Work to focus on Plainsboro Road near railroad tracks.
By: Jill Matthews
PLAINSBORO The township has received a $200,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation for the construction of bicycle lanes on Plainsboro Road near the Northeast Corridor rail line.
The bicycle lanes, which are part of the larger Plainsboro Road Bicycle Pathway project, would stretch from the approximate location of Community Gardens, which is west of the tracks, to Prospect Avenue on the east side of the rail line, said Susan Abbey, township communications director.
This is a particularly important bicycle path because it will provide residents living on the west side of the tracks with the ability to cross the bridge by bicycle and eventually be able to ride their bicycles to the planned Village Center, Ms. Abbey said.
The township has already received $290,000 from the state DOT for this particular piece of the bicycle pathway. The construction of this section of the pathway is estimated to cost $650,000.
The Plainsboro Road Bicycle Pathway plan was conceived during the township’s review of its Master Plan in 1999, when it took an inventory of its existing sidewalks and bike lanes.
"We looked at what was already in place, where we needed sidewalks and bikeways, and how they could all be connected in order to integrate our community," said Mayor Peter Cantu in a statement.
The pathways are being built in phases and will eventually link up with the planned Village Center on Schalks Crossing Road.
"This is one of many steps we are taking to make sure our residents will be able to easily access our new center of town," said Mayor Cantu.
Last week, the state announced that the township would receive a $150,000 grant for improvements to the intersection of Edgemere, Dey and Plainsboro roads. The township previously received $250,000 from the state DOT for improvements to the intersection, which will include the installation of a new traffic signal as well as a small amount of road widening.
The construction, estimated to cost a total of $1.9 million, is slated to begin in 2005.