PETERSBURG — While Upper Township is crisscrossed by miles and miles of road, Township Committee is not responsible for most of the busier byways.
Roosevelt Boulevard, Routes 9 and 50, Tuckahoe Road, Butter Road, Tyler Road, Stagecoach Road, Corson’s Tavern Road and Kings Highway are all owned and maintained by the county, state or federal government.
That still leaves miles and miles of roads in the sprawling township that must be repaired by the Department of Public Works or through contracted crews.
Deputy Mayor Victor Nappen said Aug. 11 that the public may believe work is done arbitrarily but assured them there is a method to the madness.
Now, Township Committee is taking a closer look at that method and plans to study all of the roads to create a formal schedule.
“We’ve been in discussion on coming up with a transparent way to use data to drive how we’re going to fix certain things,” he said. “We’re just coming up with a good way to do that.”
Township Administrator Jimmy Van Zlike said he has been working with the engineering committee and the Department of Public Works regarding a Township Roadway Improvement Master Plan.
He called it a “data-driven method” to assess the township’s roads. They will be scored on a scale of 1 to 10, and then ranked based on population density, usage and number of people that would be affected.
“Then that would be used to advise future roadway projects and bond use,” Van Zlike said, noting the township traditionally bonds every two years for such projects.
“This will advise which roads we repair, when, why, and that will give us a foresight to basically model all the roads in the township and put them on here associated with it so people have an idea of when the roads are going to be repaired and can plan accordingly,” he said.
Caldwell Park pickleball
In other business, Van Zlike said he attended a pre-construction meeting for the athletic court resurfacing at Caldwell Park. The project involves demolishing two of the four tennis courts and extending the surface to create as many as 12 pickleball courts.
Additional improvements consist of resurfacing and color coating the remaining tennis courts at Caldwell Park, along with basketball courts and the hockey rink at Amanda’s Field.
“We look forward to breaking ground in the coming weeks,” Van Zlike said, noting the Department of Public Works has been preparing the site.
Combining boards
Mayor Curtis Corson suggested combining the planning and zoning boards to save money.
Committeeman Tyler Casaccio noted there has been little on the board agendas recently.
“The last month, there’s almost nothing for either board,” he said.
“The agendas have been light and if we can combine the boards — most municipalities in our region have already done that — and it’s a cost savings for professionals, everything,” Corson added.
“I’m all for streamlining and cost savings, so sounds good to me,” Nappen said
Solicitor John Amenhauser will draft a document to be considered, possibly at the next meeting scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Aug. 25.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff