WE HAVE INFO EASTAMPTON REQUESTED
MT HOLLY & EASTAMPTON SHOULD NOW NEGOTIATE ACCEPTABLE ROUTES
In 2022, Mount Holly passed an ordinance to stop “pass through” truck traffic. Last May, Eastampton withheld its support for Mount Holly’s ordinance. And so, tankers and other heavy trucks continue to use our residential streets as a short cut. Eastampton said more information was needed before a decision could be reached. See “A Matter of When” below.
The Mount Holly Reporter has received the information requested by Eastampton in the form of an email from the County Engineer which is reproduced below for our readers.
Readers should recall that Mt Holly’s ordinance only banned “pass through” traffic, not local deliveries. Also recall from our last article on the subject that Eastampton was apparently laboring under the assumption that 500 series roads [like Rte 537] cannot exclude large trucks. As Mr. Brickley states above, this is not the case.
Mr. Brickley revealed that the primary concern of neighboring towns such as Eastampton should be whether “pass through” trucks banned from shortcutting through Mt. Holly will have “acceptable alternate routes”. And what are “acceptable alternates”? Well, its definitely not about trying to do the regulatory job of the New Jersey Department of Transportations - as Brickley pointed out, NJDOT will assess Mt Holly’s proposed exclusions.
From Eastampton’s perspective, the acceptable alternate routes are the ones which do not cause Eastampton roads to become jammed with heavy trucks or conversely, to keep trucks from being able to make deliveries in Eastampton. These are the only valid concerns Eastampton need consider.
So, now its time for Eastampton and Mount Holly traffic planning professionals to sit down and negotiate those alternate routes. And once that is done, Eastampton Council can give Mount Holly the support it needs.
Because as we saw in our story “A Matter of When”, its just a matter of time before our luck runs out. These heavy giant trucks should not be on our already overcrowded roads. See
