The “Marlton Circle Elimination Project” Online

(scroll down for most recent information)

 # # #     NJDOT Bicycle/Pedestrian Planning Assistance (August 12, 2003)

The only form of regular public transportation that serves Evesham Township is the NJ Transit Route 406 bus route.  The bus route runs along Marlton Pike, Main Street, Brick Road, Maple Avenue, Greentree Road, Lincoln Drive, Cropwell Road and Route 73.  There are 3 scheduled stops along the route within the Township: at Greentree Square, at the Marlton Circle and the West Jersey Hospital.

Constraints (to a bicycle network within Evesham Township) include insufficient shoulders, high travel speeds/high volumes along certain roadways, insufficient cartway width to accommodate competing demands of motorized traffic and bicyclists (especially at intersections), wide crossing distances at high volume intersections, state roadways (Routes 70 and 73) that act as barriers to bicycle and pedestrian traffic, narrow multi-use paths, on-street parking on shoulders, and open drainage ditches/wetlands and utilities very close to existing roadway edges.

The Marlton Circle is presently being re-designed by NJDOT.  A grade-separated bicycle/ pedestrian connection from Marlton Pike to Main Street is desirable as part of this project.  This would re-connect the historic center of Marlton with surrounding communities, significantly improve access to commercial services, and provide connections to bicycle facilities in place or being planned in Evesham Township and neighboring communities.

The Township should ensure that the design of future traffic calming improvements accomodates bicyclists to the greatest extent possible.  Traffic calming techniques can be used to provide better roadway conditions for bicyclists by better defining the space available to each mode, by improving intersection design for non-motorized users and by giving greater priority to their movement.

# # #     Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (November 5, 2003)

Meeting highlights of 11/05/03 for DVRPC’s Planning Coordinating Committee / Regional Transportation Committee included the following:

Discussion Item – Corridor Planning: NJ 70 Study

John Ward (DVRPC Staff member) provided an overview of DVRPC corridor studies.  Kevin Murphy (also a DVRPC Staff member) presented the corridor planning process and the issues related to NJ 70 (Airport Circle to Marlton Circle) involving Cherry Hill Township, Evesham Township, Haddonfield Boro, and Pennsauken Township.  The PCC/TRC had an opportunity to comment on the process and offer insights specifically related to this corridor.

Among the representatives in attendance at this meeting were:

·        Carol Thomas of Burlington County

·        Herman Volk of NJ Department of Community Affairs

·        Brian Cuccia of NJ Department of Transportation

·        Warren Strumpfer of the DVRPC Regional Citizens Committee

·        Hank D’Andrea of the South Jersey Port Corporation

No one was in attendance from the NJ Division of the Federal Highway Administration

# # #     Regular Meeting of the Evesham Township Council (December 2, 2003)

Work Session – Department of Transportation Letter re: Marlton Circle Project:

Deputy Mayor D’Andrea stated concern over the Marlton Circle Project and the possible effect the project will have on traffic patterns along Brick Road and Evesham Road.  Council wishes to have these concerns addressed and included in the overall scope of the project by DOT.  Deputy Mayor D’Andrea explained that a letter had been sent to DOT requesting a detailed time line for the Circle Project.

Township Manager Sasdelli informed Council he had received a response to his letter to DOT.  The current estimated start date for the Marlton Circle Project is the Spring of 2006, with anticipated finish in the Summer of 2008.  He suggested a follow-up letter to DOT, requesting clarification of their statement “if funds are available”.  He will also enclose the two studies done by Traffic Engineer Orth and request a meeting with them.

Council consensus to send additional letter seeking clarification.

# # #     DVRPC FY 2004 Major Project Status

Route 73/70, Marlton Circle Elimination (5) – The Marlton Circle, at the intersection of Route 70 and 73, will be eliminated; a grade-separated interchange (Route 73 over Route 70) will be constructed.  The primary objective is to improve traffic flow and thereby reduce congestion on Route 73 and Route 70 through the intersection.  Preliminary design is underway.  Field survey is complete and base maps and CED being prepared.  This project will require significant right of way acquisitions and utility relocation.

# # #     NJDOT Projects FY 2004-06 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

Project ID No. 567

TIP No. 567

Mileposts 23.90 – 24.5

Legislative District: 8

Sponsor: NJDOT

Program Category: Congestion Management – Hwy Operational Improvements

Route/Program 73/70, Marlton Circle Elimination (5) – The Marlton Circle, at the intersection of Route 70 and Route 73, will be eliminated; a grade-separated interchange (Route 73 over Route 70) will be constructed.  The primary objective is to improve traffic flow and thereby reduce congestion on Route 73 and Route 70 through the intersection. 

This project is funded under the provisions of Section 13 of P.L. 1995, c.108.  This is a multi-year funded Transportation Trust Fund construction project.  Total Transportation Trust Fund needed for construction is anticipated to be $34,400,000.

# # #     NJDOT Route 73 Corridor Study

Response to June 30, 2004 Public Meeting:  The last Route 73 public meeting (held on June 30, 2004) provided good public input on some problem intersections.  In response to that meeting, NJDOT is moving ahead with several short-term  “quick fixes” for these intersections, including the Route 73 / Ramblewood Parkway / Church Road safety improvements.

September 2004 Update:  Projects within the Route 73 Corridor Study Limits

Project Name: Marlton Circle Elimination (Route 70 & Route 73)

Project Goal:  To improve traffic flow and reduce congestion, the circle will be replaced by a grade-separated interchange.

Construction Schedule:  Fall 2006 to Fall 2009

You are invited to a two-part Community Design Workshop

on October 12 and November 9, 2004:

·        October 12, 2004 (6-9pm): Short formal presentation at 7pm outlining the results of past public meetings and the new “big picture” approach.  Followed by small group table worksessions.  (Held at Mt. Laurel Senior Center, 100 Mt. Laurel Road). 

·        October 13, 2004 (6-8pm): Informal, no presentation.  Drop-in anytime between 6pm to 8pm to talk one-on-one with the onsite study team and help refine initial ideas.

·        November 9, 2004 (6-9pm):  Formal presentation at 7pm to review the preliminary alternatives generated from the October 12 meeting.  Followed by small group table worksessions.

# # #     EasyRider (Autumn 2004)

(Mentioned) NJDOT’s Southern District Traffic Operations Center in Cherry Hill.

Ask Riki Rideshare:

Dear Riki,    While I was driving on Route 73, I saw a sign for a “safe corridor” and that fines were doubled in that area.  Ouch!  What is a safe corridor?  Thanks!     A Concerned Speeder

Dear Speedy,

Ouch is right, darling.  Not only are fines doubled in Safe Corridor areas, but if you are caught drining on the shoulder, an eight point penalty will be issued. . . . . safe corridors were designed to protect us on some of New Jersey’s most dangerous roads which, anyone who has maneuvered the Marlton circle can tell you, qualifies Route 73 for inclusion.

The Safe Corridor for Route 73 runs from Voorhees to Maple Shade (mileposts 20 to 30) and was designated based on the accident rates, number of fatal accidents, and traffic volume. . . . .

Cautiously yours,

Riki

# # #     BASELINE  (December, 2005)

BASELINE is a publication of American Society of Highway Engineers Region 6 – Southern New Jersy Section  (www.reg6ashe.org )

In their “ASHE – SOUTHERN NJ SECTION CALENDAR OF EVENTS (2005 – 2006)” was the notification of their January 18, 2006 Monthly Dinner Meeting.  The topic was stated as “Marlton Circle Elimination and Past President’s Night”.  The program topic, “Marlton Circle Elimination”, was presented by Steven Locke, Project Manager with Urban Engineers, Inc  One of this organization’s “Newsletter & Scholarship Sponsors” is Urban Engineers, Inc. ( www.urbanengineers.com ) located in the Kevon Office Center, 2500 McClellan Avenue, Suite 200, Pennsauken, NJ  08109.

# # #     MedfordCentralRecord.com  (03/01/2006)

Marlton Circle Elimination Project Still a Long Way Off

by Rose Krebs – The Central Record staff

Evesham – A start date has been pushed back until Summer 2007 to begin construction on an overpass that will take Route 73 over Route 70, thereby eliminating the heavily traveled and often congested Marlton Circle.

Construction was slated to begin early this year, but that target date has been pushed back until next summer by state officials.  If all goes as planned, said Erin Fallon, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation (DOT).  “Given the high traffic volume on these two highways, the elimination of the Marlton Circle is among NJDOT’s top priorities,” Fallon said.

Officials believe an overpass will help “increase mobility” and “promote more safety,” Fallon said.  The project is listed in the DOT’s “congestion management” category.

Funding, in the amount of $50.4 million, is “programmed,” Fallon said, meaning the project is already budgeted by the state.

Sitework is already ongoing at the site, and has been for about a year.  Final design is also ongoing.  Urban Engineers, Inc. of Pennsauken is designing the project.

Earlier this month, council passed a resolution that changes slightly a prior resolution in support of the state’s plan to eliminate the Marlton Circle with an overpass.  The revisions deal with a service road that was going to be built to provide access to DeSimone BMW, which is no longer located at its former site off Route 73.

A Public Storage facility is now located at the site.  Rather than creating the service road, as was conditioned in the old resolution, an amendment was made to simply request that an entry/exit on Route 73 be improved during construction.

Proposed plans are to construct an overpass that will span about 2,200 feet, taking Route 73 over Route 70.  The overpass would span from near the Kohl’s driveway to near Champps Americana restaurant.

A series of service roads, jughandles and traffic lights are also planned and numerous traffic movements will be changed by construction.

Construction will reportedly be done in three phases, with two lanes of traffic to be maintained throughout phases.  Given current congestion at the circle, traffic during the three years of construction will obviously be trying at best.

Access from Routes 73 and 70 to several businesses will be changed by construction, a factor that has raised concerns from some business owners and township officials.

A copy of plans for the overpass is available on the township’s Web site at www.twp.evesham.nj.us .

Plans to eliminate the Marlton Circle have been in the works for more than a decade.

Formerly, the circle was to be eliminated by creating an “at grade” intersection with traffic signals.  In more recent years, officials endorsed the overpass plan.  Township officials have asked the DOT to consider improvements to other nearby intersections that might be impacted by the project.

In specific, council authorized township engineer H. Richard Orth to study the Route 73 and Brick Road and Evesham Road intersections.  Council has expressed concerns that the overpass will simply create a situation in which traffic at other intersections – many of which are already congested at peak and even other hours – is bottlenecked.

In his report, Orth recommended widening and the addition of left-turn lanes at Brick and Evesham Roads.  However, state officials have indicated that it will be difficult to do any improvement work before the overpass is complete.

Orth’s report indicated improvements at Brick and Evesham Roads and Route 73 will cost an estimated $1 million.

As construction to eliminate the Marlton Circle nears, the state is expected to hold public information sessions to educate residents, motorists, business owners or any other interested parties.

The DOT is already conducting a study of the Route 73 corridor in the Mt. Laurel area, leading into the Evesham and Marlton Circle area.  Several improvements to Route 73 are already planned or ongoing in Mt. Laurel.

 # # #     Marlton Circle Elimination Project – Summer 2007  (March 3, 2006)

In a Google search, the link http://www.evesham-nj.gov/njdot_70-73.htm states “Here is the link to the Evesham Township page regarding the proposed changes to the Marlton Circle”. 

 # # #     Village View – Marlton Village Homeowners Association  (March, 2006)

On March 21, 2006, the NJ Dept. of Transportation will update Evesham Council on the Marlton Circle Elimination Project.  If you are interested, there will be an information center set up in the municipal meeting room on Monday, March 27^th, from 4pm to 7pm.   (mvhoa@verizon.net) .

# # #     Regular Meeting of the Evesham Township Council (March 21, 2006)

Work Session – Route 70/73 Marlton Circle Project – NJDOT:

Lew Branin, Community Relations Representative of the NJDOT, together with Frank Inverso, Project Manager and Steve Locke, Urban Engineering, presented final design plans for the elimination of the Marlton Circle.  They informed the public that construction is to begin in September 2007 and continue for approximately two years.  Mr. Inverso stated that access will be maintained during construction.

Mr. Branin stated that a public information meeting is scheduled for March 27, 2006 at the Municipal Building, at which time more detailed models and staging boards will be available for viewing.

Mr. Inverso presented project details, including the use of an overpass on Route 73 to bridge over Route 70.  He further reviewed plan elements.

Deputy Mayor Cardillo inquired if affected local businesses would receive DOT assistance.  Mr. Locke stated that DOT is required to relocate any businesses permanently affected by reconstruction.

Councilwoman Olt inquired regarding traffic control provisions during construction.

Council requested DOT, to the best of their ability, utilize local police department staff for traffic control.

Councilwoman Sarcone inquired if there would be a post impact study completed.  Mr. Branin stated there would be.

Deputy Mayor Cardillo allowed for public questions.

Charles Allbee, 28 Knightswood Drive, suggested the widening of Route 70 from two lanes to four lanes through to the Red Lion Circle.

Gerry Bontempo, 319 Brandywine Drive, expressed his concern over Greentree Road being used as a cut through to Route 70.

Sidney Greenblatt, 10 Sunflower Court, inquired regarding DOT’s estimate of future traffic volume.

Mr. Inverso stated that consideration of increased volume is included during continued monitoring and studying and will progress with a smart growth plan.

Township Manager Sasdelli thanked DOT members for coming and for addressing the traffic situation at the Marlton Circle.

 # # #     The Evesham Informer (July 1, 2006)

It seems quite peculiar that the Circle construction which was slated to begin in the Spring of 2006 has been pushed back until after the Evesham Township’s May Municipal Elections of 2007.

 # # #     The Evesham Informer (July 1, 2006)

Danger! No Through Traffic

by Staff Writer

If there is one thing that Evesham residents can count on in the near future, more traffic congestion!

According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Project Coordinator, Frank Inverso, the issue that needs some answers is how bad the local traffic congestion will become during the construction period.

The Marlton Circle is New Jersey’s #2 site for traffic accidents.  There were 110 crashes in one year.  Presently, this intersection sees 80,000 vehicles a day, with an estimate of 110,000 vehicles per day by the year 2027.  WOW!

More than likely these numbers do not include another 20-30,000 vehicles speeding through the feeder streets.  This is one of the dirty little secrets that NJDOT and Evesham officials don’t like to discuss.  These feeder roads include Cropwell Road, Centre Boulevard, Baker Boulevard, Lincoln Drive, North Maple, South Maple, Main Street, North Locust Avenue, Radnor, Knox Boulevard, Brick Road and Meadow Lane which have all become well-known shortcut-superhighways.

The increased traffic volume into these residental neighborhoods has put many of our children and residents in serious peril.  This was an issue prior to the Circle’s construction and will become an even greater concern during the rebuild.

This component of the Circle construction needs to be addressed as a priority.  The resulting impact on the residents could end in a tragedy or tragedies.

Since Evesham’s police department spends a significant amount of time on traffic accidents and motor vehicle stops throughout our township, NJDOT has offered for 2 or 3 NJ State Troopers to assist with traffic flow at the Circle during construction.

Who is going to protect these residential neighborhoods from this huge increase in traffic volume on the already dangerous feeder streets?

 # # #     The Burlington County Times (July 23, 2007) 

DOT's plan for Marlton Circle has opponents

By DANIELLE CAMILLI

EVESHAM — State Department of Transportation officials say their newest timeline for the project to eliminate the congested Marlton Circle and replace it with an overpass calls for construction to begin next spring.

Township resident Lynn O'Connell is hoping that gives her enough time to get the Transportation Department to reconsider its plan to carry Route 73 traffic over Route 70. O'Connell knows she's facing a battle, but she's hoping a grass-roots, community-based effort could change the future of the intersection.

O'Connell began canvassing the township this summer with informational fliers that direct residents to a Web site, www.marltoncircle.com, where O'Connell and her supporters advocate a plan that calls for an “intelligent intersection” with “smart lights” that react to real-time traffic conditions.   The “smart lights” would remain green in only one direction at a time, allowing all the traffic flowing in that direction to go straight, turn left or right or make a U-turn.

A meeting to discuss the circle and mobilize a campaign for the “intelligent intersection” plan is schedule for 8 p.m. Wednesday at Olga's Diner at the Marlton Circle.

O'Connell said she objects to “the powers-that-be dictating to local residents a solution that will not solve Marlton's broader traffic problems but will create a tangled mess of driving for many of us and will destroy the character of the central part of our historic community.”

The DOT said the $40 million project was developed with extensive input from the Evesham community and included numerous public-information work sessions and public hearings on the plan.

In 2001, the then-Township Council passed a resolution of support for the overpass plan after a series of meetings reviewing several options to improve the intersection, which is ranked as one of the most dangerous in the state.   O'Connell said she did not participate in those sessions.

In addition to the overpass, the project calls for a series of new jug handles and five new traffic signals to control roads. Some 75,000 to 80,000 vehicles travel through the intersection each day. Once improved, intersection will be able to accommodate up to 100,000 vehicles a day, DOT officials have said.

DOT spokeswoman Sandra Gutarra said the department has been working on plans to improve the circle for 15 years. Before settling on the overpass plan, the state was working on an at-grade solution, but officials said such a solution would not accommodate expected future traffic volumes as well as an overpass would.

“We have looked at every possible scenario, and this is the most effective solution, and, above all, it is the safest for the community,” Gutarra said.   The DOT worked with Evesham residents and officials over the years “to ensure the project is built right,” she said

“The DOT does not anticipate any changes now,” Gutarra said. “This is a project that has been reviewed extensively and has garnered support from many entities, including the Federal Highway Administration, township officials and neighboring communities.”

The project is in the final design phase, and the DOT is working with nearby property owners to acquire land it needs for the project.

Mayor Randy Brown said he is hoping to meet with the DOT by the end of the summer to discuss the overpass plan.   “I certainly understand the concerns and the impact to the community,” he said. “We need to try to make it work in the best interests of everyone.”

O'Connell, a township resident since 1984, said she understands the circle needs to be improved, but she doesn't believe an overpass will provided the desired results.

“Our plan involves a much less expensive and much shorter construction period while calling attention to the fact that NJDOT's overpass plan will not reduce congestion within or beyond a 1-mile radius of the location where Routes 70 and 73 intersect,” she said.

O'Connell also contends the DOT plan will result in a complicated configuration of roads, bypass local businesses and change the small-town character of Evesham.

 # # #     Courier Post Online (July 23, 2007) 

Welcome to Your Community Blog:  Evesham

posted by Terri Shirley-Summerhayes

We have not yet begun to fight . . .

It seems that not everybody in Marlton is happy with the state's plan for eliminating the Marlton Circle despite what former mayor and council have said. There are many people unhappy with the prospect of an overpass replacing the circle.

A group has formed to fight the nasty plan of bisecting our town with an ugly overpass. It was started by Lynn O'Connell and the group is having an organizational meeting on Wednesday, July 25th at 8:00 p.m. at Olga's Diner. The group will come up with a plan of action to fight the plan as it stands now.

I honestly thought I might be the only one who feels that an overpass will completely change the entire atmosphere of our town. Maybe others feel the same, but thought they couldn't do anything about it. The formation of this group makes me extremely happy.

Check them out at http://www.marltoncircle.com/. And join the fight!