At the Monday, Nov. 13 Moorestown Township Council Meeting, council lowered speed limits, designated no passing zones and authorized funds for new parking meters.
Transportation was the hot topic at the Monday, Nov. 13, Moorestown Township Council meeting, with ordinances on bus stops, speed limits and police vehicles up for discussion.
Council passed an ordinance on second reading authorizing the issuance of $180,500 in bonds to be used for the purchase of police vehicles. Township Manager Thomas Merchel said the ordinance enabled the police department to purchase four Ford Explorers. Additionally, the funds will go toward the purchase of rifle sights and vehicle radar units along with related equipment.
Also passed on second reading was an ordinance amending Chapter 168–72 of the township code titled “Bus Stops.” A bus stop will be added on the south side of Camden Avenue directly across from an existing bus stop, Merchel said.
Council also passed an ordinance on first reading designating Pleasant Valley Road a no passing zone. Merchel said the designation came following a request from residents. The police department conducted traffic studies on the road and found the stretch of road from Route 38 to Camden Avenue met the criteria for being a “no passing zone.”
A request from the Moorestown school district also had the police studying Salem Road. With Moorestown Upper Elementary School along the stretch of road, the district requested the speed limit be lowered. At last week’s meeting, council passed an ordinance on first reading lowering the speed limit from 35 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour from Borton Landing Road to Salem Road, from Westfield Road to Bramley Road and from Hartford Road to Salem Crossing Road.
While driving ordinances may have been much of the discussion, parking also reared its head as council authorized a contract in the estimated amount of $50,000 to Duncan Parking Technologies, Inc. for the purchase and installation of single-space smart parking meters. Merchel said once installed, parking meters along Main Street, Chester Avenue and Church Street will accept credit cards.
In other news:
• Council passed an ordinance on first reading authorizing $308,750 in bonds to be used for the reconstruction of tennis and basketball courts at Maple Dawson Park. Merchel said four courts will be resurfaced with asphalt, and new fencing will be put up along the tennis court. The courts have not been updated since approximately 1995, Merchel said.
“A lot of people will be happy happy about that,” Merchel said of the improvements.
• The next meeting of the Moorestown Township Council will take place at Town Hall on Monday, Nov. 27 at 7:30 p.m.
