Editorial- Suburban Trends
Saturday, December 11, 2005
While it is understandable that in the past Ringwood's governing body has gone back and forth on how to resolve the traffic conditions at the bottom of Skyline Drive, it is time to make a decision. Passaic County backs the idea of a taffic circle; others prefer a light
Perhaps financescould sway some votes. Passaic County seems willing to pay for one or possibly two traffic circles, while with a traffic light the borough would probably have to fund at least part of the costs.
And traffic lights can be expensive (not that you can assign a cost to public safety).
The real factor here, however, is time. As of last week, borough council members were calling for a study on the potential impacts. The problem is that taking time to study the matter further will not only delay improvements but increase the cost as well.
The county is not exactly known for its swift action. In 1999, West Milford was told that Dead Man's Curve (a section of Greenwood Lake Turnpike) would be "fast tracked," which at that time meant 2003 for the project's completion. It's almost 2006 and there's still no start date for the project. Also the project was slated to cost $6 million. The cost currently hovers around $10 million.
Ringwood can expect more of the same. Improving Skyline Drive can eaasily take the county five years from start to finish.
But before it can even contemplate a project for the beleagered intersection, someone's got to make a decision. That's why the mayor and council are elected.
The mayor to her credit seems willing. She notes that there were 12 accidents at the Skyline Drive-Erskine Road intersection in 2004 and 2005, with three police officers being hit directing traffic. Indecision, she says, is not an option.
We agree.