Princeton Quietly Cancels Hamilton Avenue Bike Lane Plan

Posted on July 14, 2015 by walkableprinceton
Princeton has axed a planned bike lane project on Hamilton Ave (click to expand, image credit: brittgow on Flickr)

Princeton has axed a planned bike lane on Hamilton Ave (click to expand, image credit: brittgow on Flickr)

Despite promising to add a bike lane on the north side Hamilton Avenue earlier this year, Princeton Council last night waved through a plan to re-stripe the road with no bike lanes at all. The switcheroo was discussed in the ‘reports’ section of the regular meeting, and therefore was not even listed on the official agenda. This is the second ‘Complete Streets’ project that has been axed by the town in the last three weeks. But the news may not be all bad, as municipal engineer Deanna Stockton announced that the town’s application for an NJDOT grant has been successful. The grant, through the ‘Local Technical Assistance Program’, will allow the town to engage a consulting firm to work with the community to devise a holistic bicycle circulation plan. This plan is intended to guide future engineering projects, to make streets as safe as possible for all users. Continue reading →

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

Monroe Township Fends Off Developer In Ongoing Courtroom Housing Drama

Posted on July 9, 2015 by walkableprinceton
View across Lake Manalapan from Thompson Park in Monroe Township, NJ. (click to expand).

View across Lake Manalapan from Thompson Park in Monroe Township, NJ. (click to expand).

Monroe Township, a town 12 miles east of Princeton, won a legal victory today, as a judge granted temporary protection from developer lawsuits. Earlier this year, the NJ Supreme Court made a ruling that would potentially allow developers to ignore local zoning and build affordable housing in towns throughout the state. But the court also gave towns the option of filing for a 5-month delay, and most towns have now done so. At the end of that period, they will have to prove that their housing plans meet the requirement of the State Constitution to provide a ‘Fair Share’ of affordable housing. If not, a judge may give developers the right to build that affordable housing under a so-called “builder’s remedy”. Continue reading →

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New Princeton Group Aims To Replace Proposed Affordable Housing With A Park

Posted on July 5, 2015 by walkableprinceton
This parking lot on Franklin Avenue is the subject of a potential plan to build new affordable housing in Princeton (click to expand.)

This parking lot on Franklin Avenue is the subject of a potential plan to build new affordable housing in Princeton (click to expand.)

Last month, a Princeton Council task force published a report naming 13 suitable sites for new affordable housing. One of the proposed sites was a parking lot on Franklin Avenue, that is set to be donated to the town by Princeton University. But last week, members of a new group appeared before Council, asking for the site to be turned into a park instead. Continue reading →

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Which Princeton Transit Service Draws The Most Riders?

Posted on July 2, 2015 by walkableprinceton
Downtown Princeton, as seen from inside the NJ Transit #605 bus. (click to expand.)

Downtown Princeton, as seen from inside a NJ Transit bus. (click to expand.)

The recent announcement from NJ Transit that the Princeton-Plainsboro ‘HealthLine’ bus will be canceled has drawn local condemnation, and also some questions. How bad was the ridership for NJ Transit to cancel the service? Using recent ridership statistics from NJ Transit, we can compare the HealthLine bus to other bus and rail services connecting Princeton to the surrounding area… Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Princeton, Transit | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Traffic Study Shows 3 Out Of Every 4 Drivers Are Speeding On Princeton’s Valley Road

Posted on June 30, 2015 by walkableprinceton
Statistics on traffic speed on Valley Road show that just 27% of drivers are operating at or within 5 mph of the speed limit. (click to expand).

Statistics on traffic speed on Valley Road show that just 27% of drivers are operating at or within 5 mph of the posted speed limit. (click to expand).

3 out of every 4 drivers on Valley Road in Princeton speeds. That’s the shocking result of a traffic study commissioned by the Princeton Engineering Department, which was released as part of a recent community meeting. Continue reading →

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Princeton Cancels Planned Traffic Calming, ‘Complete Streets’ Initiatives On Prospect Ave

Posted on June 25, 2015 by walkableprinceton
Red dashed lines indicate proposed traffic calming measures on Prospect Avenue. Following neighborhood opposition, they will no longer be built. (click to expand).

Red dashed lines were painted by town staff on Prospect Avenue to indicate proposed new traffic calming measures. But following neighborhood opposition, they will no longer be built. (click to expand).

Following a meeting with neighbors, Princeton municipal officials have indicated that a proposal to add traffic calming measures on Prospect Avenue will no longer go ahead. Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Complete Streets, planning, Princeton, Sustainability, Walking | Leave a comment

New NJ Gas Pipelines Should Serve As Walk-Bike Trails

Posted on June 24, 2015 by walkableprinceton
A trail on a gasoline right-of-way next to the D&R canal by Princeton. (click to expand)

A trail on a pipeline right-of-way next to the D&R canal by Princeton. (click to expand)

Gas pipelines are big news in New Jersey right now, around Princeton, and in surounding communities. Apparently stimulated by a glut of fracked gas from western Pennsylvania, various companies are rushing to find new ways to bring their product to market. That means lots and lots of new pipelines in New Jersey, which is arousing the ire of local residents on all sides of the political spectrum. Despite this opposition, these pipelines are getting their permits and are getting built. In the last few weeks, for example, several miles of new pipeline has been laid in northern Princeton, the so-called ‘Skillman Loop‘. On the principle of “if life gives you lemons, make lemonade”, we should seize the opportunity to create new walking and biking trails on these new pipeline routes, to get the greatest value possible out of this process for local residents. Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Biking, Local, Princeton, Trails, Walking | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

New Report Names Thirteen Suitable Sites For Affordable Housing In Princeton

Posted on June 18, 2015 by walkableprinceton
Engine Company No. 1 building on Chestnut Street. (Click to expand.)

Engine Company No. 1 building on Chestnut Street – one of the sites that has been identified as suitable for conversion to affordable housing in a report out today (Click to expand.)

Disused firehouses, the old PFARS station, and several parking lots are among the sites identified as suitable for new affordable housing in Princeton, according to a report from a task force chaired by Council President Bernie Miller. The task force was set up to catalog ‘publicly-owned’ sites in Princeton, and to evaluate which would be most suitable for affordable dwellings. By the time of their interim report in March, they had reduced the list to 44 potential sites. The final report, published today, narrows that list to thirteen sites. Council must now decide how to proceed with redeveloping them.

Continue reading →

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Friends Of Herrentown Woods Trail Map Now Available

Posted on June 12, 2015 by walkableprinceton
Friends of Herrentown Woods Trail Map of Herrentown Woods. (click to expand)

Friends of Herrentown Woods Trail Map of Herrentown Woods. (click to expand)

The Friends Of Herrentown Woods, a 501(c)3 non-profit that works to maintain and improve Princeton’s Herrentown Woods, has published a paper map of trails in the forest. The map was prepared following extensive work by the ‘Friends’ in the last few years to re-open and clear the trails, many of which had become overgrown.  Continue reading →

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The Progressive / Liberal Case for Building Much More Housing In Princeton

Posted on June 8, 2015 by walkableprinceton
Princeton Housing Board affordable homes at Clay Street in Princeton. (click to expand.)

Princeton Housing Authority affordable homes at Clay Street in Princeton. Housing permits in Princeton have not kept pace with demand, especially at more economical price points. (Click to expand.)

Can Princeton Democrats take responsibility for adding new housing in Princeton? Based on a letter in last week’s ‘Packet’, it seems that the tide may be shifting toward a realization that more housing is necessary and even desirable. The letter, from longstanding PCDO member Anne Neumann, offers a useful range of solutions on the question of affordable housing, but strays into a partisan framing of the debate on expanding housing opportunity:

“Republicans argue that zoning and other building regulations constrict supply and drive up costs, so we should eliminate regulations. Then the free market will build housing for both high- and low-income households….”

Continue reading →

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