Township, DOT to discuss 206 changes

BYRAM-Township officials will discuss improvements to a commercial corridor involving Route 206, and Waterloo and Brookwood roads with representatives from the state Department of Transportation at a special meeting of the town council scheduled for Monday, Nov. 15, beginning at 6 p.m., in the municipal building. The proposed improvements, set to begin in late 2006, include realignment of Lackawanna Drive; the need for a 3-foot drainage area for the proposed highway section; and sidewalks. The proposed realignment of Lackawanna Drive is designed to streamline traffic by improving access to area businesses, said Greg Poff, township manager. "From a safety perspective the realignment is a much-improved design," said Poff. "As a result of the realignment, however, a redesigned storm-water basin will affect a portion of the proposed Village Center." Poff said the need for a drainage area for the highway resulted when shoulders were eliminated at the request of the township in the 2003 concept plan. A total of 190 storm-water inlets have been placed in the lane of travel every 72 feet, explained Poff. NJDOT, Poff said, is requesting that instead a 3-foot drainage area be built on either side of the highway to allow run-off to collect. This will also provide DOT to remove storm-water inlets from the travel lane. In addition, in order to comply with the municipality's Smart Growth Plan and Master Plan, which call for "non-automotive alternatives to Route 206 for transportation in and around Byram Township," NJDOT would consider expanding sidewalks beyond what the township has currently discussed, which is confined to the southbound side of Route 206. Poff recommends that sidewalks, at a minimum, be considered for the northbound side from the Acorn Street jug handle to Brookwood Road