Is there a stoplight coming to Valley and Pierson?

The sidewalks and curbs are fixed, it looks like the wiring and assorted fixtures are in place, the orange barrels and pylons are out, but there's been no action for months. 

Anyone know what the plans are?

Moammar said:

The sidewalks and curbs are fixed, it looks like the wiring and assorted fixtures are in place, the orange barrels and pylons are out, but there's been no action for months. 

Anyone know what the plans are?

 I've been wondering the same thing, TBH. I really thought it would be up once they finished the sidewalks.

I've been seeing traffic backups on Valley St. from the Baker/Tuscan lights for weeks.  Most affect the traffic coming from Millburn Ave to there.  It seems that the lights at Baker/Tuscan have recently been retimed to create traffic backups, and I can no longer go through both lights without stopping at least once, often twice or more.

That said, to put another light between the Baker/Tuscan lights and Millburn Ave. will only cause bigger backups.  Backups already can often reach from there beyond the old Pierson Mill and on toward Millburn Ave.  Maplewood is already becoming traffic unfriendly, especially considering the mess in the village during these covid restrictions.  We should be looking at the Millburn traffic mess situation and taking a lesson.

Since Valley St. is county administered, Joey D. needs to be advised of this.  Good luck with that.

There was a new traffic counter in place on Valley near Millburn Ave over recent weeks, so whoever commissioned that (presumably Essex County) will know exactly how much traffic is there and how slow it moves. 

Traffic on Valley is extremely bad there now, but I actually think that if they get the timing right for the 3 lights (Baker Street/Tuscan, Pierson Rd, Millburn Ave) it will regulate it all much better, not to mention how much more safe it will be for kids coming from Golf Island to Tuscan school in the mornings.

The traffic light at Pierson/South Pierson and Valley is intended to make it possible for pedestrians to cross Valley Street safely at that location.  Similarly, the re-timing of the traffic light at Baker and Valley seems to make it safer for pedestrians to cross Valley Street at that location since previously drivers were running the red light, giving pedestrians at this very short green light no interval in which to cross the street safely.  Now, northbound traffic seems to be stopped at Tuscan when the light turns in favor of the pedestrians, eliminating that problem.  These are intersections used by children going to Tuscan School and Maplewood Middle School.  Thus, both changes are much appreciated by those who live in the neighborhood.

There was supposed to be a light installed at Valley and Pierson.

I'm not sure what is taking so long.

joan_crystal said:

The traffic light at Pierson/South Pierson and Valley is intended to make it possible for pedestrians to cross Valley Street safely at that location.  Similarly, the re-timing of the traffic light at Baker and Valley seems to make it safer for pedestrians to cross Valley Street at that location since previously drivers were running the red light, giving pedestrians at this very short green light no interval in which to cross the street safely.  Now, northbound traffic seems to be stopped at Tuscan when the light turns in favor of the pedestrians, eliminating that problem.  These are intersections used by children going to Tuscan School and Maplewood Middle School.  Thus, both changes are much appreciated by those who live in the neighborhood.

 I know they added a countdown clock for the pedestrians crossing at Tuscan and Valley (plus a sign telling drivers they have to stop for pedestrians) and if there are no pedestrians, cars on Valley can still make a right onto Tuscan. But were drivers really going through the red lights north and southbound on Valley at Tuscan before? Wouldn't they just hit cars entering Valley from Tuscan? How much extra time did they add to the Tuscan light, and why is that tiny adjustment causing traffic back-ups all the way to Broadview?

The problem was with north bound traffic on Valley Street.  There would be a yellow light at Tuscan and cars would speed through hoping to make the light at Baker before it turned red. By the time they got to Baker, the light would be red for the vehicles and they would still drive through.  There is three second interval at the very short light (for pedestrians) before the left turning traffic from Baker to Valley would get a green signal to go.  This three second interval was being taken by northbound traffic on Valley speeding through the red light (for them) at Baker.  By the time these vehicles passed, the left turning vehicles would pass through the intersection by which time the light for pedestrians to cross Valley would have turned red.  This made for a very dangerous situation, especially for those pedestrians with slow reaction time or mobility issues.

ridski said:

But were drivers really going through the red lights north and southbound on Valley at Tuscan before? Wouldn't they just hit cars entering Valley from Tuscan? How much extra time did they add to the Tuscan light, and why is that tiny adjustment causing traffic back-ups all the way to Broadview?

Yes, yes, yes. Drivers going along Valley run the red light at Valley and Tuscan ALL THE TIME. I have watched cars run the red light in front of the Maplewood police and nothing happened.  It is out of control.

joan_crystal said:

The problem was with north bound traffic on Valley Street.  There would be a yellow light at Tuscan and cars would speed through hoping to make the light at Baker before it turned red. By the time they got to Baker, the light would be red for the vehicles and they would still drive through.  There is three second interval at the very short light (for pedestrians) before the left turning traffic from Baker to Valley would get a green signal to go.  This three second interval was being taken by northbound traffic on Valley speeding through the red light (for them) at Baker.  By the time these vehicles passed, the left turning vehicles would pass through the intersection by which time the light for pedestrians to cross Valley would have turned red.  This made for a very dangerous situation, especially for those pedestrians with slow reaction time or mobility issues.

Aha. It seems we were talking about separate issues. How much time do pedestrians crossing Valley on the park side of Baker have now? 

That is a question for whoever sets the timing of the traffic light at that intersection.  It feels like the light turns from green to the count down clock almost immediately but I haven't timed it with a stop watch.

joan_crystal said:

That is a question for whoever sets the timing of the traffic light at that intersection.  It feels like the light turns from green to the count down clock almost immediately but I haven't timed it with a stop watch.

 I'll walk down there tomorrow and see what the countdown clock says. Is it activated by a button?

There is a button to press.  I don't know if it has been rendered redundant as a result of COVID.  I would be very interested to learn what you discover.

ridski said:

 I'll walk down there tomorrow and see what the countdown clock says. Is it activated by a button?

 It seems like a perfect opportunity to create a flashmob of pedestrians.  We could turn this into a MOL meet in real life event!  

joan_crystal said:

There is a button to press.  I don't know if it has been rendered redundant as a result of COVID.  I would be very interested to learn what you discover.

 Don’t need the button. It’s 10 seconds of cross time, plus a 10 second countdown clock. So 20 seconds over all.

sorry to jump in this discussion late in the game, but does anyone know if the third traffic light is indeed being installed at Pierson and Valley? thanks a bunch. 

I have no reason to believe that it won't function like the traffic lights at Valley and Tuscan, with lights on both sides of South Pierson on Valley, and a light for vehicles coming from South Pierson. I've seen no indication of any lights to be installed on Pierson Road.

Okay, thanks. Let me know if you hear any updates. I just moved to Maplewood (on Valley) and the traffic is starting to wear on me. Wondering what options I have with the town either (i) enforcing the 25mph speed limit (ii) putting up a traffic light to cut down on speeding or (iii) putting up a no honking sign. Thanks again. 

Valley Street is a County road not under the jurisdiction of the town.  This has been delaying the installation of the traffic light.

Got it. Thanks for the information. 

Well, howdy neighbor from a fellow Valley Street resident. Yes, it's really starting to get crazy, and I'm really hoping that the new light helps.

ridski said:

Well, howdy neighbor from a fellow Valley Street resident. Yes, it's really starting to get crazy, and I'm really hoping that the new light helps. 

amis333 said:

Hey to you too. Really crazy....I wonder if they'd give us a property tax break if they can't solve the problem with a traffic enforcement camera.

Traffic cameras are illegal in NJ

amis333 said:

Hey to you too. Really crazy....I wonder if they'd give us a property tax break if they can't solve the problem with a traffic enforcement camera.

 Which problem?  Valley Street is a county road, a truck route, and a major route for emergency vehicles.  There is a lot of traffic on Valley Street.  As more people return to work, in person shopping, and taking day trips, the traffic will return to pre-COVID levels.  The promised traffic light at Pierson/South Pierson is intended to make it safer for pedestrians to cross Valley Street safely at that location.  As for property tax breaks, the volume of traffic on Valley Street was likely taken into consideration when real property tax assessment rates were determined.  

joan_crystal said:

 Which problem?  Valley Street is a county road, a truck route, and a major route for emergency vehicles.  There is a lot of traffic on Valley Street.  As more people return to work, in person shopping, and taking day trips, the traffic will return to pre-COVID levels.  The promised traffic light at Pierson/South Pierson is intended to make it safer for pedestrians to cross Valley Street safely at that location.  As for property tax breaks, the volume of traffic on Valley Street was likely taken into consideration when real property tax assessment rates were determined.  

Hi. The problem of people going well above 25 mph and running the red light only to make it 60 yards to the next red light on Valley and Baker. Thanks for letting me know about the property tax breaks. 

amis333 said:

Hi. The problem of people going well above 25 mph and running the red light only to make it 60 yards to the next red light on Valley and Baker. Thanks for letting me know about the property tax breaks. 

Speeding is a long standing problem on Valley Street.  When the speed limit was reduced to 25 miles per hour in the Maplewood portion of the roadway, it helped somewhat.  The change in timing of the traffic lights at Tuscan and Baker helped even more.  The planned traffic light at Pierson/South Pierson will help too.  Enforcement is still needed, especially during off hours.

joan_crystal said:

Speeding is a long standing problem on Valley Street.  When the speed limit was reduced to 25 miles per hour in the Maplewood portion of the roadway, it helped somewhat.  The change in timing of the traffic lights at Tuscan and Baker helped even more.  The planned traffic light at Pierson/South Pierson will help too.  Enforcement is still needed, especially during off hours.

 well I'm glad its not just me who thinks that the speeding is a problem. I was starting to think I was crazy. I appreciate all the insight.