City wants to bar downtown Paterson motorists from making right turn on red
By Jayed Rahman
Published: October 6, 2017
The city is seeking to forbid motorists from making right turn on red light in the downtown Paterson commercial business area to improve safety for pedestrians. The governing body on Tuesday granted preliminary approval to bar drivers from making right turns on red at 16 intersections, mostly in downtown Paterson.
Council members were somewhat divided on barring right turn on red in the busy intersections. William McKoy, Shahin Khalique, Alex Mendez, Andre Sayegh, and Luis Velez supported the measure.
“I think the inconvenience will improve pedestrian safety,” said William McKoy, 3rd Ward councilman.
Andre Sayegh, 6th Ward councilman, mentioned motorists’ inability to make right turn on red in New York City. He thinks the new measure will protect shoppers from being hit by vehicles while crossing the intersections.
Councilmen Michael Jackson and Kenneth Morris thought it will create great inconvenience for drivers.
“We’re going to create more laws, but we have a shortage of cops to enforce,” said Jackson, who represents the 1st Ward, where majority of the intersections are in. “I’m not sure this is going to have an impact. It’s more of a hindrance.”
The same proposal was put off in April. It had 20 intersections rather than the 16 now.
“Personally, I like the ability to make that right turn on red. It helps speed up my commute,” said Morris, councilman at-large.
Turn on red will be prohibited in most of the intersections from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.:
- Main Street and Broadway
- Main Street and Van Houten Street
- Main Street and Ellison Street
- Main Street and Market Street
- Main Street and Ward Street
- Grand Street and Railroad Avenue (no turn on red anytime)
- Main Street and Grand Street
- Grand Street and Marshall Street
- Grand Street and Mill Street
- Mill Street and McBride Avenue extension (no turn on red any time)
- Memorial Drive and Ellison Street
- Memorial Drive and Market Street
- Market Street and Washington Street
- Market Street and Cianci Street
- Market Street and Mill Street
- Market Street and Spruce Street (no turn on red any time).
The measure received preliminary approval in a 5-2 vote.
Council members will hold a public hearing on Oct. 24, 2017 at 7 p.m. inside City Hall prior to granting final approval.
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