Pleasant surprise at Council's agenda-setting session

PSEG will be remediating the area outlined in white.
(Image courtesy PSEG.)

The Lord knows I am not a particular fan of "discussion items" at Council sessions (they are often hastily prepared and poorly delivered), nor am I fond of Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, so it was a pleasant surprise on Tuesday to witness two excellent presentations -- where PowerPoint was properly used.

PowerPoint, which I consider the most-abused software ever devised, is often used by unimaginative people who simply recite the contents of every slide (as you are scanning it to yourself). Boring!

Both presenters on Tuesday used the tool the way it is meant to be used -- to provide a visual hook for other information which the presenter is going to give you in a conversational manner.

Representatives of Union County and of PSEG presented to the Council (and the handful of members of the public present) two projects of interest to all Plainfielders that will be unfolding over the next year or so.

UNION COUNTY INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS

Union County will be making safety and other improvements to four East Front Street intersections -- Watchung Avenue, Roosevelt Avenue, Sandford Avenue and Richmond Street/Norwood Avenue.

The project is in the design phase now, with actual work expected to begin in Fall 2019 and continue through the summer of 2020.

The most interesting elements of the plan are to move the New Jersey Transit bus stop on the southeast corner of Watchung Avenue at East Front Street to the northeast corner, alongside the Payless Shoe Store.

This will free up Watchung Avenue to allow unimpeded flow of traffic northbound at this intersection -- particularly easing the way for those making right turns onto East Front Street.

The other improvement of note will be an ADA-compliant crossing in front of the Plainfield Senior Center at the tee with Sandford Avenue. A new pedestrian-activated crossing mechanism will cause a red light and full traffic stop so that pedestrians may cross.

PSEG 4TH STREET REMEDIATION

PSEG made a presentation on the remediation that is to be done on the public/police parking lots behind Police Headquarters and across 4th Street against the NJ Transit tracks.

Once upon a time (from the 1860s to the 1950s) this had been the site of the Plainfield Manufactured Gas Plant. Decommissioned in 1926, it was the site of PSEG's regional offices until the City of Plainfield acquired the property in the 1950s.

Beginning in January 2019 and continuing for 12 to 16 months, PSEG will be removing contaminated soil -- to a depth of approximately 14 feet -- and replacing it with clean fill.

Folks may recall that about 15 years ago, New Jersey Transit asphalted the lot between the tracks and 4th Street as part of its renovation of the main train station. Though the lot was supposed to be entirely set aside for commuter parking, the eastern half or so was soon taken over for police vehicles, some of them "retired".

This project is being required by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection and will follow strict guidelines so as to avoid air, odor or particulate contamination during the entire process.

Not only this, PSEG has set up a website where (they say) they will post weekly updates on the work's progress. You can see the website -- which has been up for a while -- here.

The website is already loaded with background information and FAQs so most questions are probably already answered. But in the event there are more questions, PSEG has a Project Information Line at (888) 970-1006 and you can email them at comments@plainfieldmgp.com.

TAKING UP A GOOD IDEA?

The idea of a project website is really so good, that I wonder whether the Council may not make such a move a requirement of other projects in the future.

Council meets for its business session next Tuesday, December 11, at 8:00 PM in the Council Chambers / Courthouse, Watchung Avenue and East 4th Street. Parking available on the street or in the lot across from Police Headquarters.

Mayor Mapp will present the FUSP proclamation at next week's meeting.

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 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

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