Minutes from the January 13th, 2005 West Windsor Bicycle/Pedestrian Task Force Meeting

 

Meeting Attendees: Roger Alig, Ken Carlson, Susan Conlon, Bruce Ellsworth, Arnold Kelly, Daryl MacMillan, Alison Miller, Ken Naglak, Art Pope, Sandy Shapiro

 

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

 

GENERAL BUSINESS

o        Previous Action Items-

ü       Ask Mayor to advocate for Zaitz Park Trail application at DEP- Ken C

ü       Contact Pedals for Progress- Susan

ü       Contact Jim Amon to find out why Tow Path TEA-21 grant was turned down- Ken C.

 

o     Communication between Township and Task Force- The Mayor, citing an over-burdened township staff, has expressed a desire that the Task Force direct as many inquiries to township staff as possible through Ken C and Ken N.  Task Force members, in turn, would like a more formal means to communicate issues and project proposals to the township, and would like a contact in the township with the authority to follow-up on issues and actions.  It was suggested that Ken C and Ken N meet with Chris Marion and/or the Mayor in the week following Task Force meetings to communicate issues and proposed actions.  [Note after meeting- Ken C spoke with the Mayor and the Mayor is in favor of setting up a regularly scheduled meeting between “the Kens” and Chris Marion in the week following Task Force meetings.  The Mayor will try to attend as many of these meetings as he can.]

 

2005 Projects

o        Task Force members reviewed the list of projects for 2005.  Task Force members stated what projects they were interested in advocating for and additional projects were added to the list.  The list is appended to these minutes.  In some cases, there is more than one advocate for a project.  In this case, one person was selected as the primary point person and they are listed in bold type (please let us know if you are okay with being the primary point person for a given project).  The idea for this list is to allow for individual task force members to be advocates and points of contact for proposed projects.  The point person would be responsible for gathering information on a proposed project and making the appropriate contacts (Planning Board, Council members, DEP, DOT officials, granting agencies).  Please note, that red boxes indicate projects that have no advocates at this time. 

 

Recreational Trails

o        Zaitz Park Trail- Bruce gave an update on the final preparation of the Recreational Trail Grant application for the Zaitz Park Woodland Trail.  The application has been submitted with letters of support from Alan Hershey of the Central Jersey Trails Association and Linda Mead of the D&R Greenway Land Trust and a resolution from Town Council.  Apparently, Rush Holt’s office has not yet submitted a support letter.  Arnold is following up with Holt’s office. 

o        D&R Canal Tow Path- Bruce has found out that the deadline for the TEA-21 Grant has been moved back to early summer.  Bruce stated that these grants are appropriate for road reconstruction but rather must be used to promote alternatives to automobile-based transportation.

o        Millstone River Trail- Ken C. gave an update on the plans for implementing the Millstone River Preserve Trail.  Construction of the gravel parking area on Millstone Road is complete.  Trailbreaking will wait for nicer weather in March.

o        Big Bear Brook Trail- Roger spoke about a concept for a trail starting from the Roger’s Preserve on Clarksville Road that would proceed along Bear Brook to Cranbury Road.  The trail could then either follow along a sewer and or Greenbelt easement on the eastern side of the Brook (side closest to Grover’s Mill) to join up with existing and proposed trails on preserved properties along the Millstone.  Alternatively, the trail could proceed down Stobbe Lane to Joanne Street to gain access to the Millstone properties.  Sam Surtees is also interested in this trail and has been planning to hold a meeting to discuss trail possibilities. 

 

Sidewalks

o        Safe Routes Grant- Meg found out through contacting the DOT that we were not awarded the Safe Routes grant.  Only one of 12 Mercer County grant applications was funded.  It was recommended that the missing sidewalk link on Clarksville Road that was part of the application be funded through the capital budget. 

o        Update to Sidewalk Inventory- Roger would like to update the sidewalk inventory.  Time did not permit a review so it’s proposed that we put the inventory on next month’s agenda.  Members are encouraged to review the inventory (contact Roger or Ken C for current copies) and propose changes at next meeting. 

o        Update on sidewalks and Newspaper boxes at the Acme Shopping Center- Susan reviewed the current status of the improvements that the Task Force has been pursuing at the Acme Shopping Center.  At the Task Force’s suggestion, the Township sent a letter to the owner of the shopping center asking for the construction of a sidewalk into the shopping center from Alexander Road and for the newsboxes to be moved so that they do not obstruct the sidewalk on Princeton-Hightstown Road.  Since that letter was sent (in early summer), the owner has not made any of these improvements and the township has taken no further action.  It was suggested that the Task Force write a letter to the township, reviewing the problem and the lack of resolution, and request a clear strategy for follow-up.  There is also an additional item that needs attention and that is to fix or remove the broken chain-link fence next to the pine trees and parking lot on the side of the Acme on Alexander Road.

 

Bikelanes

o        Response to Chat Room discussion on Southfield Road grant- There was a discussion as to the next step for responding to recent postings on the WW-P web site chat room regarding the Southfield Road bikelane grant.  Ken N said that he would draft a response taking into account the expressed points of view of Task Force members.  It was suggested that the response also be sent to local papers as a letter to the editor.

o        Pedals for Progress- Susan gave an overview of the Pedals for Progress organization. Susan recommends that the Task Force host a Pedals for Progress event in May or June, possibly involving high school students.  This would be a three hour event, separate from any other event to allow a focus on the bike donation program. 

 

Large Scale Projects

o        Alexander Road Bridge- Susan updated the group on the status of the Alexander Road Bridge Replacement project over the NE RR tracks. She talked with a NJDOT project engineer who reports that the start date is January 23, 2006. A Public Information Center (third one for this project) will be announced and likely take place in February or March, 2005. This will be a good opportunity for members of the B/P Task Force to look at the plans, specifically for bike/ped access and design on the bridge and its access roads and connectivity to existing sidewalk network.

o        Route 571 Development in the Junction- Ken C updated the Task Force on the status of the Route 571/Princeton Junction Development project.  Ken had spoken with the Mayor.  Ken stated that a draft concept report had been prepared and that the Mayor had recommended changes to bike/ped facilities.  Ken further stated the report was next going on to the County for review and then to the Planning Board for public input.  There was some confusion at the meeting as to the nature of the report (traffic study?, road design?), and what the process was for public comment.  It was recommended that Ken C speak to the Mayor for further clarification {Note after meeting: Ken spoke with the Mayor to obtain further clarity.  The Mayor clarified that a draft engineering sketch, which is not in a readable format for the public, had been prepared by the Urbitran and Maser consultants at the end of last year.  This is not a report, but rather a technical engineering sketch.  The Mayor, upon reviewing the draft sketch, asked the consultants to provide more detail on bike/pedestrian improvements and intersection design.  An internal meeting has been scheduled to review and discuss the anticipated revisions and details added to the sketch.  The next step in the process is for the County and township engineers to meet with the consultants to review the draft sketch.  The draft sketch will then become the basis for a report which will then be made available for public review and comment at an upcoming Planning Board meeting in early March where there will be ample opportunity for public comment].

 

Action Items:

 

o        Establish a regularly scheduled meeting between “the Kens” and Chris Marion that would occur in the week after Task Force Meetings to address issues and proposed actions- Ken C and Ken N

o        Follow up with Holt’s office on letter of support for Zaitz Trail- Arnold

o        Meet with Sam Surtees to discuss Big Bear Brook Trail- Roger

o        Update Sidewalk Inventory- Task Force Members

o        Write letter addressing lack of resolution of Acme sidewalk link and movement of newspaper boxes- Susan, Meg, Ken C, Ken N

 

Upcoming Meetings:

 

o        January 25th: Public forum on Bus Rapid Transit (2-4 PM and 6-8 PM Plainsboro Municipal Center)

o        January 31st: State of West Windsor Township Address by Mayor Hsueh (7PM, Room A)

o        February 5th: West Windsor Town Hall Meeting with Mayor Hsueh (10 AM to 12 noon)

 

o        February 10th: TASK FORCE MEETING, 7:30 PM (Agenda items: Sidewalk inventory, review recommended projects for 2005 capital budget, Review of Orth-Rodgers recommendations)


Projects for 2005

o        Recreational Trails

o        Millstone River Trail Implementation- Ken C, Art…

o        Rogers Preserve Trail and Bear Brook Trail (incl. Recreational Trail Grant)- Roger, Art

o        D&R Towpath TEA-21 Grant Re-Submittal- Bruce

o        Recreational Trail from D&R Canal to Canal Pointe Blvd parallel to Alexander Road- Bruce, Roger

o        Implementation of PSE&G ROW Trail- Art, Alison

o        Advocacy/Implementation of Trail Projects from Prioritization-   ________       

o        Bikelanes

o        Southfield Road Bikelanes Implementation- Don

o        June Bikelanes Grant Application (potential project Washington Road from NE Corridor RR Bridge to Route 1)-   ________

o        BikeFest- Dan, Arnold, Daryl

o        Advocacy/Implementation for Edinburg Road Bikelanes-  ________

o        Monitor Implementation of Capitol Budget Bikelane projects (e.g., Lanwyn, South Mill)- ________

o        Sidewalks/Crosswalks

o        Sidewalk Inventory- Roger

o        Work with township on Millstone Road reconstruction- Bruce, Ken C

o        Improvements to Existing Crosswalks- Sandy, Alison, Susan

o        Improvements to Street Lighting- Susan, …

o        Sidewalk Grants (e.g., Safe Schools)- Susan, …

o        Advocacy/Implementation of Sidewalk Projects

§         Washington Road Bridge over NE Corr. Tracks- Meg, Sandy, Alison, Art

§         Washington Road- Wallingford to Route 1-Art, Sandy,Alison, Meg

§         Cranbury Road- Sunnydale to Route 571- Sandy, Alison, Meg, Art

§         Route 571 missing links between Slayback & Southfield Road- Alison, Meg, Sandy, Art

§         Wallace Road- Train Station driveway to Route 571- Susan

o        Large-Scale Projects

o        Bike/Ped Bridge over Route 1- Ken N, Ken C…

o        Improvements to Alexander Road- Phase I: D&R Canal to Canal Point Blvd.- Susan, Bruce…

o        Monitor Meadow Road re-design and plans for widening Clarksville Road- Alison

o        Monitor plans for improvements to Route 571 in the Junction- Meg, Susan, Art, Sandy

o        Work with township officials to implement bike/ped capital improvement projects- Susan, Ken C

o        Advocate/Strategize for Canal Pointe Blvd Re-design- Two travel  lanes, bikelanes, crosswalks- Sandy, Bruce

o        Public Education

o        Set up Bike/Ped information tables at public events (e.g., Farmer’s Market)- Susan, Meg, Ken C, Ken N

o        Pedals for Progress- Susan, Ken C