DOT sets out to purchase land for Route 206 expansion

BYRAM - State officials have begun the process of acquiring the land needed to expand from two to five lanes an existing 1.2-mile stretch of Route 206 through the center of the township. Byram Township Manager Greg Poff said the Department of Transportation has asked to purchase several easements and properties located at the old Lockwood Cemetery and at two sewer pumping stations near Barrone’s restaurant and Lockwood Gardens. Poff acknowledged there isn’t much the township can do to prevent the much-debated $26.5 million plan from moving forward near the township’s proposed Village Center. “The township can agree to sell the property or DOT can enact condemnation or eminent domain,” he said. “I don’t think it’s the township’s intent to hinder the process of the acquisition.” Poff said the township council would like to see DOT meet some conditions before sale of the properties is finalized including relocation of the stone foundation from a landmark church located on the cemetery grounds and guaranteed repair routes to the pumping stations. “Other divisions within DOT have stated a willingness to relocate the stone foundation, but the council wants a commitment from the bodies that acquire right-of-way,” said Poff. “The right-of-way people have not been intensively involved in the design process. We want it in writing what the process will be.” The township manager said proper access is critical to maintenance of the sewer pumping stations. “I don’t think the township requests or conditions will be met with any resistance,” said Poff. “It’s part of the process to ensure that these things don’t fall through bureaucratic cracks.” The township council has been reluctant to accept DOT’s plans to alleviate traffic along what is considered the “Gateway to Sussex County” since the project first surfaced 10 years ago. DOT plans include realignment of the intersection of Waterloo and Brookwood roads where both sides agree traffic backs up. Both roads are scheduled to be widened to include a right-turn lane and a shared left-turn and through lanes. At first, the township council approved the project, but now would like to see a phased approach taken to the realignment of intersections, coordination of traffic lights and various pedestrian-friendly improvements to the area from Alcorn Street to the vicinity of Waterloo Village near the Byram Plaza off Lackawanna Road. Proponents of an alternative plan want Byram to develop its Village Center with an eye toward a boulevard-like design, rather than the “old school” state highway lined by big-box retail stores. A coalition of regional, state and local planning, transportation and environmental groups went so far as to petition Gov. Jon Corzine earlier this year to reopen dialogue on the project’s design. The coalition’s position has the backing of the township council, which passed a resolution calling for a moratorium on planning and design before ground is scheduled to be broken late this year, despite the staunch opposition of Byram’s mayor. Eskil “Skip” Danielson has called the tactics a “stalling mechanism” for addressing traffic problems on Route 206. He said the township has already had traffic engineers look extensively into the project without any luck at changing the minds of DOT officials. The council, which earlier approved funding for private consultants to further study the project, wants the township’s elected officials and citizens to sit down with DOT, along with other government agencies, and planning and conservation groups to address what it believes are unresolved and critical design issues. Danielson, who believes butting heads with DOT could jeopardize future state funding for local transportation projects, insists any attempts to delay the Route 206 expansion are probably too little, too late.