State to fund Route 206 pedestrian, bicycling study

Section from Nassau Street to Cherry Valley Road to be eyed.

By: Marjorie Censer
   Princeton Borough and Princeton Township officials announced Monday that the New Jersey Department of Transportation will fully fund a study of Route 206 between Nassau Street and Cherry Valley Road that’s intended to make the road more pedestrian- and bike-friendly and preserve the abutting neighborhoods.
   Two firms — Glatting Jackson, headquartered in Orlando, Fla., and Urban Engineers, headquartered in Philadelphia — will conduct the study.
   Representatives of the firms will attend a town meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Nov. 28 in the main meeting room of Township Hall to hear the concerns of residents. Residents who cannot attend the meeting are encouraged to watch it on television on TV29 or schedule an appointment to meet with the planners Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday of that week.
   Township Committeeman William Hearon said the campaign for a study of the road began a year ago, when the local community group Citizens for a Safer Route 206 formed a steering committee. The "grassroots campaign" deserves praise, he said.
   "We want to provide an opportunity for people to make a difference, for people to have their voices heard," Mr. Hearon said at a news conference Monday.
   Attendees at the conference included Borough Councilwoman Wendy Benchley, Mr. Hearon, Princeton Township Mayor Phyllis Marchand, Princeton Township Engineer Robert Kiser, Princeton Borough Engineer Carl Peters, Planning Director Lee Solow and several neighbors.
   Those present emphasized the importance of making Route 206 a safe passageway for walkers and bicyclists. Calling the road a "major barrier" between the western side of the borough and the downtown, Ms. Benchley said she would like to see new traffic-calming measures implemented.
   Mr. Hearon said he wants to see plans made with long-term goals in mind.
   "How do we make decisions now and how do we execute those decisions that are going to affect our lives, our community, for the next 15 to 20 years?" he said.
   The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission will be conducting a similar study on Route 206 — on the portion from Lawrence to Princeton, Mr. Hearon said. He said Princeton will be able to take advantage of both studies.
   Both he and Ms. Benchley said what happens to the highway affects not only its immediate neighbors, but everyone.
   "It’s really the whole town," Ms. Benchley said. "This is a major route that bisects town."