Officials: Year of Traffic Studies Drove Decision to Lower Herbertsville Road Speed Limit

Speed Limit and directional signs on Herbertsville Road, Brick, N.J., Oct. 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)

A year of traffic studies and data collection was the determining factor in Ocean County recommending a reduction of the speed limit on a portion of Herbertsville Road from 45 m.p.h. to 40 m.p.h., which the Brick Township council introduced in ordinance form this week.

The proposal was recommended by County Engineer John Ernst, said Brick Township Councilman Derrick T. Ambrosino, following “complaints from multiple residents.”

“Two speed studies were conducted along that portion of Herbertsville Road,” said Ambrosino, the first of which took place at the beginning of the year.

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The studies were conducted from Jan. 17 to Jan. 23 in the vicinity of Sawmill Road, and the second from Jan. 24 to Jan 30, in the vicinity of Albermarle Road. After the data was collected, county officials calculated vehicle speeds, 85th percentile speeds (the speed at which at least 85 percent of motorists naturally drive), the number of vehicles exceeding the speed limit by 5 m.p.h. and the number who exceed it by 10 m.p.h.

On county roads, local officials must agree to change the speed limit in the municipal traffic ordinance, after which the county updates its own ordinances and replaces signage. Ernst recommended the change in July.

Speed Limit and directional signs on Herbertsville Road, Brick, N.J., Oct. 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)

Speed Limit and directional signs on Herbertsville Road, Brick, N.J., Oct. 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)

The council’s ordinance passed unanimously Tuesday night. If approved after a public hearing and second vote at the next meeting, the ordinance would lower the speed limit from 45 m.p.h. to 40 m.p.h. between Maple Avenue and Lanes Mill Road. The intersection with Lanes Mill Road also serves as the intersection with Thiele Road, best known for being the location of Epiphany Church’s parish hall. Maple Avenue is the location of the Krauszer’s convenience store. Both intersections are controlled by traffic lights.

“The collective data supports lowering the speed limit to 40 m.p.h.,” Ambrosino said.