Ridgewood reports no issues opening Clinton Avenue during school hours

RIDGEWOOD — No complaints have reached police following an end to the 60-year practice of closing Clinton Avenue during arrival and dismissal times at Ridge School.

Police Chief Forest Lyons said Tuesday that "parents have reached out and commented on how safe they feel walking on sidewalks compared to the roadway."

"This is a sharp contrast to last year when we received numerous complaints in the first few weeks of school from these same parents about pedestrian safety on Clinton Avenue," Lyons said.

Lyons said officers monitoring the intersection of Clinton and West Ridgewood avenues from Sept. 3 to Sept. 9 reported no traffic accidents, congestion, unreasonable delays or double parking during school travel times.

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"No more than one or two cars per minute used Clinton Avenue during drop-off and pickup times," Lyons said. "This volume is consistent with most other side streets near our elementary schools."

Earlier this year Lyons questioned whether the village could legally restrict traffic on public streets to a specific group.

Clinton Avenue residents and their guests were allowed to use the street when it was closed to the general public during morning, midday and afternoon student travel times. The midday closing ended in 2017 when the district shifted to all-day kindergarten.

The state transportation department ruled that the ordinance closing the street "does not have any legal force or effect unless approved by the commissioner." On Sept. 4, the Village Council voted to rescind the street closure and approved parking restrictions similar to those around its other schools.

To facilitate pedestrian traffic, a $230,000 sidewalk was installed on the west side of Clinton Avenue in August as part of a $600,000 improvement program approved in March to enhance foot traffic safety throughout the village.

"The Clinton Avenue sidewalk and increased police presence to monitor and assist our families has been a smooth one," said Ridge School Interim Principal Michelle Melucci. "To date, we have not had any questions, comments or complaints about the new traffic patterns and sidewalk installation."

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ridgewood reports no issues opening Clinton Avenue during school hours