Berkeley Heights Council Votes Down Four-Way Stop Ordinance at Washington Street and Berkeley Avenue

Berkeley Heights Township Council voted down an ordinance that would have created a four-way stop at the intersection of Washington Street and Berkeley Avenue. The decision came after months of debate and public input on the traffic safety proposal.

Ordinance 2026-22 would have added stop signs on all approaches to the T-shaped intersection. Berkeley Avenue currently has a stop sign; the ordinance would have required stops on the other approaches as well.

During the public hearing, Steve Carrellas of Sycamore Avenue was the only resident to speak. Carrellas, citing decades of traffic engineering experience, urged the council to reject the ordinance. He argued that the engineering study prepared by Neglia did not justify the additional signs under the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, the standard that state law requires municipalities to follow when making traffic control decisions.

The council’s vote to reject the ordinance reflects adherence to federal traffic control standards and engineering analysis rather than the proposed four-way stop configuration. Union County Life has more Berkeley Heights news and government updates.

FAQ:

Q: What was Ordinance 2026-22?
A: The ordinance would have created a four-way stop at the intersection of Washington Street and Berkeley Avenue by adding stop signs on all approaches to the T-shaped intersection. Berkeley Avenue currently has a stop sign.

Q: Why did the council reject the ordinance?
A: The council cited the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which state law requires municipalities to follow. The engineering study prepared by Neglia did not justify the additional stops under these federal standards.

Q: Did any residents speak during the public hearing?
A: Yes. Steve Carrellas of Sycamore Avenue spoke during the public hearing. Carrellas, who said he has decades of traffic engineering experience, urged the council to reject the ordinance based on the federal traffic control standards.

Q: Is Berkeley Avenue currently a stop sign intersection?
A: Berkeley Avenue already has a stop sign at this intersection. The ordinance would have added stops on the other approaches to create a four-way stop.