Borough of Point Pleasant – The Borough has done a number of things this year promoting safety, one being obtaining grant money for our Police Department where they are able to increase enforcement and promote vehicles to stop at crosswalks to allow pedestrians to cross busy intersections safely, another by reducing the speed limit on Bridge Avenue and other heavily trafficked streets by successfully petitioning County and State agencies to do so.
This past week, another tool was added to assist to the most densely populated municipality in all of Ocean County. Council President Furmato along with Councilmen Mike Thulen Jr. and Bill Borowsky (chairs of the Council’s Recreation, Land Use and Public Works committees respectively) unveiled new “Share the Road” signs that went up at various spots in the Borough.
According to Council President Furmato, “We have been taking some proactive steps towards safety, not just with greater police enforcement, but with items like these signs. We asked our Police Chief Richard Larsen and our Traffic Safety Officer Lt. Leon Downs where the first of these signs would be most advantageous. They gave us in their professional opinions four initial locations and then our Department of Public Works installed them.”
Councilman Michael Thulen Jr. echoed the sentiments of Council President Furmato by adding that “In the future and in addition to steps the Mayor and Council are already doing, as the Borough paves amd reconstructs roads, an emphasis will be placed to try and add bicycle lanes and appropriate safety features to increase safety where possible.”
Chief Richard Larsen pointed out that public awareness is the major benefit of these signs by stating that “The signs will increase safety to our pedal cyclists by reminding motorists that bicycle riders may be present on the roadway.”
Councilman Bill Borowsky gave the first four locations of the new Share the Road Signs, on Ocean Road at the intersection of Lister Street, Route 88 across from Sundaes Ice Cream, Herbertsville Road at the intersection of Adelaide Road and Herbertsville Road at the intersection of Osborne Avenue. “As we get more signs, we will consult with the traffic safety unit of our Police Department as to the best locations to put them.”
Mayor Robert A. Sabosik said he was pleased with the progress being made. “This administration has taken some major steps in improving the safety of our residents … motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike. What we are accomplishing now will go a long way in helping us reach our goals for overall safety.”
L-R Councilmen Borowsky, Furmato and Thulen.