CREST HAVEN – A Swainton reader recently contacted the Herald about the excessive wait at the Garden State Parkway Exit 11 traffic signals. He said he had witnessed several motorists who, after a long wait, drove through the red light, possibly endangering others on Crest Haven Road who had the green light and proceeded at regular speed.
The Herald posed the question to County Engineer Dale Foster, the following is his response:
Currently the traffic signal is still under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and their contractor. Yes, it is a long light; the cycle length is 130 seconds.
When you are waiting for the green signal with light traffic volumes, it seems like an eternity. The county has complained about the long cycle lengths.
The Turnpike Authority’s designer has developed a plan to reduce the cycle length to 105 seconds. The contractor was working this week (Aug. 17) to make the changes to the signal system to permit the new cycle length.
In the meantime, the county has one of its traffic consultants looking at the phasing and timing of the traffic signal to see if other changes can be made to make the signal more responsive to the traffic demands, particularly in the low-volume hours.
