CP editorial on Route 70 accident and need for more safety measures

[Roxane Shinn]

Courier Post Editorial

December 21, 2009

Additional safety measures needed

Crash that killed Air Force pilot should spur officials to study pedestrian safety.

Tragic is the only way to describe the death of Air Force Lt. Col. Mark C. Jennings of Cherry Hill. The 44-year-old Air Force veteran, who piloted an F-16 fighter jet in the Iraq war lost his life Monday not in battle, but while simply trimming a tree on his front lawn.

Jennings' front lawn happens to face busy Route 70 in the Erlton neighborhood, where homes and small businesses sit close to the fast-moving state highway.

Around 10 a.m. Monday, a 2006 Pontiac GTO driven by 41-year-old Stephen Moffa, also of Cherry Hill, went veering off of Route 70 at a high rate of speed, according to witnesses. Moffa's car slammed into a utility pole and into Jennings, who was thrown some 200 feet through the air. Moffa also was killed in the accident, which is still under investigation.

An accident like this ought to give officials pause. As random as it was in nature, there must be steps that can be taken to further protect residents and pedestrians along Route 70 and other major roads.

Just this week, Sustainable Cherry Hill, an organization that promotes clean energy and waste reduction in the township, formed a 10-person task force to look at traffic congestion in the township. They want to find ways to make Cherry Hill a safer place to walk and bike. They also want to find ways to get more cars off the road.

The panel must also look closely at safety measures, particularly where Cherry Hill's busiest roads, such as Route 70, Route 38, Haddonfield Road, Kings Highway, etc. are flanked by residences.

What caused Moffa to speed up and swerve off the road Monday may be something that a reduced speed limit or additional signage would never have prevented.

But most Erlton residents, particularly those who live right on Route 70, would surely agree that the dangerous stretch of Route 70 could somehow be safer and more pedestrian friendly. Residents elsewhere in the township who live along major roads probably feel the same way.

Cherry Hill is one of the most congested communities in South Jersey. It is also one of the most populous. The township should continually be looking for new ways to safeguard residents, particularly kids, from all the traffic.

[helen kushner]

Why a new 'task force'l?  did the Route 70 Safety group disband?  are the  two groups merging? 

[Ramin Abbaszadeh]

Great question Helen. The old saying "how many task force will take to create a safer Rt 70?

Sent from my iPhone

[Jim Morris]

Phil,

 

I understand everyone’s concern with safety and agree that is one of the important issues regarding Rt. 70. But I think there is absolutely no possibility you will get the speed limit reduced and enforced to 35 mph. It would create more traffic congestion and almost nobody would want to drive at 35 mph on Rt. 70. The only thing it would do is result in many more speeding tickets. I doubt if you could find anywhere in the state with a 4 lane highway with a 35 mph speed limit. I think you should drop that proposal and work on your other ideas that are more achievable.

 

Jim

 

From: philguerrierisr [mailto:phi...@integratedmechanicalservices.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2009 8:03 AM
To: 'Ramin Abbaszadeh'; 'helen kushner'
Cc: 'Roxane Shinn'; 'Bob Esposito'; 'Chris Onken'; 'Dayla Fusco'; 'Doris Carey'; 'Fred Astmann'; 'George Hickman'; 'Greg Bruno'; 'Jim Morris'; 'Joyce Alexander Walker'; 'Kalitan, Marlyn (Philadelphia)'; 'Mary Beth Neiman'; 'Rich Hoffmann'; 'Roxane Shinn'; 'Susanne Bromke'; 'Theresa Mohrfeld'; 'Tina Nugent'; 'Walt Zahn'; 'Yoli Lorenz'; saf...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: CP editorial on Route 70 accident and need for more safety measures

 

I’m turning it down to a slow simmer.  Mr. Daniels also went on record in 07 stating that 70 should be widened.  As most Erlton residents realize from 07 until Mr. Jennings tragic death, we have had three fatal accidents and one near fatal.  All except one, involved pedestrians, that accident involved a bicycle rider.  With the exception of the bike rider all others were in broad daylight and not even inclement conditions.  Most of us have been involved in this issue for years, and speaking for myself I have lost my patience long ago.  I spoke with Roxane previously, and learned the make up of this new group.  I do not question their motivation, but do question possible suggestions from individuals that do not live in the area and some that don’t live in NJ, nor have knowledge of the history of this issue.  We all can treat this as a classroom activity and be very surgical as to a solution that can address all issues, but in my opinion we have too many decisions made, that only handle the problem in a vacuum and not in the REAL WORLD.

We can not legislate common sense, but we can make it harder to act irresponsibly.

• Reduce the speed limit to 35mph
• Enforce the existing traffic laws

These actions have very little impact on the budget and are effective.

 

I urge whoever has the time to insert themselves into this new group to do so.  I get the feeling that this group is already knocking the corners off a rock on their way to a solution.  Do not lose your energies on this issue.

For those of us that live in Erlton and traverse Route 70 on a daily basis we must view Col Jennings death as a “there before the grace of God go I” event.

 

None of you are shrinking violets, and have chosen to be activists in your community for the greater good of your families and your neighbors; please continue.

MERRY CHRISTMAS; HAPPY HANUKKAH; AND A MUCH BETTER NEW YEAR!

Philip Guerrieri Sr.

Integrated Mechanical Services, Inc.

400 Stenton Ave. Suite 110

Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462

Phone:  610-260-6030

Fax:      610-260-6032

 

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[nugent...@comcast.net]

Good morning and happy holidays to all!

I live in Wexford Leas, one brother lives in Erlton and another brother lives in Siena off Springdale Road.  We grew up in the first house off 70 in Wexford, when 70 was pretty much a country road and there were no lights along Springdale. Cherry Hill has changed dramatically since we moved here (a half century ago--ugh!) and not all of the changes have benefitted Township residents.

Speeding and the simple volume of traffic are what I think are critical issues.  Anybody who lives near the Rt. 70 corridor is affected by this traffic and the problems include noise and pollution.  Unfortunately for some neighborhoods, there is no buffer between the homes and the highway.  Erlton has it particularly bad.  Wexford is affected too.

I am amazed to hear people involved in our local government advocate for bigger highways and greater accessibility for visitors to our town.  I drive up and down Rt. 70 ten times a day and frankly, I don't care if somebody shopping at Wegman's from Shamong takes ten minutes extra to get home.  And isn't the purpose of a bigger Route 70 to benefit visitors to our town?  We all know, or at least suspect, what the motivations are with these positions and, again, they are not intended for the benefit of Cherry Hill residents.

I have been tangentially involved in your group and I do not know whether you have meetings.  If you do not, can I propose that we schedule a meeting to see where we are in terms of knowledge, etc.?  It seems that with the changes at the Marlton Circle, bigger changes are anticipated for Cherry Hill. I, for one, intend to fight this.

If you have been meeting, would you kindly fill me in on where you are in terms of these issues?

Thank you to all of you, Roxane, Phil, Bob, and the many others who advocate for Cherry Hill residents.  Your efforts are greatly appreciated by many of us.

Tina Nugent  

[Ramin Abbaszadeh]

Jim and all:

 

If I am not mistaken, Kings Highway is a state highway with varying speeds. In Haddonfield and Moorestown, though not four lane, the speed limit is 25 miles per hour. I think what it matters is not the number of lanes rather than the use of the road. Similar to Haddonfield and Moorestown, Erlton and Barclay area is comprised of small retail, offices and residential property as well as churches and nearby schools. This condition generates a lot of pedestrian use, unlike Rt 38, 130 or portion of the 70 between Pennsauken and Grove Street or east of I-295.  In many town, when I travel along a state road, when the road comes to a town the speed limit drops to 35 or 25. So I do not understand why that could not be an option here!

 

All along this town has been faced with only two choices:

 

1-      Reduce speed and other safety regulations in certain area of Rt 70 like Erlton, Barclay and others

2-      Make the 9 + miles stretch of the Rt 70 through cherry hill six lanes, put barrier and do away with residential and small retails along Erlton and Barclay

 

We know what the second option will do to this town. It is like driving a copper nail into the root of a tree. We only have to look at the towns along 130, 38  for example.

 

Ramin

[helen kushner]

well stated, Phil.  We have "speed reminder signs"  for auto traffic on Covered Bridge Road in Barclay.  It is a major route from Kresson Rd. to Rt. 70.  It is also a route right through a residential district!  And so is Rt. 70!  this madness to get from one place to another in a matter of minutes, together with disregard of both speed and civility, requires either a very substantial toll gate, or very clear signage and policing, as the world enters Cherry Hill to make its way through Erlton and the rest of our development, both residential and business.   Helen

----- Original Message -----

From: philguerrierisr

To: 'Jim Morris' ; 'Ramin Abbaszadeh' ; 'helen kushner'

Cc: 'Roxane Shinn' ; 'Bob Esposito' ; 'Chris Onken' ; 'Dayla Fusco' ; 'Doris Carey' ; 'Fred Astmann' ; 'George Hickman' ; 'Greg Bruno' ; 'Joyce Alexander Walker' ; 'Kalitan, Marlyn (Philadelphia)' ; 'Mary Beth Neiman' ; 'Rich Hoffmann' ; 'Roxane Shinn' ; 'Susanne Bromke' ; 'Theresa Mohrfeld' ; 'Tina Nugent' ; 'Walt Zahn' ; 'Yoli Lorenz' ; saf...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2009 10:05 AM

Subject: RE: CP editorial on Route 70 accident and need for more safety measures

The White Horse Pike (Federal Highway) thru Egg Harbor City, Audubon and other towns. 

There are always exceptions to every rule that government establishes.  Personally I think speed limits are suggested guidelines that have penalties for violation.  When it’s raining, snowing, sleeting, must we travel at the posted speed limit????????????  When the road is empty can we exceed the speed limit????????????  Most of us note the limits, and then travel as we think, using the limit as a guide.  If we exceed the limit, and are stopped, or are in an accident, then we must suffer the consequences of using bad judgment.  Like it or not the circles were obstacles to speeding; however, caused accidents because the rules to negotiate a circle were complicated.

We can argue the congestion and subsequent delays caused by a 35 mph limit, but common sense tells me a car traveling at 35mph may have stopped before it hit Mr. Jennings.  We don’t know how fast the car was traveling.  We can argue that Mr. Jennings was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but we should not argue that the safety of pedestrians or bicyclists is somehow not worth the possible delay in traffic.  We could argue that developing Cherry Hill the way it has been, in and of itself has created a traffic jam.  Should we clear Cherry Hill?  Isn’t that what they did to Camden?

This argument is required!  Three people died and one was terribly injured.  If we upset some people…..oh well!

 

JJJJJJJJ

Philip Guerrieri Sr.

Integrated Mechanical Services, Inc.

400 Stenton Ave. Suite 110

Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462

Phone:  610-260-6030

Fax:      610-260-6032

 

[Jim Morris]

This is Christmas Eve and unfortunately I may be annoying some of you again but the state is spending 63 million to remove the Marlton Circle and had previously spent millions to remove the Ellisburg Circle, partly to improve the traffic flow and congestion on Rt. 70. So it probably doesn’t matter if any of us disagree or what speed limit we want. After spending all that money to improve the traffic flow and safety it is my opinion that the state will never agree to reduce the speed limit to 35 mph. I think it is more likely they will want to widen Rt. 70, something none of us seem to want. Of course, I have no inside information, so I could be wrong. I just think you are fighting a losing battle trying to reduce the speed limit to 35 mph and you would have better success working on your other ideas that are probably more achievable. Kings Highway is also 45 mph. Is that next?

 

Jim

[Jim Morris]

Greg,

 

I like your idea. I don’t like all the traffic on Rt. 70 anymore than anyone else. Your idea would help reduce the traffic rather than making it worse by changing the speed limit. And it would improve safety, something everyone wants. If we reduce the speed limit we might as well forget about using the new cut-throughs that were recently constructed. You can barely use them now because of all the traffic coming the other way. With slower speeds and more gridlock they will soon become worthless. I would get behind your idea if the committees wanted to make that part of the proposal.

 

If we reduce the speed limit to 35 mph gridlock will get worse. Some people have replied that they don’t care but they will if it helps the following to happen.

 

If something like your idea is not done eventually the state will demand they widen Rt. 70 and perhaps even make it semi limited access, cutting Cherry Hill in half and destroying the neighborhoods such as Erlton and Barclay.  

 

Thanks for your contribution to the discussion.

 

Jim

 

From: Greg Bruno [mailto:gab...@verizon.net]
Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2009 11:41 PM
To: Ramin Abbaszadeh; Jim Morris; philguerrierisr; helen kushner
Cc: Roxane Shinn; Bob Esposito; Chris Onken; Dayla Fusco; Doris Carey; Fred Astmann; George Hickman; Joyce Alexander Walker; Kalitan, Marlyn (Philadelphia); Mary Beth Neiman; Rich Hoffmann; Roxane Shinn; Susanne Bromke; Theresa Mohrfeld; Tina Nugent; Walt Zahn; Yoli Lorenz; saf...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: CP editorial on Route 70 accident and need for more safety measures

 

Hello Ramin and Happy Holidays to Everyone,

 

Certainly speed limits are very important, but I'm not sure that speed limits should be where we put our energy at this time.  Everyone will probably agree that one of the primary issues along Route 70 in Cherry Hill is total vehicle volume.  Perhaps our energies should be directed to reducing that volume as quickly as possible?  That said, I still think it's prudent that we seek a beltway or bypass around Cherry Hill to remove as much thru traffic as possible. 

 

An elevated toll road highway, could be constructed above Route 73 from the Marlton Circle all the way to the Betsy Ross bridge.  It's my belief that a limited access elevated high speed Highway/Beltway paid for with EZ pass tolls, would eliminate thousands of cars daily from Cherry Hill while offering motorists a high speed option to reach Philadelphia quickly and safely.  This elevated roadway could ease congestion along 3 State Highways, Routes 73, 70 and 38.

 

Over the years, New Jersey has built many beltways around much smaller communities then ours, all of which seem to have successfully eliminated the hazards created by excessive thru town traffic.

 

Merry Christmas...

 

Best Regards,

Greg Bruno
12-24-2009
856-520-4500

----- Original Message -----

From: Ramin Abbaszadeh

To: Jim Morris ; philguerrierisr ; helen kushner

Cc: Roxane Shinn ; Bob Esposito ; Chris Onken ; Dayla Fusco ; Doris Carey ; Fred Astmann ; George Hickman ; Greg Bruno ; Joyce Alexander Walker ; Kalitan, Marlyn (Philadelphia) ; Mary Beth Neiman ; Rich Hoffmann ; Roxane Shinn ; Susanne Bromke ; Theresa Mohrfeld ; Tina Nugent ; Walt Zahn ; Yoli Lorenz ; saf...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2009 9:15 AM

[rcsh...@aol.com]

The editorial is useful in that it links the fatality to the need to do something about speeding and safety.

 

The Way to Go Committee is a subcomittee of Sustainable Cherry Hill, an organization that is promoted and sponsored by the Township, but that has nominal independence.

 

We aren't "looking at  traffic congestion in the township" but are trying to find ways to make Cherry Hill a safer place to walk and bike and how to get more cars off the road.

 

We have asked the Township for 5 years of data on pedestrian and bicycle accidents to see if there are any patterns or priorities that need to be addressed. 

 

I've advised the committee about the Safer Route 70 Report and our committee as well as numerous other studies and resources.  Hopefully they won't try to reinvent the wheel and will be willing to call for significant action rather than just passive, educational measures. 

 

But the Committee has a few prominent people who do not regularly attend committee meetings and who have not actively supported our efforts. So there is no way of knowing what the committee's final recommendations will be.

 

We should reactivate our Safer Route 70 Committee and find out whether NJDOT or Cherry Hill have implemented any of our numerous safety measures, particularly along Cherry Hill's busiest roads, such as Route 70, and if not, why not.  We should try to press the Way to Go Committee to adopt many if not all of our Safer Route 70 committee recommendations that also advance their goals and objectives and try to make them allies in our efforts.

 

Happy New Year.

 

Roxane 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: helen kushner <hbku...@comcast.net>

[Joyce Alexander Walker]

I think you'll find the Sustainable Cherry Hill currently has "nominal" support from the Township.  That could change but the support they used to have isn't there.

----- Original Message -----

From: philguerrierisr

To: rcsh...@aol.com ; hbku...@comcast.net ; chre...@gmail.com ; WARN...@aol.com ; conke...@msn.com ; Dayla...@msn.com ; car...@verizon.net ; njal...@verizon.net ; gfha...@comcast.net ; gab...@verizon.net ; jmr...@verizon.net ; joycea...@att.net ; marlyn....@right.com ; mbne...@comcast.net ; ram...@greyfox.biz ; rhof...@comcast.net ; susanne...@verizon.net ; mohrfel...@msn.com ; nugent...@comcast.net ; WALT...@msn.com ; ylo...@gmail.com ; saf...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 8:16 AM

Subject: RE: CP editorial on Route 70 accident and need for more safety measures

Call me Stupid!  If the “Safer Group...” aligns itself with “Way to Go” we give them credibility.  They have many members who don’t live in Cherry Hill and some that don’t live in NJ.  I would think after the Pay to Play effort, and who took credit, and then the incredulous response when violations were discovered should guide us in how this marriage would end.

All of the people killed and injured in the last 2 years were/are from Erlton.  There were several deaths and injuries previous to those.  While I certainly will listen to any ideas that interested parties have, I will not allow another quasi independent group determine how Erlton will be impacted.  The “Safer... Group” was organized because the last government organized group was a fiasco and did not represent a reasonable approach to solutions.

Déjàvu all over again.

I am a terrible person to talk about this because I don’t know why Charlie Brown continues to try to kick the ball while Lucy is holding.

Phil

Philip Guerrieri Sr.

Integrated Mechanical Services, Inc.

400 Stenton Ave. Suite 110

Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462

Phone:  610-260-6030

Fax:      610-260-6032

 

[philguerrierisr]

Call me Stupid!  If the “Safer Group...” aligns itself with “Way to Go” we give them credibility.  They have many members who don’t live in Cherry Hill and some that don’t live in NJ.  I would think after the Pay to Play effort, and who took credit, and then the incredulous response when violations were discovered should guide us in how this marriage would end.

All of the people killed and injured in the last 2 years were/are from Erlton.  There were several deaths and injuries previous to those.  While I certainly will listen to any ideas that interested parties have, I will not allow another quasi independent group determine how Erlton will be impacted.  The “Safer... Group” was organized because the last government organized group was a fiasco and did not represent a reasonable approach to solutions.

Déjàvu all over again.

I am a terrible person to talk about this because I don’t know why Charlie Brown continues to try to kick the ball while Lucy is holding.

Phil

Philip Guerrieri Sr.

Integrated Mechanical Services, Inc.

400 Stenton Ave. Suite 110

Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462

Phone:  610-260-6030

Fax:      610-260-6032

 

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From: rcsh...@aol.com [mailto:rcsh...@aol.com]

Sent: Tuesday, December 29, 2009 6:47 PM
To: hbku...@comcast.net; chre...@gmail.com; WARN...@aol.com; conke...@msn.com; Dayla...@msn.com; car...@verizon.net; njal...@verizon.net; gfha...@comcast.net; gab...@verizon.net; jmr...@verizon.net; joycea...@att.net; marlyn....@right.com; mbne...@comcast.net; phi...@integratedmechanicalservices.com; ram...@greyfox.biz; rhof...@comcast.net; susanne...@verizon.net; mohrfel...@msn.com; nugent...@comcast.net; WALT...@msn.com; ylo...@gmail.com; saf...@googlegroups.com