Council, BOE to Partner on WHS Parking Plan

For the second in the last decade, the Town Council and Board of Education have decided to work together on issues surrounding parking and traffic safety in the neighborhood surrounding Westfield High School.

Councilwoman Joann Neylan, the chairwoman of the Council's public safety committee, announced Tuesday evening that the two bodies will be working together to develop a plan to address the issues in the neighborhood. The decision comes after a survey of high school students and parents indicated an opposition to a parking option at the Armory costing more than $100, and the state not dropping the price for renting of the Armory parking lot.

Neylan said the survey also indicated a series of pedestrian and traffic safety issues in the neighborhood, which is being defined as the area around the high school, Rahway Avenue around Edison Intermediate School and Kehler Stadium and Westfield Avenue near Lincoln School, along with the streets connecting the landmarks.

Neylan identified the issues as being car traffic for the four locations, idleing buses for athletic teams at Kehler, bus and car traffic at Lincoln and student parking and driving around the high school. The high school parking issue has been a top concern of residents and students in the area, with residents telling the BOE that they could not park in front of their homes or pull safely out of their driveways due to parking on streets such as Dorian Road headed west of Rahway Avenue. Parking on other streets is restricted to students, forcing student drivers on to Dorian and other parts of Rahway Avenue. Students have been seeking more parking closer to the high school.

The BOE announced last month that the Armory parking plan is off the table due to the high cost for rental being sought by the state department of military and veterans affairs. BOE President Julia Walker attended the Council meeting as a sign of support between the two bodies, noting she can see the two groups developing a plan.

"The possible solution can be found if we work together," Walker said.

The high school parking issue dominated the fourth ward Council last year, with winning Councilman Keith Loughlin indicating that he does not see Armory plan as dead. Loughlin indicated on Tuesday evening that he wants to see a plan developed that works for both residents and students.

This is the second time the Council and the BOE have worked together on the parking and traffic safety issue. Former BOE member Richard Solomon told Patch that the 2003 study, initiated by former BOE President Arlene Gardiner, developed a series of plans including the possibility of alternate side of the street parking for students. Solomon said the plans fell apart after more streets were closed off to students.

The proposal to handle the parking and traffic safety issue as a package was met by opposition from Councilwoman Vicki Kimmins who said she does not see a connection between the issues. She said she sees the parking issue as one and the Kehler, Edison and Lincoln issues as a second issue. Kimmins said she does not see high school students choosing to park near Edison, which has been suggested by Loughlin and others. Kimmins indicated she would like the issues tackled separately.

"These are two different areas," she said. This is one issue and another."

Town Administrator Jim Gildea explained to Kimmins that the issue needs to be tackled as a package, due to the interconnections of the neighborhood.

"The whole area is tied together," he said.

Neylan said going forward her committee will be meeting with BOE members on a regular basis to discuss parking and traffic safety issues. As part of the plan, the town's traffic safety consultant will be brought into the discussions to help develop a plan.

"I feel happy and excited about the prospect of a traffic professional," Neylan said.