Ho-Ho-Kus February 20, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 5 Shelter & lights to enhance safety by Jennifer Crusco Ho-Ho-Kus now has two new improvements -- a bus shelter on Route 17, and preemptive lights near the borough’s firehouse -- that are expected to enhance safety within the municipality. New Jersey Transit recently installed the new bus shelter on Route 17 South near Hollywood Avenue. The new structure replaces the shelter that was destroyed on Aug. 3, 2010 by an out of control truck. That accident resulted in personal injuries, some of which were serious, to a few residents, Borough Administrator Don Cirulli recalled. Cirulli contacted the New Jersey Department of Transportation in an effort to have a new shelter constructed, but later learned that NJ Transit would carry out the project. The administrator had requested bollards or rails near the shelter in an effort to protect individuals who are waiting for the buses to arrive. Joseph DeMauro of NJ Transit worked with Cirulli to have the new shelter and bollards installed. The project was completed by Feb. 1, Cirulli said. The new preemptive traffic control signals at the firehouse were also installed in recent weeks. Although the Ho-Ho-Kus Council awarded the contract for these signals in the fall of 2012, preparatory work was required. In addition, Cirulli explained that the lights are not stock items, and had to be made to the borough’s specifications. HBC Company, Inc. of Lodi received the contract for the two lights, which are now in operation near the firehouse on Sheridan Avenue. The lights flash when fire trucks are entering or leaving the fire station. Cirulli explained that the lights are solar powered and are not wired into the firehouse. The lights operate via remote control. The remote is kept on the fire truck and is used to turn on the lights to warn motorists and pedestrians on Sheridan Avenue that trucks are approaching. Two sealed bids for this project were received in late August, after which time Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Engineer David Hals reviewed the proposals. The bids included a $58,352 proposal from Kevco Electric of Bloomfield and the $46,647 bid from HBC. These bids include the two preemptive lights, installation, and a portion of the engineering cost. Hals developed the drawings for the location of the signals, with one of the new lights being placed to north of the firehouse, and the other to the south. The goal is to improve safety by reminding motorists who are driving past the firehouse to exercise caution when trucks are being maneuvered into and out of the garage. Some motorists reportedly attempt to pass the trucks, thereby creating an unsafe situation. The new lights will encourage motorists to slow down and to stop, when necessary. Bergen County and the State of New Jersey previously approved this project. Bergen County approval was necessary because the signals were installed on a county road. State approval was necessary because the borough used a state grant to pay for this project. The borough received a $150,000 grant for the lights from the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The award, which was announced in 2011, does not require the borough to commit any matching funds to the project. Any unused portion of the grant will be returned to the state, a borough official said. Creative sculptors Ho-Ho-Kus resident Michelle Kelly, her husband, and a friend created this sculpture of a famous fish on Kelly’s front lawn. They were inspired by the recent snow storm, which meteorologists dubbed Nemo.