Minutes from the Dec. 11th, 2003 West Windsor Bicycle/Pedestrian Meeting

 

Meeting Attendees: Roger Alig, Peter Bilton, Ken Carlson, Sue Conlon, Dan Gerstenhaber, Arnold Kelly, Ken Leon, Alison Miller, Ham Pakradooni, Sandy Shapiro

Guests: Jack Molenaar

 

Web site:  http://www.princetonol.com/groups/bikeped/

 

Year in Review

·     Ken C began the meeting by thanking the members of the Task Force for their hard work this year.  Ken gave a brief review of the accomplishments of the Task Force this year.  These include:

·     Application and successful funding for the Local Planning Assistance Grant (Orth-Rodgers consultants)

·     Generation of a comprehensive sidewalk inventory

·     Working with Millstone Rd residents to understand sidewalk needs and concerns

·     Preparation of Local Aid Grant for bikelanes on Southfield and Edinburg Roads

·     Advocacy for Bike/Ped bridge over Route 1, including petition with over 450 signatures

·     Application and successful funding for DEP Recreational Trail Grant and Amersham Community Project (totaling $30,000) to develop the Millstone River Trail

·     Planning of 2004 WW Bike Event

·     Advocacy for Trolley Line (PSE&G) trail

·     Enhanced web site (complements of Bob Stango)

 

Bikelanes

Plainsboro Cranbury Road Bikelanes Project

·        Our invited guest, Jack Molenaar, Transportation Planner from Plainsboro, told the Task Force about Plainsboro’s successful funding of a road reconstruction project for Cranbury Neck Road that will include bikelanes.

·        Plainsboro intends to reconstruct Cranbury Neck Road from George Davidson Rd to Grovers Mill Road.  The road will have 11 foot travel lanes and 5 foot shoulders with defined bikelanes.  Cranbury Neck Road is a township road.

·        Jack told us that Plainsboro simultaneously submitted two applications for the State Aid to Counties and Municipalities Program. One application for the construction of bikeways on Cranbury Neck Road and one for road drainage improvements for Cranbury Neck Road.  Because Plainsboro was submitting two applications, it had to prioritize the applications- the Bikeways project was given a #1 priority and the drainage grant a #2 priority. 

·        As it turned out, the bikelanes application was not funded but the road drainage application was.  Jack gave us copies of both applications.

·        Jack told us the overall reconstruction project will cost $1.8 million.  Plainsboro will be piecing together the funding for this project from various funding sources.

·        Jack informed us that State Aid grants do not cover design costs, just construction costs.  Also, the money is supposed to be spent in one year however, extensions can be applied for. 

·        We discussed with Jack the possibility of collaborating on future projects.  We told Jack we would be interested in getting a supporting letter for our Southfield Road bikeways grant. 

 

NE Corridor Bikepath

·        Jack and Susan presented the idea of a bikepath along the NE Corridor train line from Plainsboro to the Princeton Junction train station.  This proposed path would begin at Plainsboro Road near the Community Gardens and would proceed along the West side of the tracks to the Junction train station.  It was pointed out that the concept of such a bikepath may meet with some opposition.  Jack pointed out there is precedence for such bikepaths, one in Morris County and there are other examples of bikepaths along freight lines.  It was however pointed out that the NE Corridor train line has high speed trains and there would have to be some kind of barrier established between the bikepath and tracks.  Susan and Jack will explore this bikepath in greater depth and will organize a walk of the proposed path in the future.

 

WW Bike Tour

·        Ken L. reviewed the progress of the Bike Event SubCommittee.  See last month’s Bike/Ped minutes or the Bike Event meeting minutes for details on the event (on our home page).  New information- Various subcommittees have been established to focus on Policy, Communication, Entertainment, the Event, and Outside Services. Ken L. has arranged for Bikeline to be present and will try to line up Ski Barn.  Ken C stressed that the committee should make sure it receives significant help from township officials- a key person being Ken Jacobs, head of the Recreation Dept.  Patrolman Dyson is already involved in the planning of the Event.  Dan and Ken C will be meeting with the Mayor on Jan 8th to discuss the event and the Mayor appears in favor of Memorial Day weekend.  Jack said that Plainsboro could be interested in joint bike event.  It was thought that WW try this event on its own this year and perhaps think of a joint event next year.  The next meeting of the Event Committee is Tuesday at 7:30 PM in the municipal center.  All are welcome.

 

GMTMA Mercer Co Bike Maps and Bike/ped Message Board

·        Peter brought in extra copies of the Mercer Co bike maps and told the group of a new bike/walk message board on the GMTMA web site:  http://webboard.gmtma.org/~gmtma/guests

 

Sidewalks

·        Sidewalk Inventory- Roger showed the Task Force the latest iteration of the Sidewalk Inventory Map, prepared by Brian Aaronson in the Engineering Dept.  The inventory appears to be near complete at this time.  Roger also showed blow-ups of the inventory that Brian prepared- one that focused on the High School South area and one on the train station area.  These blow-ups will be particularly useful for focusing in on discrete areas. 

·        Sidewalk Prioritization- Susan told the group that now that the Sidewalk Inventory is complete, the next step is to begin a process of cataloging deficiencies and setting prioritization of sidewalk projects.  Susan and Meg have formed a sub-committee to focus on this effort and initial focus will be on twp. schools and the train station.  Anyone interested in this effort should contact Susan or Meg. 

·        Pedestrian walk around for Cranbury Road- Roger showed a map of his proposed idea for a short path connecting the Landing Lane-Berkshire path to Cranbury Road near the Bear Brook bridge.  Roger spoke to Sam Surtees about feasibility.  Sam was curious how many people would use such a path- i.e., would such a path be justified.  Meg and Susan suggested that the idea of the path be brought up at the next Berkshire Homeowners meeting.  Roger suggested he may look into querying residents in the Grovers Mill area.  This proposed path should be added to the Orth-Rodgers Off-Road Trail network. 

 

Local Planning Assistance Project

·        Ken C updated the group on the second meeting of the Local Planning Assistance Steering Committee.  At the meeting, Sue Blikstein of Orth-Rodgers handed out hard copies of an Existing Conditions Memorandum.  The Memorandum is a technical document based on information from the Task Force, the Master Plan, township officials, and Orth-Rodgers research.  Ms. Blikstein stated that she is looking for feedback on the document and the document will be updated over the next few months.  Ken C circulated his copy at the meeting and will send out an electronic copy when he receives one.   Ken C stated that the document is already an impressive body of work.

·        Ms. Blikstein also showed a preliminary on-road bikeway network, a preliminary off-road trail network, and a pedestrian deficiency analysis of the Princeton Junction area that Orth-Rodgers has put together.  There wasn’t enough time to go over these documents in detail at the meeting-we’ll put a more detailed discussion on the agenda for the January Bike-Ped meeting.  

·        Ken C. reviewed the Spot Locations that were chosen by the Steering Committee for Design Work.  At the Steering Committee meeting, Ken C presented the case for the Task Force’s top four locations.  The consensus spot locations approved by the Steering Committee were the following:

·           Improved pedestrian mobility and traffic calming at the intersection of Wallace and Scott Roads

·           Improved pedestrian mobility and traffic calming on Alexander Road from Scott Ave to the entrance to the Gables.

·           Improved pedestrian/bicycle mobility and traffic calming on Canal Pointe Blvd between Mayfair and Meadow Roads

·           Improved pedestrian/bicycle mobility at the intersection of Southfield Rd and Rt. 571 as well as an analysis of a straight segment (non-intersection segment) of Southfield Road

·        Although not officially chosen as a spot location, despite being the Task Force’s highest rated Spot Location, the pedestrian crossing at Sherbrooke Road and Rt. 571 will also be evaluated by Orth-Rodgers.  Township and State officials present at the Steering Committee stated that the state and county would not approve a mid-block crossing of a busy county road.  Township officials offered an interim solution of Sherbrooke residents using the Alexander Road intersection to cross Rt. 571 once planned intersection improvements and planned sidewalks along Rt. 571 from Sherbrooke Drive to Alexander are put in place. 

·        Members of the Task Force voiced their considerable disappointment and frustration that the Sherbrooke Crossing was not chosen as an official Spot Location. It was stated that people make this crossing everyday at considerable risk.  They viewed the interim solution of crossing at Alexander Road as very impractical stating that commuters, residents, and children will not go out of their way to use Alexander Road to cross 571.  A suggestion was made to make the Sherbrooke/Rt 571 a signalized intersection.  Some members of the Task Force questioned the choice of Southfield Rd and 571 as a Spot Location as this intersection has little if any pedestrian traffic.

 

Recreational Tails

·        Recreational Trail Grant- Millstone River Trail- Ken C. informed the group that FOWWOS was awarded a $5000 grant from Amersham Health as part of their Corporate Responsibility Program for additional funding of the Millstone River Trail.  Ken C. wrote the application which was sponsored by John Francisco, a township resident and Amersham employee.  

·        Recreational Trail Grant- WW D&R Canal Trail- Ken C. informed the Task Force that Bruce has decided not to apply for this year’s DEP Recreational Trail Grant Program for the sewer easement trail along the D&R Canal due to tight timelines and the need for township endorsements of the project.  We will put in for an application in December of 2004. 

 

Action Items

  • Add Cranbury Road-Landing Lane/Berkshire connecting path to Orth-Rodgers Off-Road Trail network- Ken
  • Bring up Cranbury Road-Landing/Berkshire connecting path at next Berkshire homeowners association meeting- Meg and Sandy
  • Get electronic copy of Orth-Rodgers Existing Conditions Memo and distribute to Task Force- Ken C
  • Provide feedback on Existing Conditions Memorandum- All

 

Upcoming Meetings

  • Tuesday Dec. 16th- Millstone River Trail Walk- Meet at Municipal Center at noon.
  • Tuesday Dec. 16th  -Bike Tour Subcommittee- 7:30 PM Municipal Center

 

Next Bike/Ped Meeting

·        Jan 8th, 7:30 PM. 

·                    In-depth review of Orth-Rodgers documents and maps. 

·                    Discussion of Sherbrooke crossing of Rt 571.