Minutes from the July 8^th, 2004 West Windsor Bicycle/Pedestrian Task Force Meeting

Meeting Attendees: Peter Bilton, Ken Carlson, Meg Chico, Susan Conlon, Arnold Kelly, Alison Miller, Sandy Shapiro

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

General Business

· Susan and Alison updated the Task Force on their staffing of the Bike/Ped Task Force information table at the Farmer’s Market on 6/10/04.  Ken N. was present for much of the morning and Ken C. stopped by mid-morning.  There was considerable interest in the Sidewalk Inventory and Bike Lanes maps.  Rush Holt stopped by and spent about 20 minutes talking to Ken C., Ken N., and Susan and Alison.  Staffing a Bike/Ped Task Force information table again at the Farmer’s Market was discussed and it was decided that we staff a table on the Saturday after Labor Day, Sept. 11^th (9AM- 1 PM).  Task Force members interested in staffing the table should let Ken C or Ken N know.

· The State Aid grant applications are to be presented to Town Council on Monday, July 12^th.  Several Task Force members plan to attend the meeting to voice support for the applications [Note after meeting- Ken C. and Meg C. spoke during the public comment period at the town council meeting in favor of all three grant application].

· Ken C suggested that at the next meeting Task Force members brainstorm on project ideas for the coming year.  Everyone should strive to come to the next meeting with project ideas and potential funding sources.  Here are a few projects that were briefly mentioned: Bike/Ped improvements to Canal Pointe Blvd.; bike/ped improvements to Alexander Rd from Vaughn Drive to the D&R Canal; Rt. 1 Bike-Ped Bridge; Lanwyn Blvd. bikelanes.  It will be important to identify potential projects for inclusion in the 2005 Capital Budget. 

Grants

· State Aid to Counties and Municipalities Bikelanes Grant- Don was not able to attend tonight’s meeting to update the group on the Southfield Road Bikelanes grant but Alison had  the most recent version of the application with her (as part of a packet prepared by the township for the presentation of the applications to council on July 12^th).  The application looks complete except that it lacks the letter of support from the School Board that Meg was able to solicit.

· Safe Routes Grant- Meg and Susan updated the Task Force on the Safe Routes to School grant application.  Meg and Susan informed the group that the requirements for the Safe Routes grants were very limiting- grant applications could only be submitted for new sidewalks on a direct route to school.  Susan and Meg developed a short-list of 5 locations and met with Jim Parvesse to narrow down the list to two projects.  They decided to focus the grant application on two missing sidewalk links- one sidewalk on the west side of Clarksville Road near Landing Lane and the other on a missing sidewalk link in addition to curb cuts and crosswalk improvements at the intersection of South Mill and Old Village Roads in Dutch Neck.  The grant application is for $32,000 in funds.

· State Aid to Counties Road Reconstruction Grant- The township has prepared a grant application for road improvements to Millstone Road.  The improvements call for widening the road from the existing 24-26 foot width to 30 feet and striping the road for shoulders.  Task Force members expressed interest in obtaining clarity on the exact striping of the road.  The road will be resurfaced and there will be drainage improvements (Note- Ken C. gave a copy of the grant application to Millstone Rd. resident Andy Pratt and after reading it, Andy was very much in favor of the roadway design).

Sidewalks

· Sidewalk Improvements at Acme- Task Force members were interested to find out the timetable for the sidewalk improvements at the Acme shopping Center.   The improvements were for the construction of a short missing link of sidewalk from Alexander Road into the shopping center and relocating the news boxes adjacent to the sidewalk for unobstructed access for pedestrians on Princeton-Hightstown Road.

· Crosswalks on Alexander Road- Susan informed the Task Force that the bids have come in for the crosswalk improvements along Alexander Road at the intersections with Scott Ave., Berrien Ave., Harris Road, and the Gables.   Susan showed the TF members the plans for the improved Alexander Road crosswalks and the streetscape improvements for the former Princeton Junction Firehouse, which is a township-owned building proposed for use as a community arts center.  Contracts have been awarded and work will begin in August. 

· Rt. 571 improvements- There was a discussion on the next steps for proposed road improvements along Rt. 571 in the Junction.  Members of the Task Force expressed that road improvements to Rt. 571 are central for plans to improve bicycle and pedestrian mobility in the Junction.  Several Task Force members who attended the June 7th WW Town Hall Meeting by the Mercer County Executive's Office received a letter from Brian Hughes, part of which was directed to comments about improvements on Route 571:
"I am also proud to have directed my staff to work with the West Windsor administration to determine the redesign of Route 571 in the vicinity of the Princeton Junction Train Station. Members of my staff have been working closely with community groups, and we have earmarked $500,000 for planning and design of the road in the 2004 budget. Working together with the West Windsor Township Mayor and Council as well as the New Jersey Department of Transportation, I am confident that we will reach a consensus decision and design that improves the livability and safety of the Route 571 corridor”.

· Task Force members expressed interest in meeting with township officials to be updated on the next steps for proposed road improvements. 

     [Note after meeting- Ken C. has spoken to the mayor and Mayor Hsueh said that he 

would like to attend the next Task Force meeting to give an update on plans for Rt. 571

road improvements].

Next Meeting

Action Items:

· Provide a copy of the support letter for the Southfield Rd bikelane grant to Jim Parvese- Ken C and Don

· Discuss with County officials the possibility of constructing bikelanes on Edinburg- Chris

· Find out timetable for sidewalk improvements at Acme- Ken C and Chris

· Find out status of Orth-Rodgers final report- Ken C

· Think of bike/ped projects for next meeting’s brainstorming session- All

Upcoming Meetings/Events

• July 20^th and August 10^th 8 PM at the Senior Center– Presentation and public comment from the Princeton Junction Transit Village Task Force
• Sept. 11^th (9AM-1PM)- Task Force members to staff Bike/Ped info table at Farmer’s Market

Next Bike/Ped Meeting

· August 12^th, 7:30 PM.

· Agenda items: Mayor Hsueh to update the Task Force on progress of proposed Rt. 571 road improvements. 

· Brainstorming on projects for the next year.