Mercer County planning staff who are helping to rewrite the County Master Plan came to Princeton on Saturday for a public outreach event about transportation. The ‘Mercer In Motion‘ program aims to “provide guidance to the County for a long-term and holistic approach toward transportation planning policies and strategies”. The in-person event followed a Zoom conference for members of the public in March of this year (Report: “Mercer County Planners Hosting Outreach Meeting Wednesday Night to Get Public Input About Transportation and Mobility“). This event took part at the Suzanne Paterson Center on Stockton Street.
Roads in Princeton are maintained either by the state, the town, or Mercer County. Mercer County is only responsible for Rosedale Road, part of Elm Road, part of Washington Road, and part of South Harrison Street. The planners were nonetheless interested in a broad range of topics about how the County could improve transportation and safety for Princeton residents.
A series of poster boards covered relevant topics. The first focused on land use. Where should new development go, and what kind of preservation efforts are appropriate? The second was about transit, and questions relating to transit-oriented development. A third topic was about safety and ‘Vision Zero‘, which is the idea that roads should be designed to eliminate deaths and serious injuries caused by crashes. The fourth poster board considered where it might be appropriate to expand roads or attempt to reduce traffic congestion. The fifth focus area was about what standards should be used for county roads.
Some of these topics are potentially in conflict, therefore it is important to get public input. Expanding roads may encourage more car use and faster speeds, which can put other road users in danger. In recent years, Mercer County planners have been at the forefront of designing streets for all users, for example by adding bike lanes on Elm Road and Washington Road. Should the County aim to provide more facilities like that through its ongoing Mobility Plan revision?
Mercer County residents still have opportunities to participate in the planning effort, by going to the ‘Mercer In Motion’ website at https://wspengages.com/Mercer-in-Motion.
Several interesting questions that came up included the issue of bus service. Should the County aim to support more traditional bus routes, or expand on-demand ‘micromobility’ services like ‘GOTrenton!” Should the County advocate for more automated traffic enforcement using cameras? And should new development be concentrated in areas with strong transit connections?
Although Princeton residents regularly stress the importance of consultation in planning, the room was not exactly overflowing with visitors on Saturday. However, it is still possible to contribute online. Another in-person meeting is also planned in Hamilton Twp on June 24. A draft plan of the new Mercer County Master Plan will be assembled taking account of public feedback, and is expected in the early part of 2027.
Related materials:
walkableprinceton 
