Princeton officials fear truck traffic will increase on Route 206.
By: Rachel Silverman and Marjorie Censer
Princeton Borough and Princeton Township officials voiced their opposition to the construction of a transload facility off Route 206 in Hillsborough this week, asking the federal government to halt the project until a thorough study of its impacts can be made.
Under the proposed plans, the Industrial Realty Group of California would convert a 165-acre U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs depot facility into a truck-rail freight transfer point, thanks to a 35-year "enhanced lease" signed between the two. The lease, which can be renewed for up to 75 years, does not require local approval, as the Department of Veterans Affairs is a branch of the federal government.
In a resolution approved Monday, the Princeton Township Committee cited various safety concerns, as well as negative environmental impacts, that could result. On Tuesday, the Princeton Borough Council passed the same resolution.
The resolution asserted that "the transload facility is bound to generate many additional truck trips" through a "residential, fully built out, densely populated and historic community."
The resolution also expressed concern about increased wear and tear to Route 206.
According to the document, "Route 206 is not on the National Network for Trucks, and as a narrow, two-lane road without shoulders, was never built to accommodate a large numbers of heavy, large sized trucks safely."
The resolution spoke to concerns about the environment, claiming that heavy truck traffic would create air and noise pollution. It also said that such traffic could threaten the safety of pedestrians and drivers.
At present, the New Jersey Department of Transportation is considering a $2.2 million funding application to upgrade the facilities. The resolution asked that these state funds be denied.
Borough Council members heard from Sandy Solomon, chairwoman of the borough’s Traffic and Transportation Committee, who urged the council to pass the resolution. She said each railcar that came into the facility would put 10 trucks on the road five into the facility and five out.
"I think transload facilities are a great idea, if you keep the trucks on truck routes," she said.
Borough Councilwoman Wendy Benchley, who serves as liaison to the Traffic and Transportation Committee, cited the need for more information.
"This is one of the problems. This thing has been proposed, and no studies have been done," she said. "There are no answers … to 99 percent of the questions we have."
IRG representatives made a "courtesy" presentation to the Hillsborough Township Planning Board on Oct. 14, 2004. Kevin Davis, Hillsborough Township administrator, said the township was not given an opportunity to provide feedback on the site because it is federal property. He added that the township is now in talks with the developer to ensure that the facility has as minimal an impact on the township as possible.