Compromise plan eyed for Snowden sidewalks

Asphalt pathway focus of Monday session.

By: Rachel Silverman
   The Princeton Township Committee will attempt to resolve its long-standing Snowden Lane sidewalk controversy Monday by proposing and voting on a new "compromise" resolution, according to Township Engineer Bob Kiser.
   The resolution will call for the construction of a 4-foot-wide black asphalt walking path on the western side of the street, Mr. Kiser said.
   "It’s not a sidewalk by definition of a sidewalk," Traffic Safety Committee representative Bob Altman said. "But it does create a walkway for kids who are going to walk along it to school."
   By not labeling it a sidewalk, according to Mr. Altman, the township will have more flexibility in design. "When you call it a sidewalk, there are minimum state regulations for it," he said. "This way we get away from some of those state mandates and are still meeting the needs of a sidewalk."
   The proposed pathway, however, will differ from a traditional sidewalk in several respects. In addition to consisting of paved blacktop surface, the pathway, unlike a normal sidewalk, will twist and turn its way down the lane.
   "It will meander to allow for existing healthy trees to remain," Mr. Kiser said.
   To aid what is termed as an environmentally friendly effort, the Shade Tree Commission and township arborist will undertake the planting of 50 new trees along the street.
   Sidewalk construction, however, is only one part of the proposed $1 million Snowden Lane reconstruction ordinance.
   The new compromise relates to improving the general safety of Snowden Lane, Mr. Kiser explained. To this end, the ordinance will include installing a double yellow center line along Snowden Lane, reconfiguring curve alignment in the Snowden Lane-Franklin Avenue intersection and painting new crosswalks at both the Rollingmead and Franklin Avenue intersections, Mr. Kiser said.
   If passed, improvements on Snowden Lane would begin in late May and continue into the summer.
   "The majority of the work will be done when the schools are closed," Mr. Kiser said.
   At a Monday night meeting, the Princeton Regional Board of Education voiced its support of the revised plans for Snowden Lane.
   "We support measures that increase the safety of students," board President Anne Burns said.
   "We are in favor of making it a safer place to walk," Ms. Burns said later. "We believe in sidewalks. We’re recognizing the work they’re doing and supporting it."
   Despite a warm reception from the school board, general public reaction to the new Snowden Lane proposal thus far appears mixed.
   "Some neighbors are for it, some are really against it," Mr. Kiser summed up.
   Township resident Wesley McCaughan, who has lived on Snowden Lane for the past 41 years, leans towards the latter position.
   "It causes damage to properties, it’s rather disruptive to property," Mr. McCaughan said, referring to sidewalks in general.
   "I’m sure there will be some of my neighbors here who will be very bitter about it," he said. "But I haven’t seen the plan yet, I can’t visualize it," he added.
   Fellow Snowden Lane resident Bob Aresty also said that although he, too, does not yet have all the details, he is skeptical of the new plan.
   "I’m not sure that’s an acceptable compromise," Mr. Aresty said.
   Mr. Aresty also seemed put off by the decision-making process involved.
   "The way the whole thing has been handled has been very underhanded," he said. "There have been enough meetings, but the engineering people are unmovable."
   Mr. Altman of the Traffic Safety Committee seemed much happier with the final plan, however, and his role in the proceedings.
   "It makes sense. It allows for the road to be rebuilt. It doesn’t require taking down a lot of trees. … This solution seems to create a safe place for people," he said.