Letter: More Discussion Needed for Speedwell Redevelopment

To the Editor:

One of the bigger issues in Morristown’s Third Ward and the Speedwell Avenue Redevelopment Project concerns, “What to do about the traffic on Speedwell Avenue, Early Street and Spring Street?”

It is clear that traffic circulation in this area is significantly compromised during the morning and evening peak commuter periods. Furthermore, this area has a lot of pedestrian and bicycle activity as the center of the Speedwell Avenue business district and the close proximity to .

Between 2000 and 2007, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) commissioned a study of traffic improvements in this area, and identified three general improvement plans, with varying levels of cost, right of way property acquisitions, and traffic benefit. Speedwell Avenue is a state highway and therefore any modification to the roadway requires NJDOT approvals.

The first alternative would make a “T” intersection with northbound Speedwell Avenue and Spring Street. This alternative would cost approximately $2 million, but would not require the Town to acquire any private property. Traffic would be significantly improved on all movements, with the exception of Speedwell Avenue and Early Street, which would further deteriorate in the evening peak hours.

The second alternative would provide for an extra lane of traffic on northbound Speedwell Avenue between Spring Street and Sussex Avenue. This alternative would cost between $6 million and $7 million, and would require the demolition of five buildings on the east side of Speedwell Avenue between the previous Blockbuster store and , except for the building. All traffic movements would be improved significantly.

The third alternative would realign the intersection of Spring Street and Early Street so Spring Street crosses Speedwell Avenue with an “X” intersection and continues onto a new (realigned) section of Early Street. This alternative would cost approximately $6 million, and would demolish eight buildings between Speedwell Avenue and Early Street. All traffic movements would be improved significantly.

As a Transportation and Environmental Planner, by profession, I am fully aware of all the benefits and costs of each of these alternatives. While I agree that the realignment of Spring Street and Early Street would provide the best traffic benefit to this area, the question of cost to the tax payers, timing and impact to the local neighborhood are critical issues that needs to be discussed.

It is important to note that the current developer of the Speedwell Redevelopment Plan has committed to constructing Phase 1, which does not include any of the buildings that would need to be demolished for the Spring Street realignment. Therefore, if the Town were to implement the realignment alternative in the near future, the Town would be responsible for the full cost of the improvement, increasing its debt by approximately $6 million along with the associated property tax increases necessary to pay for the interest on the debt. Similarly, the properties that would need to be demolished would further reduce the taxes collected, and without a developer on board, the area would be in a continual state of construction for the foreseeable future until such a time as a developer could be found.

All of these issues need to be evaluated, along with a more robust public discussion of the benefits and consequences of undertaking a large construction project in the center of a diverse business district. As such, proposes further study and analysis of the surrounding roadway while Phase One is underway. Furthermore, the Plan has been designed so that Phases One and Two can be constructed while preserving a full range of roadway improvement options to be considered along the Speedwell Corridor including the Spring Street realignment option.

–Stefan Armington, Morristown Council Candidate, Third Ward