COURT HOUSE — Freeholder Gerald Thornton still could not understand why Shunpike Road’s speed limit could not drop to 40 mph, as a citizens’ group wanted. Instead, it will decrease, in places, from 50 mph to 45 mph.
“I don’t see the big deal limiting to 40 mph that entire road,” said Thornton.
“It’s tough,” replied County Engineer Dale Foster, “If you drop the speed, you have more passing. That happens, as the speed limit goes down, there is more passing. It’s a Catch-22 situation. Passing is more dangerous if you reduce the speed, but you are still left with having to provide passing.”
“Do we have to provide passing?” asked Freeholder Susan Sheppard.
Foster replied there were a number of streets intersecting Shunpike with cars entering.
“This are is not as heavily developed as the northern end of Shunpike,” Foster added.
Thornton attended the traffic engineer’s presentation to Middle Township residents and noted, “They made good points. My personal opinion is 40 mph is probably the right thing to do. But you’ve got to go with the standards.”
Regardless, freeholders voted Tue. Feb. 22 to lower the speed limit on Shunpike Road in Middle Township (C.R. 620) on parts of the busy roadway that parallels and is west of Route 9.
The action was taken following a massive citizens’ petition sought a 40 mph speed limit and a traffic signal at Oyster Road at Shunpike. Prior to lowering the limit, the county hired a traffic engineer to study the number of vehicles and speed of vehicles using the road.
Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. of Toms River conducted that study in accordance with the current edition of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, state regulations and recognized industry standards, according to the resolution.
County Engineer Dale Foster reviewed Stantec’s report and concurred with its recommendations for modifications to the current speed zones.
As a result: Speed limits for both directions of traffic along Shunpike Road in Middle Township will be:
• Zone 1: 50 mph between Indian Trail Road (CR 618) and 500 feet south of Oyster Road.
• Zone 2: 45 mph between 500 feet south of Oyster Road and 950 feet north of Martin Drive.
• Zone 3: 40 mph between 950 feet north of Martin Drive and Dias Creek Road (CR 612).
Additionally, regulatory and warning signs will be erected and maintained to state the new speed limits.
The current speed zones along Shunpike Road were established by the county on March 24, 1984. Zone 1 was 50 mph between North Wildwood Road (Indian Trail Road) and 950 feet north of Martin Drive. Zone 2 was 40 mph between 950 feet north of Martin Drive and Dias Creek Road.
The distance between Oyster Road and the break between speed zones 1 and 2 is approximately 2,800 feet.
“Land in use for residential purposes has increased significantly since the original speed survey data was compiled, resulting in nearly continuous development in the section with the exception of approximately 1,000 feet in the vicinity of Painted Acres Drive on the southbound side,” the report stated.
“The area south of Oyster Road remains predominately undeveloped with the Cape May County Municipal Utility Authority’s recycling facility and the Burleigh Storage representing the majority of development in this section.
“The centerline markings for this roadway include both passing and no passing zones. No passing zones (NPZ) have been marked in the vicinity of the curves near Oyster Road and Aspen Drive. The NPZ for northbound traffic near Oyster Road begins approximately 800 feet south of the intersection and for southbound traffic approximately 720 feet north of the intersection. The NPZ markings appear to be appropriate based on the curvature of the roadway and the prevailing speeds in the area,” the report stated.
“The current standard practice is to establish the speed limit for a road based on the assumption that the large majority of drivers travel at a speed that is reasonable and prudent for that roadway, balancing travel time and safety. This majority is represented as the 85th percentile speed. Posted speed limits are most effective when the posted speed is within the 10 mph pace,” the report continued.
Cape May County personnel compiled speed check data.
Several speed samplings were taken at mid-day, mid-week times during October and November 2010. Some residents have told freeholders that the study was done when much of the road was under construction with new gas lines being placed, and was therefore not a true record of traffic flow.
The speed check data revealed that the 85th percentile speeds for both northbound and southbound traffic along Shunpike Road in the vicinity of Oyster Road was approximately 50 mph.
“Based on input from local residents and elected officials and the desire to improve safety in the vicinity of the intersection of Shunpike Road and Oyster Road it is reasonable to apply the optional factors when determining the most appropriate speed limit for the section of roadway under consideration.
“Given that significant development has occurred along Shunpike Road between Martin Drive and Oyster Road and there has been occasional intersection related crashes at the intersection of Shunpike Road and Oyster Road, it is recommended that consideration be given to reducing the speed limit to 45 mph,” the report stated.
The revised speed limit of 45 mph will effectively be within 5 mph of the 85th-percentile speed and will fall within the 10 mph pace of traffic along the roadway.
Oversize 45 mph regulatory signs should be installed in both directions of travel for the new 45 mph speed zone, Stantec advised.
“Once the speed limit signing has been revised, Middle Township Police responsibility to strictly enforce the traffic regulations in the area should be emphasized,” the engineers recommended.
Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 Ext 28 or at: al.c@cmcherald.com
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