Message from Mayor Josh Losardo | August 18, 2021

The Scotch Plains schools reopen on September 9, anticipating the first in-person “Back to School” we have had in town since the 2019-20 school year. The police department is already making preparations, as, once again, our streets will be filled with cars and buses for arrivals and dismissals.

Recognizing the volume of traffic for Back to School, we have tasked the police department with identifying new ways to ensure even safer streets in Scotch Plains as well as ways in which to better control the anticipated swell in traffic.

You will see a number of ways in which the Scotch Plains Police Department is up to the task, under the leadership of Chief Theodore Conley.

For example, there are 15 crossing guards posts to monitor the more highly used cross walks for children to get to school as well as a number of alternates to cover shifts. The police department is now actively hiring for some available slots for the 2021-22 school year, so please reach out to Sgt. Jerry Brown of the Traffic Bureau at 908-322-7100 Ext. 104 if you are interested.

In addition, the police department continually identifies streets and neighborhoods where school traffic is particularly heavy and then identifies solutions. One of these solutions, for example, is at the heavily travelled intersection of Raritan and Rahway roads, where a red/yellow blinking light will be installed in late fall.

Also, the police department is recommending the reduction of speed limits in areas where there are plenty of walking students.  The Township Council is expected to vote on an ordinance next month that would reduce the speed limit to 25 mph on East Second Street, which then turns into Westfield Avenue and Plainfield Avenue as drivers head east toward Westfield.

Currently, that major artery has speed limits ranging from 25, to 30, to 35 to 40 mph, depending on where you are. We believe in the strong need for uniformity, especially in such a dense part of our community with so many school children. The Plainfield Avenue section is of particular interest, where the police are installing radar signs to further slow down the passing vehicles, as well as solar powered pedestrian crossing signals, with push buttons to activate them.

Also, to assist school children at crossings, we have invested in pedestrian signs with blinking lights. Students can press a button that prompts the sign to blink, further alerting drivers to their presence and their pressing need to cross the street at designated crosswalks.

We have also installed speed humps on residential roads in town that are common short cuts for motorists avoiding main roads, such as on Henry Street, Myrtle Avenue and Willow Avenue. We are also looking at other side streets in town that are commonly being used as pass-throughs, especially when school is in session, and identifying traffic-calming initiatives.

We will be closely monitoring traffic during Back to School, as we warmly welcome students back to the Scotch Plains schools, as well as throughout the year. Our police will also be closely watching the traffic to the private and parochial schools, further ensuring a safe environment for all of our students and residents during this time of transition.