NJTPA and Middlesex County Study Identifies More Than 60 Recommendations to Reduce Truck Traffic in Southern Middlesex County

Monroe Mayor Stephen Dalina Continues to Lead Effort to Alleviate Truck Traffic in Residential Areas 

Pictured left to right: Mayor Stephen Dalina, Senator Linda R. Greenstein, NJDOT Commissioner Diane Guiterrez-Scaccetti, Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios, NJTPA Executive Director David W. Behrend, Middlesex County Commissioner Charles Kenny

The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) and Middlesex County have made more than 60 separate recommendations to manage regional truck traffic through the Southern Middlesex County Freight Movement Study.

The study makes suggestions designed to keep trucks out of residential neighborhoods in Monroe Township and surrounding communities and provide the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) with the data and analysis it needs to implement these recommendations. 

“The State and County have heard our ongoing cries for help related to heavy trucks diverting through sections of our Township and have issued this important report for public review and discussion,” Mayor Stephen Dalina said. “This is a key milestone in our ongoing fight to alleviate truck traffic on our local roads. This study is providing the necessary direction for State and County leaders to devise the right solution for the roadways they operate and maintain in Monroe Township and Southern Middlesex County.”

Mayor Dalina was a featured speaker this morning at a Middlesex County press conference regarding the Southern Middlesex County Freight Movement Study.

A sample of recommendations in the report:

• The Study calls for the immediate implementation of a weight restriction on Cranbury Station Road between Hightstown‐Cranbury Road and Applegarth Road. Accordingly, the Township of Monroe will be submitting a request for this restriction in partnership with Middlesex County to NJDOT, who is the ultimate decision-making authority on weight restrictions in New Jersey. Weight restrictions on other east-west connector roads in Monroe are also recommended but will take longer to implement. Such restrictions effectively limit trucks from residentials areas where they should not travel. 
• Upgrade truck-related signage, such as directing trucks traveling between Interchange 8A of the New Jersey Turnpike and Route 33 to use Route 130, rather than Applegarth Road and other local roads in Monroe.
• State and County officials should work with companies that produce and update wayfinding software via GPS. This will help ensure truckers remain on designated truck routes, rather than winding through residential neighborhoods. 
• Construct turning lanes and adjust signal timing to make it easier for trucks to access commercial roadways, as well as upgrade intersections to better accommodate truck traffic on desired routes.
• Reduce the speed limit on Forsgate Drive from 45 mph to 40 mph to enhance safety, with speed limit signs installed east of Forsgate Country Club. Moreover, short segments of the corridor have three lanes in either direction. These segments should be narrowed to two lanes, to maintain consistency, discourage speeding and reduce the frequency of last‐second unsafe merges. Also, along the corridor, the widths of individual lanes may need to be reduced, and/or other measures undertaken, such as increasing the shoulder width to reduce speeding. 

According to the study, some recommendations can be implemented in the next year, while others must be evaluated and prioritized, with necessary funding. 

Mayor Dalina took over the fight to address local truck traffic issues from the late former mayor, Gerald W. Tamburro, who pushed for the New Jersey Department of Transportation and Middlesex County to ban heavy tractor trailers from local roads, as many of the large warehouses in Cranbury rely on access via Monroe roadways. 

“We have been collaborating with our partners at all levels of government for some time now and this report is a significant milestone toward progress,” Mayor Dalina said. “The NJTPA and County are fully invested in advancing solutions to make our roads safe for our residents. We will continue to fight until these trucks are off our residential streets.” 

At Monroe’s urging, the study took a regional approach, analyzing traffic effects in Cranbury, South Brunswick, and Jamesburg. 

“As I’ve said previously, we are not interested in just passing this nuisance traffic onto a neighboring town,” Mayor Dalina said. “We need a regional solution, in which all of our neighboring municipalities are working collaboratively to remove these trucks from our residential neighborhoods.”

Mayor Dalina expressed his appreciation to Monroe residents who participated in the public engagement phase, such as serving on a Technical Advisory Committee that helped provide direction to researchers. Hundreds of township residents attended community workshops and stakeholder meetings, participated in a survey, and provided nearly 1,000 comments and over 350 specific recommendations for projects or actions.

“Monroe has served as an influential voice as decisions were made in every facet of this study, reviewing preliminary data at each step and ensuring the results address the ongoing concerns of this community,” Mayor Dalina said. “I look forward to the next step: implementing workable solutions that benefit our residents and ensuring pedestrian and vehicular safety in our community.”

The Southern Middlesex County Freight Movement Study is now available for public review at njtpa.org/MiddlesexFreightStudy. For more information about the freight movement study, please visit middlesexcountynj.gov/freightstudy.

Mayor Stephen Dalina Moves to Preserve Nearly 44 Acres of Open Space in Two Prime Locations in Monroe Township

34 Acre Farm Photos: Schoolhouse Road north to Thompson Park

Working in collaboration with Middlesex County and State Legislators, Mayor Stephen Dalina is moving forward to preserve a nearly 34-acre farm that is contiguous to Thompson Park as well as a ten-acre tract of land on Spotswood Gravel Hill Road.  Together, the properties total nearly 44 acres of prime real estate in Monroe Township that will be preserved as open space and therefore saved from developers.  

“We are advancing a key goal from last year’s Master Plan to acquire and preserve more open space in Monroe Township,” said Mayor Stephen Dalina.  “These properties are in two very desirable locations in our Township and therefore very sought after by developers.  I’m thankful to our 14th district state legislators – Sen. Linda Greenstein and Assemblymen Wayne DeAngelo and Dan Benson – and County officials, including Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios who helped us move quickly to add them to our Open Space inventory.” 

Most of the costs of these acquisitions are offset by state and county grants.  The purchase price of the 34-acre farm is $4.3 million and the 10-acre property was purchased for $2.3 million.  Those grant funds will cover $5.5 million, or 83%, of the total $6.6 million in acquisition costs, providing the benefit of significant open space to Monroe residents while saving taxpayers from shouldering the vast majority of the costs.  

“We have worked together for years to successfully secure hundreds of acres of quality open space in Monroe Township and we are particularly pleased to preserve this land which is adjacent to Thompson Park,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios.  “We will continue to pursue future opportunities as they are identified.”  

 “As a resident of Monroe Township, I’m thankful to the State and County for grants to prioritize and preserve our green space,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Leslie Koppel. “Green and open space plays a pivotal role not only in promoting a sustainable environment but is also necessary for our community’s well-being. Future generations will appreciate the efforts made today to ensure our land is protected for farming, recreation, and the overall enjoyment of nature.” 

After coming to an agreement with the owner of the 34-acre farm located at 330 Schoolhouse Road, the Township will purchase a preservation easement on the farmland in the coming months that will protect it from development in perpetuity.  “According to a certified appraisal estimate, this move will prevent up to 35 potential homes that may have been developed on the land based on current zoning regulations in that district,” the mayor added.  

The mayor also recently worked to secure ten acres of open space/passive recreation located at 405 Spotswood Gravel Hill Road, formerly Garvey’s restaurant.  Both parcels were evaluated and unanimously recommended by the Township’s Open Space and Farmland Preservation Commission.

“I am thrilled that we can preserve 34 acres of beautiful farmland, and another 10 acres in a the lower Matchaponix neighborhood.  Both properties could have been purchased for future high-density residential development associated with future court obligations and we prevented that from happening,” said Mayor Dalina.  “I have promised Monroe residents that my administration would identify and preserve as much open space as possible, to curtail development and protect Monroe’s natural beauty, and we’re keeping that promise.”

Paper Shredding at Thompson Park

The next Middlesex County Paper Shredding event will be held from 9 a.m. - Noon on Friday, November 3 at Thompson Park in the Manalapan Lake Lot.

Important Guidelines

• No Plastic Bags. Use a box, crate or other sturdy container - it will be given back to you.
• Limit of 5 file boxes or 100 pounds per car.
• Paper must be in a liftable, manageable container.

Note: No need to remove paper clips or staples.

Do not bring: Plastic binders/sheet protectors, newspapers, magazines, hardcover books, junk mail, photos, x-rays, CDs, shredded paper or garbage.

Residential personal paper only - no business (home-based or other) paper.



Loads containing unacceptable items will be rejected.