4 Takeaways From The One Westfield Place Traffic Impact Study

WESTFIELD, NJ — Traffic impact is one of the top concerns for residents when it comes to the proposed One Westfield Place redevelopment project.

Mayor Shelley Brindle hosted a Facebook Live on Monday night, along with traffic and engineering consultants, to discuss the potential traffic and safety implications of the proposed 731,000 square-foot development at the old Lord & Taylor site.

Related: Residents Launch Petition To 'Rethink' One Westfield Place Development

Here Are 4 Takeaways From The Discussion:

1. The traffic impact study concluded that there will be a minimal increase in the number of cars at surrounding intersections.

John Canning, a transportation engineer who was hired by HBC Streetworks Development, said that one of the project's overall goals is to improve traffic conditions around Westfield.

Streetworks has proposed a number ways to promote a pedestrian and bike-friendly street network with the new development, as well as install new traffic lights and signals at surrounding intersections.

With these improvements, Canning said the study predicts that the proposed project will increase the average number of vehicles passing through major intersections by just two cars per minute.

As Lord & Taylor is currently vacant, the engineer estimated that about 33 vehicles pass through its surrounding intersections every minute, and with the new development, this number would raise to 35 vehicles per minute.

To put this in perspective, this means that around 2,100 vehicles will pass through these intersections per hour.

The engineer also predicts that drivers will actually experience less of a traffic delay with the implementation of the new development.

If the Lord & Taylor building were to remain vacant, the average delay at an intersection is about 20 seconds per vehicle, according to Canning. But with the new development and its proposed traffic mitigation efforts, engineers predict that the delay would reduce to 19 seconds.

Canning added that the engineer took into account surrounding developments in the area, such as The Sophia, Savannah Condos, Westfield Crossing and more, when developing the traffic study.

The study also found that if Lord & Taylor became a retail store again, as opposed to a redevelopment, traffic delays would increase.

"[If] Lord & Taylor was coming back tomorrow, none of the traffic mitigation measures that [the developer is] proposing would be able to be implemented," Brindle explained.

Canning agreed with Brindle and said that as part of this project, the town is investing in upgrades to its infrastructure to make the existing streets have safer conditions.

2. The development will add more traffic during afternoon peak hours, but not as much traffic as a retail-occupied building would.

In total, Canning said that the proposed development will add eight new trips per minute during the P.M. peak hours, which Canning said is the busiest time for traffic in Westfield.

Pre-COVID times, Canning said the Lord & Taylor site generated an average of four trips per minute at the major intersections near the south side of train station and around 3.5 trips per minute at the north side of the train station.

Therefore, the net increase in traffic would be four trips per minute with the addition of the new development.

Canning also clarified that this increase would mainly occur on the busiest traffic days during the week, such as Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

3. The numerous traffic mitigation efforts proposed by the developer would help reduce traffic delays at intersections.

The developer has proposed traffic improvement measures at 12 of the 17 surrounding intersections.

This includes capacity increasing measures, traffic safety measures and measures to improve the pedestrian and cycling environment.

For instance, a new traffic signal and pedestrian safety improvements have been proposed for the intersection of Clark Street and North Avenue.

The traffic study found that the average delay at this intersection with a vacant Lord & Taylor building is around 37.4 seconds, but with the traffic improvements proposed by the developer, this delay would reduce to 17.9 seconds, according to Canning.

Improvements will also be made to the intersections at Prospect St. and Broad St., North Ave. and Elm St., North Ave. and Central Ave., South Ave., and Central Ave. and many more.

4. The proposed development is "transit oriented," which means people will be encouraged to walk, bike and take public transportation.

One Westfield Place is designed as a "transit oriented" development, with a transit stop within a quarter mile radius of the complex. Canning said there will also be safe and accessible streets for pedestrians and bikers, as well as ample parking.

Overall, engineers have found that traffic volume is lower in a transit oriented development than in a typical suburban environment.

A survey found that more than 70 percent of Westfield residents already bike or walk in town either daily or a few times per week.

Canning added that the two thirds of the residential portion of the development is restricted to people aged 55 and older. He said it is likely that these residents will not have children that they need to drive to school or practices, which could reduce overall traffic during the peak hours.

You can watch the full traffic presentation on the town's Facebook Live.

The full traffic impact study can be viewed on the town website.

Subsequent Facebook Live events focused on the financial details of the proposal, planning and design, and the future of offices will be held immediately after the holidays.