Speed Limit On P. Valley Way Near West Orange Schools Lowered – West Orange, NJ Patch

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Essex County’s freeholders have given the thumbs up to reduce the speed limit on Pleasant Valley Way in West Orange. The affected roadway is located near West Orange High School and Kelly Elementary School.

During their Dec. 19 meeting, the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders unanimously voted to approve a resolution to cut the speed limit from 30 mph to 25. The board’s resolution coincides with the township’s recently adopted ordinance, which passed on Oct. 16.

“Road safety is one of the most important roles any township faces,” Mayor Robert Parisi said, standing in unison with the board. “The decreased speed limit will give both motorists and pedestrians the opportunity to see each other and reduce accidents.”

The freeholders provided the following joint statement about the new speed limit:

“Pleasant Valley Way, also known as County Route 636, is a high traffic arterial roadway under Essex County jurisdiction. The street stretches from open areas with little to no foot traffic, in the vicinity of Turtle Back Zoo and South Mountain Reservation, to a mixed residential, retail, and concentrated pedestrian environment that ends at the intersection of Bloomfield Avenue in Verona. With West Orange High School and Kelly Elementary school at the center of this corridor, the Board of Freeholders acted in accordance with the West Orange Town Council in an effort to protect county citizens from the dangers of high speed traffic accidents, while being in compliance with School Speed Zone limits.”

“In light of the recent string of pedestrian accident fatalities throughout Essex County, the Board of Freeholders is prepared to enact any and all measures that can be taken to protect our citizens, especially children and young people, from the dangers of traffic accidents,” President Brendan Gill said.

Citing recent tragedies in Montclair, Millburn and other areas in Essex County, Gill said that town and county officials plan to “keep lines of communication open” to improve safety.

Don’t forget to visit the Patch West Orange Facebook page here. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Main Photo: Google Maps