The Secaucus Town Council has adopted an ordinance changing the direction of some roads in town. According to Town Administrator Gary Jeffas, the changes came after suggestions from the neighborhood.
“Just based on resident requests, and the mayor and councilmen knocking on doors and speaking with the residents, there was just a request to change the one-way directions between First Street and Fourth Street,” Jeffas said. “Now First Street will be coming out towards Flanagan Way. Second Street will going in toward Centre Avenue. Third Street will be coming out toward Flanagan Way, and Fourth Street will be going in toward Centre Avenue.”
The ordinance changes the direction of Second Street between Front Street and Flanagan Way. While that portion of Second Street currently runs toward Flanagan, it will be reversed. Similarly, Fourth Street between Centre Avenue and Front Street and Front Street and Flanagan Way is a two-way road that will now be a one-way toward Centre Avenue.
The move was not being done without consideration for current traffic. Jeffas said the police did a study of the area and this new roadway set up will lead to a “cleaner traffic flow.”
The change will occur over a number of weeks as the town readies its signage and performs any necessary street painting. A notice will go out in advance to those living on the streets affected to make them aware of the date the change will officially occur.
Encouraging electric vehicle parking
Another matter regarding vehicles and traffic was also adopted at the meeting, specifically an ordinance promoting the construction of electric vehicle parking spaces. The ordinance would encourage “electric vehicle supply/service equipment” as well as “make-ready parking spaces,” which are normal parking spaces that can be converted to electric parking spaces later on.
“It requires builders, when they’re constructing, to put in a certain amount of electric vehicle parking spots,” said Jeffas.
The ordinance, based on a model ordinance unveiled by Gov. Phil Murphy, aims to makes it easier for people to drive electric by streamlining the local approval process for installing convenient and cost-effective charging infrastructure. The ordinance provides minimum requirements and consistent guidance for electric vehicle parking.
According to Jeffas, under the ordinance electric vehicles would count for double the parking requirement when developers are constructing parking.
“Under the state guidelines which we adopted, there’s a provision in there that if you put in one electric vehicle parking spot, it would count as two parking spots,” he said. “It helps a builder out, because if you’re building something that requires 50 parking spots, if you put in some electric vehicle spots, they count as two spots.”
In addition, make-ready spots would also count toward the requirement. Overall, Jeffas said it would be a good way to incentivize constructing electric parking spots. The council voted unanimously to approve both ordinances at its Dec. 13 meeting.
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