Pedestrian trail hits new bumps

Extension sought for contract award

By: Vic Monaco
   HIGHTSTOWN — Having witnessed 16 years of planning, Roger Cook isn’t easily startled when the half-million-dollar plan for a recreational pedestrian trail crisscrossing the borough hits more bumps.
   "It never surprises me," said the chairman of the local Environmental Commission.
   On Monday night, Borough Council approved a resolution seeking a six-month extension from the state for awarding a contract for the first phase of the project. It seems The Peddie School — which has been very supportive to the point of already constructing a portion of the trail — has a problem with providing a certain easement needed for construction. Mr. Cook told the council a new design may clear things up quickly.
   "We hope to hear from the engineers in a few days," he said.
   Two state Department of Transportation grants, of $250,000 each, have been awarded for each phase of the project, which has been in the works for 16 years, Mr. Cook explained. The phases are broken down by the two legs of the X that would be formed by the trail — with phase one following the waterway through town and phase two following the old railroad right-of-way. The entire trail, which is referred to as the Greenways, would be two to three miles long.
   The grant for the first phase called for a contract award by next month.
   Mr. Cook said the latest delay is similar to most as it involves acquiring a privately owned easement. But he quickly added that The Peddie School has "supported us in the whole process."
   Meanwhile, Borough Engineer Carmela Roberts presented a solution, which was accepted by council, to a problem now facing phase two of the project. She said that since phase two was funded as a bikeway, the DOT requires that it be 8 feet wide. Unfortunately, she said, a section of Railroad Avenue won’t allow for such width unless it is narrowed to 20 feet and made into a one-way street, northbound from Morrison to Rogers avenues.
   Ms. Roberts said Police Chief James Eufemia has no problem with the plan as long as the path is not concrete.
   "We plan a stone dust path there," she said.
   Mr. Cook said he also sees proposal a "viable solution."
   In other business Monday, council approved a $174,585 low-bid contract to S. Brothers General Contractors of South River to reconstruct Wycoff’s Mill Road from Main Street to Cranbury Station.
   The work is expected to start in March or April and be finished in about two months, according to Borough Clerk Candace Gallagher.
   The work will include repaving, new sidewalks on the northern side of the road and curbing.