater visibility for both pedestrians and motorists who approach the facility, greater painted surface area provides greater reflectivity during nighttime lighting conditions, and due to how the pattern is laid out it may require less upkeep costs for the Township due to reduced wear and tear. • We recommend the Township of West Orange consider refreshing the striping along Dartmouth Road & Forest Hill Road to give motorists better travel lane definition. All striping should be implemented per the guidance presented within the MUTCD; • We recommend the Township of West consider replacing older and faded signs along Dartmouth Road & Forest Hill Road with MUTCD compliant signs with newer retroreflective materials for improved visibility; • We recommend the Township of West Orange consider implementing additional speed limit signs throughout Dartmouth Road & Forest Hill Road. • Based upon our analysis, it is our engineering judgement that the implementation of an All Way STOP control will improve operation and safety for all travel modes at the intersection. 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 J. Jahr, PTP, TSOS Principal (732) 236-7557 Aaron J. Schrager, PE, PP, CME Principal JJJ/as/am Https://bvengr.sharepoint.com/sites/bvengr/proj/251404-WOT-Darthmouth-Forest-AWS/Dartmouth-Road-Forest-Hill-Road-All-Way-Stop.docx Enclosures: Technical Appendix 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

Count Name: Forest-Hill-Rd-Dartmouth-Rd BVE proje. #: 251404 Start Date: Thursday, 10/09/2025 BRIGHT VIEW ENGINEERING 70 SOUTH ORANGE AVE, SUITE 109 LIVINGSTON, NEW JERSEY 07039 251404-West-Orange-Forest-Hill-Rd-Dartmouth-Rd Township of West Orange New Jersey Thursday, October 9, 2025 Southbound Dartmouth Road Time Westbound Forest Hill Road Peds/ App. Bikes Total UT LT TH RT 6:00 AM 6:15 AM 6:30 AM 6:45 AM Hourly Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 2 7:00 AM 7:15 AM 7:30 AM 7:45 AM Hourly Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 8:00 AM 8:15 AM 8:30 AM 8:45 AM Hourly Total 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 3 1 2 1 0 4 9:00 AM 9:15 AM 9:30 AM 9:45 AM Hourly Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10:00 AM 10:15 AM 10:30 AM 10:45 AM Hourly Total 0 0 0 0 0 11:00 AM 11:15 AM 11:30 AM 11:45 AM Hourly Total 0 0 0 0 0 Northbound Dartmouth Road Peds/ App. Bikes Total UT LT TH RT 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 6 0 14 20 0 1 0 4 5 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 3 2 2 1 2 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 3 10 7 3 2 5 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Eastbound Forest Hill Road Peds/ App. Bikes Total UT LT TH RT 2 0 1 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 3 8 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 1 9 10 0 7 2 18 27 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 4 5 2 4 1 2 9 1 0 0 0 1 7 5 2 0 14 8 4 8 8 28 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 3 6 16 3 3 13 8 27 5 2 1 2 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 6 3 2 2 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 1 4 2 2 9 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 1 1 2 1 6 3 3 13 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 1 5 2 2 3 5 12 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 4 3 5 6 18 0 0 0 0 0 Peds/ App. Bikes

0 0 3 0 0 3 6 3 2 2 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 1 4 2 2 9 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 1 1 2 1 6 3 3 13 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 1 5 2 2 3 5 12 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 4 3 5 6 18 0 0 0 0 0 Peds/ App. Bikes Total Total UT LT TH RT 1 3 2 4 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 4 3 5 4 8 20 1 0 5 4 10 2 4 2 7 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 3 6 13 26 0 1 0 4 5 0 0 9 29 38 4 4 6 17 31 6 15 12 46 79 1 3 8 5 17 1 8 1 2 12 6 11 24 19 60 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 7 9 7 6 29 3 5 11 1 20 4 19 17 2 42 10 14 19 7 50 26 31 52 36 145 2 0 0 2 4 1 2 1 0 4 1 2 0 0 3 3 2 1 2 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 3 4 5 1 13 1 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 4 4 7 1 16 13 9 10 5 37 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 3 4 0 0 7 1 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 3 2 9 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 3 1 3 3 2 9 3 9 9 5 26 2 1 1 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 4 6 0 0 0 1 1 3 1 2 5 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 1 6 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 3 3 1 2 1 7 10 5 10 12 37

Count Name: Forest-Hill-Rd-Dartmouth-Rd BVE proje. #: 251404 Start Date: Thursday, 10/09/2025 BRIGHT VIEW ENGINEERING 70 SOUTH ORANGE AVE, SUITE 109 LIVINGSTON, NEW JERSEY 07039 251404-West-Orange-Forest-Hill-Rd-Dartmouth-Rd Township of West Orange New Jersey Thursday, October 9, 2025 Southbound Dartmouth Road Time Westbound Forest Hill Road Peds/ App. Bikes Total UT LT TH RT 12:00 PM 12:15 PM 12:30 PM 12:45 PM Hourly Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1:00 PM 1:15 PM 1:30 PM 1:45 PM Hourly Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2:00 PM 2:15 PM 2:30 PM 2:45 PM Hourly Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 3:00 PM 3:15 PM 3:30 PM 3:45 PM Hourly Total 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 4 4:00 PM 4:15 PM 4:30 PM 4:45 PM Hourly Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 3 Northbound Dartmouth Road Peds/ App. Bikes Total UT LT TH RT 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 3 2 1 3 9 1 1 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 3 5 1 4 4 1 10 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 6 7 5 4 5 21 2 2 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 4 3 1 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 1 10 0 3 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 2 7 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 1 0 5 Eastbound Forest Hill Road Peds/ App. Bikes Total UT LT TH RT 4 3 2 4 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 1 0 2 6 3 0 0 1 4 3 0 0 1 4 0 1 0 3 4 2 6 4 4 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 2 3 8 0 0 2 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 8 6 8 8 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 5 0 0 1 1 2 6 4 1 5 16 1 3 1 1 6 4 1 3 4 12 10 10 5 7 32 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 6 4 15 4 3 4 2 13 2 1 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 7 7 6 2 22 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 4 8 Peds/ App. Bikes Total Total UT LT TH RT 6 1 0 4 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 4 5 14 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 3 0 4 3 3 4 5 15 14 7 6 13 40 2 1 0 0 3 2 2 2 4 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 3 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 3 1 1 2 3 7 5 9 8 11 33 3 2 2 0 7 2 3 1 0 6 3 2 6 3 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 3 1 6 12 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 2 3 2 3 3 6 14 14 13 18 17 62 2 2 12 1 17 1 3 5 1 10 16 4 8 0 28 3 10 23 6 42 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 3 5 5 22 8 4 1 1 14 41 4 8 3 56 17 7 6 6 36 34 30 35 19 118 0 0 2 0 2 3 1 4 2 10 4 3 1 0 8 4 2 8 6 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 3 1 6 15 1 0 1 1 3 13 3 3 2 21 6 3 2 7 18 17 16 17 17 67

Count Name: Forest-Hill-Rd-Dartmouth-Rd BVE proje. #: 251404 Start Date: Thursday, 10/09/2025 BRIGHT VIEW ENGINEERING 70 SOUTH ORANGE AVE, SUITE 109 LIVINGSTON, NEW JERSEY 07039 251404-West-Orange-Forest-Hill-Rd-Dartmouth-Rd Township of West Orange New Jersey Thursday, October 9, 2025 Southbound Dartmouth Road Time Westbound Forest Hill Road Peds/ App. Bikes Total UT LT TH RT 5:00 PM 5:15 PM 5:30 PM 5:45 PM Hourly Total 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 6:00 PM 6:15 PM 6:30 PM 6:45 PM Hourly Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 Northbound Dartmouth Road Peds/ App. Bikes Total UT LT TH RT 1 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 3 2 2 2 9 7 5 5 10 27 1 1 0 0 2 0 3 2 0 5 0 2 1 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 2 7 7 4 5 5 21 0 0 2 0 2 2 69 186 2 0 65 4 180 6 DAILY 1 21 16 5 12 43 TOTAL 1 20 16 4 12 41 Cars 0 1 0 1 0 2 Heavy Vehicles Heavy Vehicle 0.0% 4.8% 0.0% 20.0% 0.0% 4.7% % 0 0 0 0 Bicycles 12 Pedestrians 0 Bikes on CW Eastbound Forest Hill Road Peds/ App. Bikes Total LT TH RT Peds/ App. Bikes Total 5 4 7 5 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 6 5 4 18 1 0 2 1 4 6 3 0 1 10 4 6 7 6 23 21 20 21 23 85 1 0 3 0 4 3 2 4 5 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 2 4 12 0 0 1 1 2 1 1 0 1 3 3 3 3 5 14 13 14 17 18 62 100 89 239 0 5 186 53 187 244 811 97 3 89 0 236 3 0 0 5 0 179 7 47 6 186 0 231 13 783 28 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 3.0% 0.0% 0 1 2 0 89 0 1% - 0.0% 0.0% 3.8% 11.3% 0.0% 5.3% 0 0 1 0 186 1 - 3.5% 4 347 2 LT TH RT 11 9 7 12 39 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 3 7 2 2 2 0 6 2 1 3 2 8 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 4 1 5 7 7 9 7 30 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 4 1 0 0 2 3 1 2 3 1 7 28 61 285 0 65 74 28 0 60 0 275 10 0 0 65 0 74 0 0.0% 5.8% 3.2% 0.0% 0.0% 3.5% 0 0 0 0 60 1 - Total UT UT

Count Name: Forest-Hill-Rd-Dartmouth-Rd BVE proje. #: 251404 Start Date: Thursday, 10/09/2025 BRIGHT VIEW ENGINEERING 70 SOUTH ORANGE AVE, SUITE 109 LIVINGSTON, NEW JERSEY 07039 251404-West-Orange-Forest-Hill-Rd-Dartmouth-Rd Township of West Orange New Jersey Thursday, October 9, 2025 AM Peak Hour Southbound Westbound Northbound Eastbound Dartmouth Road Forest Hill Road Dartmouth Road Forest Hill Road Total Time Peds/ App. Bikes Total UT LT TH RT 7:45 AM 0 4 0 0 0 8:00 AM 0 1 1 0 2 8:15 AM 0 0 2 0 8:30 AM 0 0 1 0 Peds/ App. Bikes Total UT LT TH RT 4 0 0 14 4 9 2 0 0 7 1 7 0 2 0 1 3 0 1 1 0 6 2 0 Peds/ App. Bikes Total UT LT TH RT Peds/ App. Bikes Total 7 0 0 13 4 29 17 46 6 0 0 7 3 4 10 26 8 11 0 0 9 5 19 14 31 1 24 0 1 7 11 17 19 52 UT LT TH RT 18 0 1 4 2 4 8 0 2 3 1 1 5 4 0 5 3 3 2 8 0 3 13 8 Peak Hour Total 0 5 4 0 3 9 0 7 26 5 23 38 0 11 23 14 14 48 0 1 36 23 69 60 155 PHF 0.00 0.31 0.50 0.00 0.38 0.56 0.00 0.29 0.46 0.31 0.64 0.53 0.00 0.55 0.44 0.44 0.44 0.50 0.00 0.25 0.69 0.52 0.59 0.79 0.75 Cars Heavy Vehicles Heavy Vehicle % Pedestrians Bikes on CW 0 0 0 - 5 4 0 0 0 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% - 3 0 9 0 0.0% - 0 0 0 - 7 25 0 1 0.0% 3.8% - 5 0 0% - 23 0 37 1 2.6% - 0 0 0 - 11 23 14 0 0 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% - 14 0 48 0 0.0% - 0 0 0 - 1 0 0.0% - 33 3 8% - 22 1 4.3% - 69 0 56 4 6.7% - 150 5 3.2% 109 0 Afternoon Peak Hour Westbound Forest Hill Road Southbound Dartmouth Road Time Peds/ App. Bikes Total UT LT TH RT 3:00 PM 0 2 2 0 1 3:15 PM 0 1 2 0 0 3:30 PM 0 1 0 0 3:45 PM 0 0 0 0 Peak Hour Total 0 4 4 PHF 0.00 0.50 Cars Heavy Vehicles Heavy Vehicle % Pedestrians Bikes on CW 0 0 0 - 3 1 25.0% - Peds/ App. Bikes Total Northbound Dartmouth Road Eastbound Forest Hill Road UT LT TH RT Peds/ App. Bikes Total 10 0 0 2 1 16 3 0 0 10 0 5 2 3 4 10 0 0 3 5 0 6 12 5 8 23 0 0 4 7 0 4 1 1 0 6 0 0 6 12 32 0 15 17 10 28 42 0 0.50 0.75 0.80 0.00 0.63 0.35 0.50 0.44 0.46 10 16 6 0 0 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% - 12 0 32 0 0.0% - 0 0 0 - 15 17 10 0 0 0 0.0% 0.0%

0 4 1 1 0 6 0 0 6 12 32 0 15 17 10 28 42 0 0.50 0.75 0.80 0.00 0.63 0.35 0.50 0.44 0.46 10 16 6 0 0 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% - 12 0 32 0 0.0% - 0 0 0 - 15 17 10 0 0 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% - 28 0 42 0 0.0% - UT LT TH RT 4 0 3 6 1 4 3 0 3 4 3 1 0 1 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 5 1 0 1 8 0 10 16 0.50 0.00 0.25 0.50 0.00 0.83 0.67 4 0 0% - 0 0 0.0% - 1 0 7 1 12.5% - 0 0 0 - Total RT Peds/ App. Bikes Total 9 8 41 17 34 3 4 4 7 30 5 1 8 6 35 5 1 3 6 19 0 22 14 56 36 118 0.00 0.00 0.61 0.44 0.34 0.53 0.84 0 0 0 - 0 21 13 0 1 1 0.0% 4.5% 7.1% - 56 0 34 2 5.6% - 115 3 2.5% 97 0 UT LT TH

Count Name: Forest-Hill-Rd-Dartmouth-Rd BVE proje. #: 251404 Start Date: Thursday, 10/09/2025 BRIGHT VIEW ENGINEERING 70 SOUTH ORANGE AVE, SUITE 109 LIVINGSTON, NEW JERSEY 07039 PM Peak Hour Southbound Dartmouth Road Time Westbound Forest Hill Road Northbound Dartmouth Road Eastbound Forest Hill Road Total UT LT TH RT Peds/ App. Bikes Total UT LT TH RT Peds/ App. Bikes Total UT LT TH RT Peds/ App. Bikes Total UT LT TH RT Peds/ App. Bikes Total 5:00 PM 1 5:15 PM 0 5:30 PM 0 5:45 PM 0 Peak Hour Total 1 PHF 0.25 0 1 0 0 1 0.25 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 0 1 0 1 0.25 1 1 0 0 2 0.50 0 1 0 0 1 0.25 3 2 2 2 9 0.75 7 5 5 10 27 0.68 1 1 0 0 2 0.50 0 3 2 0 5 0.42 11 9 7 12 39 0.81 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 1 1 2 3 7 0.58 2 2 2 0 6 0.75 2 1 3 2 8 0.67 0 0 1 0 1 0.25 5 4 7 5 21 0.75 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 0 0 1 1 0.25 3 6 5 4 18 0.75 1 0 2 1 4 0.50 6 3 0 1 10 0.42 4 6 7 6 23 0.82 21 20 21 23 85 0.92 Cars Heavy Vehicles Heavy Vehicle % Pedestrians Bikes on CW 1 0 0.0% - 0 0 0% - 0 0 0.0% - 1 0 2 0 0.0% - 1 0 0 - 9 26 2 0 1 0 0.0% 3.7% 0.0% - 4 1 38 1 2.6% - 0 0 0 - 7 6 8 0 0 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% - 1 0 21 0 0.0% - 0 0 0 - 1 18 4 0 0 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% - 9 1 23 0 0.0% - 84 1 1.2% 15 2 1 0 0 -

Count Name: Forest-Hill-Rd-Dartmouth-Rd BVE proje. #: 251404 Start Date: Thursday, 10/09/2025 BRIGHT VIEW ENGINEERING 70 SOUTH ORANGE AVE, SUITE 109 LIVINGSTON, NEW JERSEY 07039 Total Vehicles On Leg Vehicles Entering 43 Intersection Vehicles Exiting Intersection 256 4 1 5 Southbound 16 20 0 1 16 21 1 0 1 12 0 12 Cars Heavy Total Cars Heavy Total 186 0 186 28 0 28 0 0 0 180 6 186 5 0 5 65 4 69 179 7 186 2 0 2 47 6 53 60 0 60 Daily Volumes Cars Heavy Total 89 0 89 0 65 74 97 0 0 0 3 0 65 74 100 Northbound Vehicles Entering Vehicles Exiting 138 Intersection 239 Intersection Total Vehicles On Leg 377 Westbound Vehicles Entering Intersection Total 244 Vehicles on Leg 500 Eastbound Cars Heavy Total 151 Vehicles Exiting 108 Intersection Vehicles Entering Intersection Total 285 Vehicles on Leg 594 Vehicles Exiting Intersection 309

2846-24 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 28 , SECTIONS 1-11 OF THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WEST ORANGE AND ESTABLISHING CERTAIN STANDARDS, PROCEDURES AND FEES FOR TREE PROTECTION, REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT Deleted: REPEALING AND REPLACING CHAPTER 25… Deleted: 27 Formatted: Font: 11 pt, Bold WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY that Chapter 25, Sections 27 of the Revised General Deleted: CHAPTER 28 FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION¶ (TREE PROTECTION, REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT)… Ordinances of the Township of West Orange be and are hereby repealed and replaced with the Formatted: Font: 11 pt, Bold newly established Chapter 28 Sections 1-11 of the Revised General Ordinances of the Township Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.13", Hanging: 0", Right: 0.18", Line spacing: Multiple 1 li BE IT OR DAINED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE TOWNSHIP OF of West Orange, which establishes a Chapter dedicated to environmental protection in the Township of West Orange, and shall state as follows: Deleted: ofthe Deleted: ofthe Deleted: ofWest §28-1: Title This Section shall be known as the "Tree Protection, Removal and Replacement Ordinance of the Township of West Orange" Deleted: ofthe Deleted: ofWest §28-2: Findings and Purpose a. A 2023 study commissioned by the Township of West Orange found that the tree canopy in West Orange has been dramatically declining and will continue to decline in future years without replanting and renewing protections for the tree canopy. The Township of West Orange finds that: trees are among the Township's most valuable natural resource assets, greatly enhancing the appearance of the Township and contributing to its suburban residential character; the integrity of Township and regional water resources is substantially affected by development on constrained land (e.g., steep slopes, wetlands and reduced depth to groundwater), tree removal, soil disturbance, stormwater management and the general use of land resources; the preservation, protection and planting of trees aids in the stabilization of soil by the prevention of erosion and sedimentation, reduces stormwater runoff and the potential damage it may create, increases groundwater recharge thus enhancing the groundwater supply to streams and wetlands and the yield of water supply wells, aids in the removal of pollutants from the air and assists in the generation of oxygen, provides a buffer