Hundreds of seniors who live in the former Governor Paterson Towers will now feel safer crossing the street after two speed humps were installed on 20th Avenue.
Garden State Highway Products (GSHP) workers of Millville installed the two speed humps on 20th Avenue in front of the senior citizens’ housing complex Tuesday morning.
“You rest here. Now they have to slow down, ”said Bill Priestly, security chief of the residential complex.
Priestly said every few years someone is hit or grazed by a vehicle while crossing the street.
“Even if we push the button, they don’t stop,” said Angel Garcia, 78, who lives on the facility.
Garcia refers to flashing lights that come on when someone presses a button to cross the lane. The city installed the device to improve pedestrian safety after complaints from seniors.
Garcia hopes the speed limits will make road crossing safer for seniors like him.
Mayor Andre Sayegh said the speed limits cost a little over $ 2,000. Officials said the Paterson Parking Authority will be collecting the tab.
“I was asked for help,” said Tony Perez, director of the Paterson Parking Authority. He said his agency had agreed to pay for the speed limit.
After the city turned 21st Avenue into a one-way street, the number of vehicles passing through 20th Avenue increased dramatically, Councilor Luis Velez said.
“It’s a message: we want pedestrian safety,” said Velez.
Seniors protested against turning 21st Avenue into a one-way street because they feared it would increase the number of vehicles on 20th Avenue and make crossing the street a nightmare for them. They were promised poles that pedestrians can push before crossing, speed bumps, improved road markings, and better signage.
It took two years to get the bump in speed. Priestly, who watched workers install the speed humps, doesn’t complain about the delay. He is glad that the promise was kept and that the speed humps were installed.
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