|
Pedestrian Killed On Chambers Bridge Prompts Road Safety Discussion
By Catherine Galioto
Marked by grief over a pedestrian's death, the township council's weekly meeting last week focused on ways to improve traffic conditions on Chambers Bridge Road, where a 74-year-old resident died last Monday.
The resident, William Gregson, 74, of the Forge Pond Apartments, had been crossing the road outside the crosswalks after dark when he was struck by a police car.
Commentators said maybe there should be better lighting. Maybe the township needs to figure out how to deter people from crossing roads where ever they choose. The council discussed a long list of "maybes" for how to improve safety along roads such as Chambers Bridge.
But the township cannot take action on its own because Chambers Bridge is a county road, officials said. It can only take its suggestions to the county for approval. We're going to do our best to make the county understand," Council President Stephen Acropolis said.
Residents and township officials spoke out at Tuesday's caucus meeting regarding last week's death. Officials said Gregson was not using a crosswalk to get across Chambers Bridge Road and was wearing dark clothing as he was struck by an on-duty police vehicle. The officer, Brick Patrolman Scott Smith, was on duty in his patrol car southbound on Chambers Bridge Road when he hit Gregson, who was later pronounced dead.
Officials said this was the fourth incident in three years in that area.
"One is too many," Mayor Dan Kelly said.
Resident Melanie Briggs is friends with the deceased's family. She said something more needs to be done.
"This is a life that was taken," Briggs said. "I'm tired of waiting until someone dies, for the government to do anything."
While the road may be under county control, the township pledged to send a stronger message to pedestrians regarding the use of crosswalks to cross the street. Township Administrator Scott Pezarras urged pedestrians to push the crosswalk buttons at an intersection's traffic light. That adds 15 extra seconds before traffic signals change, giving more time to walk across the busy thoroughfare.
Overall, residents and officials called for better lighting at crosswalks, and reflective tape.
Neighboring Toms River lined the Route 37 median with fence to discourage crossing the highway outside intersections. Officials said they'd like to replicate that in Brick.
Resident Nan Coll asked officials to try and use the crosswalks as seniors living in the apartments do. She often sees residents, some of whom use wheelchairs and motorized scooters, get from their home to cross the street to neighboring shopping centers. The task comes with great difficulty.
"In no way is it pedestrian friendly," Coll said. She called for more sidewalks and a center apron in the intersections so walkers have a place to stand in case the light turns as they are halfway across the street.
Resident Dominic Rappocio said the township's roads are becoming less safe for pedestrians. Roads need to be downsized, he said, particularly Chambers Bridge.
"You are talking about making this your town center, but it's not a pedestrian road," Rappocio said. Without that, he predicts more people will be killed there or crossing Route 70.
| 
