walkableprinceton

How Dublin Got Green

Posted on March 17, 2013 by walkableprinceton

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh! That’s Irish for ‘Happy St Patrick’s Day everyone!’ To get a bit of Irish flavor, we’re taking a look at how Dublin, the capital city of Ireland, turned to transit to beat traffic gridlock.

DART train in Dublin

Founded by the Vikings in the 9th Century AD, Dublin grew to become the largest city in Ireland with a population of 1 million by the 1970s. Dublin is a low-rise city, and with the Irish Sea to the east limiting development, the city sprawled out into surrounding towns and countryside. Faced with increasing traffic, the Irish Government took the decision in the late 1970s to invest millions into modernizing the rail system around Dublin. The ‘Dublin Area Rapid Transit’ or ‘DART’ was born in 1984. With modern, cheerful green coaches and efficient, electrified service, the DART quickly became a Dublin icon, whisking people in and out between Dublin’s suburbs and downtown.

Inevitably, there were objections at the cost of spending taxpayer’s money on transit. However, the trains were packed full of happy Dubliners, and property prices leapt as a consequence of the increased ease of getting around and sense of modernity that came with the little green trains. As the years went by, the service has expanded and there are plans to further develop the network. However, despite the success of DART, traffic in Dublin is still absolutely terrible, mainly because the city has grown enormously by drawing in Irish people from throughout the island. The government has responded by planning new streetcar lines (called ‘Luas’, which is Irish Gaelic for ‘speed’) and opening a municipal short-term bike rental scheme to give Dubliners more options for getting around.

Dublin has managed to develop its transit network despite an Irish economy that has alternated between booms and tremendous crashes. What was possible in Ireland is also possible-and necessary-here in the Princeton area. We have ripped out our streetcar network and our trains and buses have barely improved in decades. It’s about time to get serious about transit in the Central Jersey area, or we won’t be able to get around as the population continues to grow. Let’s join the Irish not just in the Guinness but also in improving our transit infrastructure!

Posted in Sustainability, Traffic, Transit | Leave a comment

Princeton Poet Writes about Nassau Street / Rt 27

Posted on March 16, 2013 by walkableprinceton

Princeton-area poets don’t get enough press, so we were delighted to read the following untitled verse from Charles E Townsend, of Hickory Court, Princeton, in the ‘Town Topics’ this week:

Our Nassau Street is pure heaven,

And many a life does it leaven.

But it all falls apart

As it northward does start

And turns into Route 27.

Without wanting to over-interpret the poet’s meaning, we observe that Nassau Street certainly offers a more pleasant experience than Rt 27. The historic parts of Princeton around Nassau Street allow for a relatively dense concentration of housing right next to stores and restaurants. This has historically allowed for a vibrant downtown area. Rt 27, by contrast, has separation of housing and retail- a late 20th century mode of development that requires car use for every trip, leading to traffic and sprawl.

If you enjoy poetry and read this in time, you may want to check out the Lewis Center for the Arts, which is continuing its ‘Princeton Poetry Festival’ today at 2 p.m. in the Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall. It promises to be a feast of verse and culture.

Posted in Events, Local, Princeton, Traffic | Leave a comment

Princeton Future Meeting Tomorrow!

Posted on March 15, 2013 by walkableprinceton

Princeton Future is having an open meeting tomorrow, Saturday, March 16 in the Princeton Public Library. If you have never participated in a Princeton Future meeting, then you’re missing out. Princeton Future is a fantastic organization. Here is how they describe themselves:

We are a diverse, nonpartisan group of volunteers of Princeton Borough, Township and region. We are dedicated to protecting and enhancing our unique community and we share concerns about the directions future growth and development may take. We are wary of piecemeal, project-by-project development and, instead, seek broad community support for integrated solutions that balance the benefits of economic growth with the values of neighborhood identity, historic preservation, environmental sustainability, aesthetics and social equity. Through research, analysis, public meetings and other forums, we actively encourage respectful citizen dialogue that can bridge differences and create common community purpose.

At the open meetings, Princeton area residents can meet with local leaders, hear fantastic presentations about development in Princeton and even get to shape future policy. It’s fun, and informative.

This particular meeting is on the subject of ‘What Information and Input is Needed to Plan and Measure Progress?’ OK, so that sounds pretty dry on the surface, but ‘Information’ is essential before we try to do anything, or else we run the risk of perpetuating past planning mistakes. And ‘Input’ is the vital ingredient that makes a democratic society. If we residents can’t have input into planning decisions, then we have no hope of influencing our town. Anyway, I am confident this will be a great meeting…so try to get down to the library and join in!

Posted in Events, Local, Princeton | Leave a comment

Support WWBPA Route 1 Bike-Walk Recommendations

Posted on March 13, 2013 by walkableprinceton

Suggested NJDOT Rt 1 project

New Jersey Department of Transportation has proposed a new plan to widen Route 1 with the objective of improving traffic flow past Princeton. Route 1 is already a major obstacle for cyclists commuting between West Windsor / Princeton Junction and Princeton.

West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance, which since 2006 has campaigned for safer bicycling and walking options, recently observed that the new NJDOT plan made no mention of infrastructure for cyclists or walkers. WWBPA made a series of recommendations that you can read on their website here.

A walkable, car-lite lifestyle is only possible if we allow the maximum range of transportation options, and enabling a joined-up regional network of cycling and walking paths is essential to give people the freedom to choose transportation options that don’t involve cars. Let’s join WWBPA in ensuring that NJDOT does not ignore walkable options if the new Route 1 project goes ahead.

WWBPA are also holding their Annual Meeting Thursday, March 14 at 7 p.m. at the West Windsor Municipal Building. If you live in the West Windsor area, consider going along! They will have two great speakers presenting and it will give you a chance to join forces with other advocates for a bikeable / walkable lifestyle.

Posted in Biking, Events, Local, Princeton, Traffic, Walking | Leave a comment

1937: The Year Palmer Square Brought Smart Growth To Princeton

Posted on March 12, 2013 by walkableprinceton

Palmer Square, via Palmer Square management

Palmer Square, at the heart of downtown Princeton, offers a mixture of stores, boutiques, restaurants, and condominium homes-among much more-all centered around an attractive park-like square. Loved by almost everyone in the community, walkable Palmer Square is listed as the second-most important Princeton attraction (after Princeton University) by visitprinceton.org.

The dream of businessman Edgar Palmer (Princeton, class of 1903), Palmer Square was anticipated to cost $10 million, a fortune at the time. Construction began in 1936, and Palmer Square officially celebrated it 75th anniversary in 2012. It could be said that Palmer Square is still a work in progress, with construction still ongoing at the Palmer Square Residences.

Continue reading →

Posted in Density, Local, Princeton, Smart Growth, Zoning | 5 Comments

World Amazed At Princeton University House Giveaway

Posted on March 11, 2013 by walkableprinceton

Free Houses on Alexander Street; Google Streetview via NJ.com

By now, you have no doubt heard that Princeton University is giving homes away for free. To prepare the site for their new ‘Arts and Transit Neighborhood’, the University wants to get rid of six houses along Alexander Street. This has been widely reported in local media. Considering that online real estate company Trulia reported an average listing price for Princeton homes of $962,000 for the week ending Feb 27, 2013, this house giveaway appears to be one of the greatest opportunities of all time! Of course, there is a catch. In fact, there are a couple of pretty serious issues. The first is that the homes are not in great shape. But the major problem is that you have to pay the costs of hauling the home away. That might be as much as $100,000. Add in the challenges of actually finding somebody with the know-how to relocate a house, plus getting the necessary permits, and it isn’t such a big surprise that there are no takers for these houses right now.

Is it completely crazy to think about moving an entire house? As we will examine in future posts, Princeton has quite a tradition of moving homes, so it is not as strange as first impressions would suggest. However, this local story has gone right around the world, as newspapers and TV stations have marveled at the possibility of getting a historic Princeton home for free!

Here is a selection of national news reports from different outlets on this story:

Princeton Offers Free Houses; Just Take It With You – ABC News

Princeton University giving away 7 houses, but with a … – Fox News

Princeton University Is Giving Away Houses – Stock Market – CBS …

And that’s not all: here is how the story was reported in England, in Germany, in Cambodia, in New Zealand, and in South Africa (video)!

It would be nice if these historic homes could be kept in Princeton, but given the international interest it is just as possible that they could end up on another continent!

Posted in Affordability, Local, Princeton, Real estate | 1 Comment

Who Owns this Princeton Segway?

Posted on March 10, 2013 by walkableprinceton

Segway, Witherspoon St, March 2013.

This Segway was spotted on Witherspoon Street near Small World Coffee this weekend. Evidently, some local resident was taking advantage of the wonderful weather to Segway into town! The Segway was locked to a traffic sign with a standard U-lock.

For those who are not familiar with the Segway, it is an electric ‘personal mobility device’, where the user stands on a wheeled platform and operates a tilting stand at the front to direct movement in any direction. Here is a short video of people riding Segways. Launched in 2001 amid much hype, the Segway was expected to revolutionize personal transport. It’s fair to say that this has not yet happened, and many people remember the Segway more from the time George W Bush crashed one, the 2009 movie ‘Paul Blart, Mall Cop‘, or the sad story about how the company founder died after driving a Segway off a cliff.

Despite all that bad press, the Segway could play a great part in helping us get around in future. Silent, and far more energy-efficient than cars or scooters, Segways could enable people to get around without using cars. The entry level Segway PT (‘personal transporter’) retails for about $6,000, so whoever was driving this machine clearly had made a significant investment. However, it can reach 12.5 mph with a range of 24 miles, making journeys of a few miles speedy and effortless. People often wonder whether it is legal to ride Segways on roads and sidewalks. In New Jersey the answer is a clear ‘yes’. A 2003 state law specifically written with Segways in mind authorizes their use on streets and sidewalks with no requirement for a license or insurance, but requires that users wear a helmet.

Walkable Princeton recognizes that compact, urban development brings many lifestyle, economic and environmental benefits, but can only be successfully realized with an integrated transportation policy. Although we are called ‘Walkable Princeton’, we support everyone having the freedom to safely walk, bike, rollerblade or Segway to their destination. Ideally, Segways and other mobility devices should be separated from pedestrians and cars, to reduce the risk of crashes. However, every Segway journey is a journey that takes a car off the streets, saving oil, reducing the space required downtown for parked cars and protecting the atmosphere. Congratulations to the Princeton Segway community, but please ‘Glide Safely‘!

Are you a local Segway enthusiast? What do you think about these devices sharing the roads and sidewalks? Feel free to leave us a comment!

Posted in Local, Princeton, Sustainability, Traffic, Transit | 1 Comment

The Thin Green Line

Posted on March 7, 2013 by walkableprinceton

New Jersey has the highest population density of any US state. However, a glance at the population density state-wide (above left, and higher definition version here) shows that we are distributed very unequally. Large areas of the state, most notably around the Pine Barrens, are almost entirely empty. Other parts of New Jersey, such as around Camden, are very dense, reflecting the fact that it is connected to the Philadelphia metro area. The highest density areas in New Jersey are in the north-east part of the state, around New York City. Incredibly, the four densest communities in the USA are in New Jersey. Areas such as Hoboken statistically have a higher population density than NYC itself!

All around NYC, a huge ring of high population density extends, reflecting how the city burst out of its borders and engulfed the surrounding areas in the second half of the twentieth century. The sprawl extends south, through Union and Middlesex counties, with a finger of high-density extending along the Route 1 corridor essentially all the way to Trenton. Here, we find Princeton. Zooming in on Mercer County (above, right), we see that Princeton lies in what is already a fairly urbanized area. Especially to the south around Route 1, we see higher population density, consistent with the rapid development the area has seen in recent decades.

Continue reading →

Posted in Density, Local, Princeton, Sustainability | 4 Comments

Princeton ArtWalk is Happening Thursday!

Posted on March 6, 2013 by walkableprinceton

Tomorrow, Thursday March 7 sees the return of ~~dozens of snowmen~~ the Princeton ArtWalk! Organized by the Arts Council of Princeton and Princeton University, the event, which runs from 5 pm – 8 pm will see 10 local galleries and artistically-inclined institutions in downtown Princeton open their doors for free.

The concentration of good stuff in walking distance around downtown Princeton is one of the things that makes our town special. It’s wonderful that so much culture can be found just footsteps apart. Let’s hope this is a successful event and is not disrupted by the storm!

Posted in Events, Local, Princeton, Walking | 1 Comment

New Jersey Commuters Missing out on Signs of Spring

Posted on March 5, 2013 by walkableprinceton

For those of us who are able to walk or bike to work, this time of year offers a great deal of delight! Everywhere, nature gives us glimpses of spring, as shoots push up from the ground with the promise of beautiful flowers to come. Buds are developing on the trees, and birds are particularly full of song as they pair off for the season.

Sadly, new research indicates that many New Jersey commuters are missing out on these signs of spring. Data from the US Census Bureau revealed today that people in New Jersey have on average the second-longest commute in the nation. 1 in 7 NJ commuters travel more than an hour to get to work. This takes a massive toll on the individual and their families. It’s not much fun to have to sit in traffic or squashed on a commuter train, neither of which offer much of a view of the signs of spring around us. As the linked article from the Star-Ledger notes, scientific tests performed on ‘mega-commuters’ revealed:

“they had a harder time staying on task and had elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol”

Why then do we choose to live so far away from our places of work? In many cases, people are making an active choice, including no doubt many of the 6,346 individuals who commute daily from Mercer County to New York. Living in the Princeton area offers the possibility of having a larger home with a yard, and the advantages of great schools. But may other people must make longer commutes than they desire because they can’t find a home near their place of work. Zoning restrictions that favor low-density housing requires spread-out development patterns that require people to get in cars and drive to get to work.

At Walkable Princeton we believe that allowing people to live close to their place of work and favoring walking and biking will raise everybody’s quality of life. We can reduce commute time, traffic and oil use by permitting more flexible zoning that enables people to live near where jobs are in central Princeton. It is crazy to require longer commutes and traffic when we could accommodate many more people in Princeton with a moderate increase in housing units. Increased density on infill sites around the Princeton downtown would greatly increase the percentage of people able to walk to work, and help reduce the toll of long commutes on individuals and families. Walkability is best, because a longer trip to work isn’t so bad if you are on foot, getting valuable exercise and being able to appreciate the nature around you!

* As a final point, and relating to yesterday’s post (Too Many Cars Around Princeton) about the increasing number of cars on Princeton area roads, it’s worth pointing out that the Census data also showed that more commuters pass daily from New Jersey into Pennsylvania than travel the other way. You often hear that roads in Mercer County are clogged with Pennsylvania commuters who live in Bucks County to take advantage of lower taxes and then drive into New Jersey. The figures show that we are sending just as many people the opposite direction into Pennsylvania.