Town To Host Public Meeting To Get Input On ‘Bike Masterplan’

Posted on November 12, 2015 by walkableprinceton
Bikes in Princeton (click to expand.)

Bikes in Princeton (click to expand).

Thursday evening, November 12, the town of Princeton will host a public meeting (details below) to get input on the creation of a new ‘Bicycle Circulation Plan’. Earlier this year, Princeton successfully applied for a program to fund a team of consutants to work with members of the public to figure out how best to enable safe movement of people on bikes around the town. This will be the first of several public meetings between the consultants and local residents. The new plan offers an opportunity to help address traffic problems around Princeton, and to find safe places for people to ride without annoying walkers on local sidewalks. It also features a much greater push for public consultation than is typical for town planning exercises. Continue reading →

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Three Observations From Princeton Local Election Of November 3, 2015

Posted on November 9, 2015 by walkableprinceton
Princeton High School with snow and moon. (click to expand.)

Princeton High School: Voters didn’t respond to supposed capacity issues. (click to expand.)

Princeton voters were among those casting their votes in an election on November 3 last week. By now the results are clear, with most incumbents being returned at County and Council level, and Andrew Zwicker (D) set to score an upset by unseating Donna Simon (R) for the 16th NJ Assembly seat. Here are three stories ‘behind the headlines’: Continue reading →

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Princeton Named “USA’s Best Small City”. But Is It Really A City?

Posted on November 5, 2015 by walkableprinceton
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Tiger Transit bus at intersection of Nassau Street and Witherspoon Street, center of the ‘Best Small City’ in the USA. (click to expand)

Princeton was named ‘Best Small City’ in an online survey this week, following on from another recent analysis that named it ‘Best College Town To Live In’. Although these online polls shouldn’t be taken too seriously, it’s great to have attention focused on the good things that are happening in Princeton. On the other hand, the survey gave Princeton a terrible score for ‘affordability’, placing 1,144th out of all the cities considered.  Princeton  is increasingly becoming too expensive for average families. The other point that could be controversial is the use of the word ‘city’ to describe Princeton. Some residents hate the idea that Princeton is ‘becoming a small city‘ Is Princeton a city? And does it matter? Continue reading →

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Walkability Answers From Princeton Council Candidate Kelly DiTosto

Posted on October 30, 2015 by walkableprinceton
Kelly DiTosto, who is challenging for a seat on Princeton Council (click to expand).

Kelly DiTosto, who is challenging for a seat on Princeton Council (click to expand).

On November 3, Princeton will elect two Council members. The candidates are incumbent Council Members Heather Howard and Lance Liverman (both Democrats), and challengers Kelly DiTosto and Lynn Lu Irving (Republican party). As in the last two election cycles, we asked the candidates some questions about walkable living in Princeton. Today, we are pleased to publish responses from Kelly DiTosto. Responses from Heather Howard are available here. Lance Liverman’s responses are available here. Lynne Lu Irving’s responsees are here. We are very grateful to them for engaging in this discussion and for running for office! Continue reading →

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Walkability Answers From Princeton Council Candidate Lynn Lu Irving

Posted on October 29, 2015 by walkableprinceton
Lynne Lu Irving, who is challenging for a seat on Princeton Council (click to expand).

Lynn Lu Irving, who is challenging for a seat on Princeton Council (click to expand).

On November 3, Princeton will elect two Council members. The candidates are incumbent Council Members Heather Howard and Lance Liverman (both Democrats), and challengers Kelly DiTosto and Lynn Lu Irving (Republican party). As in the last two election cycles, we asked the candidates some questions about walkable living in Princeton. Today, we are pleased to publish responses from Lynne Lu Irving. Responses from Heather Howard are available here and Lance Liverman’s responses are available here. Tomorrow, we will publish answers from Kelly DiTosto. We are very grateful to them for engaging in this discussion and for running for office! Continue reading →

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Walkability Answers From Council Candidate Lance Liverman

Posted on October 28, 2015 by walkableprinceton
Lance Liveryman

Incumbent Princeton Council member Lance Liveryman (click to expand).

On November 3, Princeton will elect two Council members. The candidates are incumbent Council Members Heather Howard and Lance Liverman (both Democrats), and challengers Kelly DiTosto and Lynn Lu Irving (Republican party). As in the last two election cycles, we asked the candidates some questions about walkable living in Princeton. Today, we are pleased to publish responses from Lance Liverman. Responses from Heather Howard are available here. We’ll be linking to responses from the other candidates as the week goes on. We are very grateful to them for engaging in this discussion and for running for office! Continue reading →

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Walkability Answers From Princeton Council Candidate Heather Howard

Posted on October 27, 2015 by walkableprinceton
Heather Howard (click to expand).

Incumbent Princeton Council member Heather Howard (click to expand).

On November 3, Princeton will elect two Council members. The candidates are incumbent Council Members Heather Howard and Lance Liverman (both Democrats), and challengers Kelly DiTosto and Lynn Lu Irving (Republican party). As in the last two election cycles, we asked the candidates some questions about walkable living in Princeton. Today, we are pleased to publish responses from Heather Howard. We’ll be linking to responses from the other candidates as the week goes on. We are very grateful to them for engaging in this discussion and for running for office! Continue reading →

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The Legacy Of Princeton University’s 2016 Campus Plan

Posted on October 23, 2015 by walkableprinceton
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The Streicker Bridge, completed 2010, which spans Washington Road in Princeton. (click to expand)

In 2015, Princeton University is making a new Campus Plan, a process that will be of tremendous importance for shaping the future built environment around town. But what about the ‘Campus 2016‘ plan, which has guided University development since 2005? What have been the hits and misses, and how did the plan affect the town? Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, architecture, Community, Complete Streets, Placemaking, Princeton, Sustainability, Transit, Walking | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Will Princeton’s New Housing Goals Promote Walkability and Diversity?

Posted on October 21, 2015 by walkableprinceton
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Walkable housing under construction at Greenview Avenue in Princeton. (click to expand)

Princeton’s Planning Board is revising the Housing Element of the Community Master Plan. As part of this effort, they have developed a list of ‘goals’ that are intended to guide plans for housing. The goals appear to be a worthy effort to bring together competing visions of how development should proceed in Princeton. But are they sufficient to address the need for housing, and to promote walkable living? Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, planning, Princeton, Smart Growth, Sustainability | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Town Of Princeton Aims To Recruit ‘On-Street Parking Advocate’ For Bike Planning Effort

Posted on October 15, 2015 by walkableprinceton
Mercer Road heading towards downtown Princeton: "Bike Lane Ends". (click to expand)

Mercer Road heading from Lawrence Township toward downtown Princeton: “Bike Lane Ends”. (click to expand)

The Town of Princeton recently won a grant to make a new bicycle master plan. The plan could pave the way for improved bike facilities around the town. But in an extraordinary step, the town has advertised for an ‘On-Street Parking Advocate’ to join a key committee tasked with overseeing the creation of the new master plan. The move suggests that the town may not be serious about creating top-quality bike facilities. Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Biking, Complete Streets, planning, Princeton, The Parking Question | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment