Minutes from the March 19th, 2003 Special Bike/Ped Task Force
Meeting with Jon Carnegie
Task Force Members Attending: Roger Alig, Peter Bilton, Ken Carlson, Susan Conlon, Marcus Loecher, Daryl McMillan, Alison Miller, Ham Pakradooni, Don Smart
Invited guests: Jon Carnegie, Voorhees Policy Institute; Jack Molenaar, Plainsboro Transportation Planner; Sandy Shapiro, West Windsor resident and member of EIS Partner's Roundtable
Jon Carnegie, Project Manager of the Penns Neck EIS, spoke to the group about recent bicycle and pedestrian studies that have been conducted as part of the EIS process. We have hard copies of his presentation and we will soon obtain PDF files of the maps Jon presented. These files will be very useful to both the Task Force and to the township as they contain details about bike/ped routes in the study area and allow for zooming in for greater detail. Special thanks to Susan Conlon for arranging this meeting.
- Jon presented the Pedestrian Network Assessment, which is a sidewalk inventory and assessment of the overall pedestrian environment in the Penns Neck and Princeton Junction neighborhoods, focusing in on major pedestrian routes. This assessment showed details on the existence and quality of sidewalks in these neighborhoods and a Level-of-Service assessment was done grading pedestrian routes in the area on a A to F scale. Difficult crossings and missing links were also indicated. There were some inaccuracies in these maps which will be amended, but overall the quality was quite good.
- Jon also presented the Bicycle Network Assessment. The "study area" for the Penns Neck Area EIS from a bike perspective is defined as an area within a five-mile radius of Route 1 at Washington Road. This assessment was done using the Bicycle Compatability Index that takes into consideration a variety of variables such as traffic volume, the presence of bikelanes or paved shoulders, speed limit, etc. Based on this analysis, existing and proposed bicycle routes in Plainsboro and West Windsor were graded on a level of service scale using the A to F scale. Again there were some inaccuracies in these maps (which will be amended), but overall the quality was quite good.
The rest of the meeting was largely a give and take session with those present. Here are the highlights of that discussion:
- The main effort now in the EIS process is in the putting together of the DEIS (draft EIS) document. Very few changes will be made in the DEIS at this point in the process.
- The DEIS will be released in late April or early May, which will be followed by a 45 day public comment period. The final EIS, together with the locally preferred alternative, will be released in August.
- Jon told the group that all new roads constructed as part of the EIS process will have facilities for bicycle and pedestrians (sidewalks for pedestrians and bikelanes for cyclists).
- In addition, a multi-use path between the Millstone River and the Bypass is being considered as mitigation for potential impacts from the east-side connector road to the Millstone River corridor - this path would extend from the Northeast corridor rail line to the D&R Canal. This path is not a given and will require advocacy.
- In addition, outside of new construction, it is anticipated that a lump sum of money would be designated for pedestrian and bicycle enhancements. The most likely scenario is that the designated funds would be made available to West Windsor Township for pedestrian improvements in the Penns Neck and Princeton Junction areas and that funds for bicycle network enhancement would be made available to the primary Study area towns. The EIS will make no specific recommendations, but this money is intended for sidewalks, traffic light upgrades, bikelanes, signage, etc. within the study area.
- The facilities for bicycle and pedestrians as part of the new construction, and the lump sum funding for local bike/ped enhancement, are part of the recommended Commute Options Package of the EIS. The commute options package will be available for ALL of the alternatives, and will be implemented either concurrent or prior to construction of bypass roadways and modifications to Route 1. There has never been a "commute options package" before in an EIS process - this is a first.
- The funding amount for this package is still under consideration by NJDOT. Jon could not specify how much is under consideration. He also indicated that the DOT and Federal Highway Administration will make the final decision on the funding of the Commute Options package.
- In an exciting development for the Task Force, a separate commitment within the Commute Options Package has been included for the study and construction of a bicycle/pedestrian bridge over Route 1 in the Penns Neck area. The study will focus on three things 1) whether such a bridge is warranted; 2) the feasibility of construction of a bridge in that area; 3) and whether there is local consensus for the bridge. An important development is that this study is being recommended regardless of the alternative that is chosen. From what Jon said, it was previously felt that such a bridge would not be needed if Route 1 was placed in a cut under Washington Road. That feeling has changed (apparently influenced by our lobbying effort), and the study will proceed regardless of the alternative. I reviewed the reasons that we have put together that argue for the need of this bridge regardless of the alternative. The argument that Jon felt was the most cogent was that such a bridge, if built early enough in the process, will provide local commuters an important transportation alternative during the construction process. It's exciting that this commitment has been made.
- An important point was raised by Jack Molenaar of Plainsboro regarding the need for improved North-South mobility for bicyclists and pedestrians. Such improvements would require bikelanes and sidewalks along Route 1, as well as improvements to the Rt. 1 Millstone River Crossing. This will require advocacy.
- Jon was asked about the Washington Road bridge over the NE Corridor rail line. He said the bridge will be rehabilitated or replaced as part of the Penns Neck improvements project. Jon said that Bike/ped improvements on this bridge will be an important point of advocacy.
- We also asked about the multi-use trail along the Millstone and how would pedestrians cross from one side of Rt. 1 to the other. Jon said that a tunnel will not be feasible due to the low water table. As far as a bike/ped bridge in this location, Jon said that two bridges in such close proximity is highly unlikely. He further advised that we advocate for one bridge in the location that makes the most sense from a mobility perspective. If this is the case, it is our consensus that we favor the Penns Neck area for such a bridge.
- We finally asked Jon what should be the timing of our future lobbying efforts. Jon said that our advocacy would be most effective during the 45 day public comment period that will follow release of the DEIS, and in addition throughout the summer leading up to the release of the Final EIS in August. The more public support that exists for a particular desired outcome, the better the chances are for that outcome.
This meeting was incredibly informative and gives the Task Force a clear idea of what is being considered with respect to bike/ped enhancements in the EIS. It is now incumbent on us to continue to advocate for what we think is important. This will include getting consensus and resolutions where needed from local governments and getting coverage of specific topics in the local press. It is also clear that we need to be working closely with our Plainsboro neighbors, particularly with Jack Molenaar, Plainsboro's transportation planner. Here are some specific action items/points of advocacy that we need to address once the DEIS is released in May:
- Bike/ped bridge over Route 1. We need to speak up about the need for this bridge during the Public Comment period in May and also advocate for this bridge in writing during the Comments period. We will need as many people to advocate for this bridge as possible, including residents of Plainsboro and Princeton. It would be wise to get the West Windsor Township Council, Plainsboro Township Committee, Princeton Borough Council and Princeton Township Committee to draft resolutions in support of the bridge. Let's also get the press involved during this period both on the bridge and the other bike/ped enhancements that we are advocating for.
- Multi-Use Path along the Millstone Bypass. We also need to make public and written comments on the need for this trail and for a safe crossing of Route 1 for people using this path. We should publicize the fact that we have written a grant for Phase II of the proposed Millstone River Trail and we should make this Grant application available to the EIS.
- Improvements to Washington Road Bridge over NE Corridor Rail Line. We need to advocate for improvements to this bridge to provide cyclists and pedestrians a safe means to cross the NE Corridor Rail Line.
- Improved North-South Bike/Ped mobility. Advocate for sidewalks and bikelanes along Route 1 or proposed Frontage roads and for improved bike/ped crossing of the Millstone River at Rt. 1.
- Pedestrian improvements in Princeton Junction and Penns Neck. Advocate for these improvements as part of the Commute Options Package to improve pedestrian access and safety and to facilitate commuter mobility.
- Overall lobbying for full funding of the Commute Options Package. It is vital this package get fully funded to ensure improved mobility for cyclists and pedestrians in the Penns Neck area.
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