January 22, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Franklin Lakes County to move ahead with traffic circle changes by Frank J. McMahon Bergen County has decided to proceed with the changes to the traffic circle at the intersection of Franklin Lake Road and High Mountain Road in Franklin Lakes. Gary Ascolese, the Bergen County engi- neer, advised that work on the circle would probably begin at the end of January based on the weather. James X. Sattely, the Bergen County counsel, advised that an enhanced signage plan would be in effect for the first 30 days so all motorists are aware of the change in the traffic pattern well in advance of their approach to the circle. According to Ascolese, the speed limit on the four approaches to the circle will be reduced and the yellow flashing light on Franklin Lake Road will be changed to red, but the pavement markings will not be added until the warmer weather. Ascolese emphasized that the changes the county will make to the traffic circle are consistent what will be seen at all traffic circles in the state and they will have noth- ing to do with the development of the High Mountain Golf Club. He said, however, that the county will work with borough officials on any adjustments to the circle’s traffic pattern that may become necessary in the future because of traffic that may be cre- ated on Franklin Lake Road by the develop- ment of the golf course property. Ascolese explained that the traffic signal at the circle was established in 1959 when the stop signs were installed. He added, Borough upgrades its award-winning website Franklin Lakes Borough Administra- tor Gregory Hart and his Web team have upgraded their award-winning website by adding a series of videos, entitled a “Video Tour of Franklin Lakes.” According to Hart, the video tour is a series of five short, informative videos on different borough features, including a welcome from Mayor Frank Bivona, one on efforts to protect the environment, a video about recreation facilities, one with a brief history of the municipality, and one describing educational opportunities in the borough. The videos were shot and edited by the borough’s volunteer video production interns and a video production company (CGI) that provides this service at no cost to the borough. “Each of the videos provides a good overview of the video subject and features footage of borough sites and services,” Hart said, urging residents and others to watch the videos and provide feedback at webteam@franklinlakes.org. In the video featuring the mayor, Bivona said he, like many of the more than 10,000 residents of the borough, moved to Franklin Lakes to raise his family. “I couldn’t think of a better place to do so,” he says. “It’s a great place to live and raise a family or conduct a business or just to come to visit.” Bivona mentions the highly-rated schools, the recreation programs, the library, and local retail businesses and cor- porate headquarters. “Welcome to Franklin Lakes,” Bivona adds, “a place I am proud to call home.” The Going Green video describes the borough’s commitment to the environment and states that the borough includes abun- dant lakes, ponds, streams, and other natural features that its residents feel a responsibil- ity to preserve. The video points out that the borough is a New Jersey Sustainable Certified community, which is in compli- ance with stringent regulations on energy efficiency, recycling, waste reduction, (continued on page 23) “It’s time for the next order of control for that traffic signal. It’s time to go to the next step.” The Bergen County Freeholders adopted an ordinance on Dec. 18 that authorized the county to proceed with the planned changes to the circle despite a request by Franklin Lakes Borough Administrator Gregory Hart to delay the changes to the circle due to the potential impact of the development of the High Mountain Golf Club property on Franklin Lake Road and that intersec- tion. Sattely wrote to Franklin Lakes Borough Attorney William Smith acknowledging the borough’s request to delay the adoption of the ordinance, but advising that the county cannot accede to the borough’s request. Sat- tely explained that the borough initiated a review of the traffic circle’s operation and the review revealed that there are no traf- fic controls at the circle on Franklin Lake Road, and all four of the approaches to the circle are controlled by the county. “As presently configured the traffic circle does not comply with the requirements of the federal Highway Administration’s 2009 manual on uniform traffic control devices which provides that there must be ‘yield’ signs on each approach,” Sattely stated. He added there is nothing in the manual that permits the borough owned flashing signal, which flashes yellow on Franklin Lake Road and red on High Mountain Road. Sattely also pointed out that traffic on Franklin Lake Road approaches the circle as a through street, while drivers entering the circle from a “stop” controlled inter- section with High Mountain Road have an expectation that all approaching traffic will yield to them once they enter the circle. This “disconnect” has led to 61 traffic acci- dents in the past five years, Sattely stated, most of which involve right angle collisions in which a Franklin Lake Road driver “T- bones” a High Mountain Road driver who has entered the circle with an expectation of safe passage after entering the circle. According to Sattely, the county engi- neer has concluded that the continuous pattern of accidents presents a serious and continuing risk to the safety of vehicles and pedestrians and has concluded that it is possible to immediately reduce accidents at this site by the use of “yield” signs on all four approaches to the circle. When the weather warms, pavement striping will be added to define the traveled way. Sattely also advised Smith that the borough’s flashing traffic signal must be removed. “The county’s actual knowledge of the deficient operation of the traffic circle com- pels the county to take any and all neces- sary steps to reduce potential or actual injury to people and property,” Sattely told Smith, adding that if the county failed to act to eliminate a known risk which the bor- ough has brought to the county’s attention it could lead to the county and the borough losing the immunity granted by the state’s Tort Claim Act.