To the Editor:
On Wednesday, July13, the NJTA held a public information meeting to introduce its plans for exit 14A. I believe that this plan is not in the best interest of the residents of Bayonne. The plan eliminates entry to the Turnpike via 53rd Street and redirects traffic through the residential neighborhood.
The pollution caused by the added traffic congestion will negatively affect the quality of life of the nearby residents, not to mention the potential danger this causes to children coming from and going to the nearby park and basketball court. In January, the NJTA stated that using exit 14A would not be possible because there was no way to relieve heavy congestion at peak hours. The original plan was to direct the truck traffic to Jersey City. By Stephen Buente’s (project manager with NJTA) own admission, the original plan was better than the current plan.
Jersey City complains and the NJTA buckles under pressure and sends the traffic to Bayonne. We have a perfectly good highway, which the increased traffic could be directed to. Why not send the trucks to Route 440? By moving the ramp to the highway, this would alleviate the congestion that would occur on local residential streets.
We all need to come together and oppose this plan and force the NJTA to design a new plan that is in the best interest of Bayonne.
WASHINGTON FLORES