POINT PLEASANT – With the Summer season bringing an influx of guests and extra vehicular traffic, Mayor Robert A. Sabosik and the Borough Council needed to do something to protect residents and increase safety.
This past December, at the request of Mayor Sabosik and the Borough Council, the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders adopted a resolution thereby changing the speed limits on County Road #63, also known as Bridge Avenue. The speed limits have been enacted for two zones. Zone 1 between the Lovelandtown Bridge and Curtis Avenue will be 30MPH and Zone 2 between Curtis Avenue and State Highway Route 88 will be 35 MPH.
“Our residents, both children and adults, take advantage of the Summer season by riding bicycles, walking and jogging all over the Borough, especially on Bridge Avenue,” Mayor Sabosik said. “We needed to do something to slow down traffic and increase safety.”
This past Summer, the Borough Council passed an ordinance to allow businesses to have outside dining, which would encourage residents to eat locally restaurants during the Summer months. Councilman Michael Thulen Jr., “We petitioned the County for two reasons, one being the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, two being the safety of those enjoying the establishments of our local merchants.”
Also last summer, Mayor Sabosik and the Borough Council requested that the limits be lowered via a letter to the County Engineer and the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Mayor said, “Because year after year we watch motorists speed through these roadways and it is a great concern of not just ours but all of our residents.”
Borough Administrator Frank Pannucci and Police Chief Richard Larsen also explained a traffic study was conducted by the office of the Ocean County Engineer, with the cooperation of the Point Pleasant Police Department, that resulted in the speed limit reduction.
Council President Joe Furmato thanked the Ocean County Freeholders, stating, “I want to thank the Freeholders for listening to our request and quickly acting upon it. This will not only increase safety in the Summer season but also be a benefit to our school children who cross Bridge Avenue at our various school zone crossings.”