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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 23 January 2018

American Living:

Town beset by traffic via navigation apps closes off streets

By DAVID PORTER traffic,” he said.
Associated Press That said, Rowe said Waze
LEONIA, N.J. (AP) — A small has been “extremely help-
town near the world’s busi- ful and extremely coopera-
est bridge is putting up the tive” and has changed its
“keep out” sign for motor- app to reflect the road clo-
ists seeking a shortcut to it, sures.
the latest example of the A Waze spokeswoman
effects navigation apps didn’t return a message
are having on communities seeking comment Monday.
located near major choke- Rowe said his officers initial-
points. ly will give motorists warn-
As a response to apps like ings but eventually will be-
Waze and Apple Maps that gin writing tickets.
reroute some of the tens Some critics have ques-
of thousands of vehicles tioned the legality of the
headed to the George street restrictions but are
Washington Bridge each waiting to see how the plan
morning, Leonia on Mon- shakes out. Rowe said the
day started barring the use town has done its home-
of side streets to non-resi- work and a U.S. Supreme
dents during the morning Court decision in a Virginia
and evening commutes. case involving parking re-
Violators could face $200 strictions appears to sup-
fines. port Leonia’s stance.
Local officials and police A do not enter street sign stands in Leonia, N.J., on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, where local officials are Steve Carrellas, New Jer-
have said the decision isn’t trying to reduce traffic congestion on their way to the nearby George Washington Bridge into New sey representative of the
a hasty one and they’ve York. As a response to navigation apps that re-route some of the tens of thousands of vehicles National Motorists Associa-
done extensive studies of headed to the bridge, Leonia is to start imposing fines Monday on non-residents who drive on tion, an advocacy group,
traffic patterns. residential streets during the morning and evening commutes. disagreed.
Police Chief Thomas Rowe (AP Photo/David Porter) “They may be able to do
said studies have shown implemented turn restric- said. mayor of Fort Lee for not something, but not as ex-
more than 2,000 vehicles tions during commuting More than 140,000 vehicles endorsing him. Christie de- treme as they’re doing,” he
often pass through town hours, and several towns in cross the bridge each day, nied any knowledge of the said.
from just one of the three the Boston area have redi- most during commuting scheme, but three people Leonia’s plan has struck a
exits off Interstate 95. The rected traffic or are seeking hours, and when there is close to him either pleaded chord around the world:
town has about 9,200 resi- permission to do so. an accident, lane closure guilty or were convicted at Rowe and Mayor Judah
dents and a police force of Maria Favale, who has or other problem, it has a trial. Zeigler have fielded inter-
18. lived in Leonia for nearly 30 ripple effect. On one such Leonia’s traffic problems view requests from France
The three exits off a major years, said she tried to get day in 2014, a woman in have been exacerbated and Canada and from the
highway and the proximity to her church one morn- Leonia was struck and in the last several years as major television networks.
to the bridge, which con- ing through the congest- dragged by a school bus navigation apps have ex- Road crews have been
nects Fort Lee, New Jersey, ed downtown and nearly and later died. ploded in popularity. The putting “Do Not Enter” signs
and New York City, put the gave up. Leonia is about 2 miles (3.2 apps are programmed on about 60 side streets
town “in a unique situation Standing outside the bor- kilometers) from the George to send motorists to faster in town. Residents are ex-
here,” Rowe said. “We are ough hall Monday, she no- Washington Bridge, where routes, not necessarily with empted from the restric-
a small town in a very busy ticed a marked difference: aides to Republican then- regard for where those tions if they display yellow
area with a very small po- fewer cars. Gov. Chris Christie were routes go, Rowe said. tags hanging from their
lice force.” “I don’t know if it’s because accused of deliberately “Sometimes I think they rearview mirrors.
Other towns have taken it’s the first day and people closing access lanes and need to do a better job Rowe said if his officers nev-
similar steps. Fremont, Cali- are worried about tickets, causing traffic jams in 2013 of seeing whether a road er write one ticket, he’d be
fornia, north of San Jose, but it’s been great,” Favale to spite the Democratic is suitable for cut-through happy.q