Parties to meet once again to discuss the future fof Route 206

Byram - Route 206 leaves its confluence with Route 80 and shrinks in width just as it enters Byram Township. This creates traffic back-ups that both the state Department of Transportation and Byram officials want to remedy. But that’s as far as the agreement goes. For more than two years now, Byram officials have been battling the state in an effort to stop, or at least modify, the DOT’s plan to widen the road to relieve some of the congestion. The battle is scheduled to continue this week. Byram Township Administrator Gregory Poff is preparing a draft presentation for a meeting between local and state officials set for Thursday afternoon. The presentation will include a architectural rendering of the way Byram officials would like for the state road. The sketch shows a boulevard-style highway with two 12-foot lanes with 11-foot shoulders and a planted center median. According to Councilwoman Donna Griff, the DOT has told Byram the state does not build configurations such as the one requested by the municipality. However, Poff has included in his presentation photographs of Route 27 in New Brunswick, Route 29 in Trenton and Route 71 in Deal, which Byram officials believe have all the characteristics that Byram wants for Route 206. One of the aims of this week’s meeting is to make sure the DOT understands the plans Byram has to create a Village Center in the area where Route 206 will be expanded. Among the Village Center plans, Poff said, it’s the possibility to build a parking lot behind the businesses on the west side of Route 206 which would make it possible for shoppers to walk between stores or businesses rather than pull on and off the highway repeatedly. Byram officials are demanding a planted median because they believe it would enhance the commercial area. The township also wants the DOT to agree to use “smart lights” to synchronized the traffic signals at Acorn Street and Waterloo Road as a way to reduce congestion. A proposed jug-handle turn at Acorn Street was dropped after it was determined that most of the land required for the turn is in Stanhope. Councilman Lou Esposito noted another goal of the township is to create a trail along Lubbers Run that will connect the municipal complex with Allamuchy Mountain State Park. This trail would also connect the tourist attractions Wild West City and Waterloo Village. Attending the meeting at DOT headquarters in Trenton with Poff and Griff will be Esposito, consultant Janine Bauer and the township engineer and planner. Poff said he will make color copies of the maps and prepare copies for each of the DOT officials.