Spurred by concern for pedestrians trying to cross Canal Pointe Boulevard
By: Greg Forester
WEST WINDSOR An engineering study aimed at making Canal Pointe Boulevard less hazardous to pedestrians and bicyclists has been approved by the West Windsor Township Council.
West Windsor Township Engineer Jim Parvesse said the township has earmarked $75,000 to perform the engineering study during the 2007-2008 fiscal year, in addition to $1.1 million set aside in the township’s capital improvements budget.
"That money set aside in the capital improvements budget shows the township intends to move ahead with this project," said Mr. Parvesse.
The engineering study, which was approved at last week’s council meeting after a discussion with residents, would focus on improving the length of the roadway from Alexander Road to Emmons Drive.
The results of the study would determine what would be done to Canal Pointe Boulevard, township officials said.
"The preliminary engineering study would be performed at some point this year and show us what kind of improvements would need to be made," said Township Business Administrator Christopher Marion.
Resident Richard Regan, along with West Windsor Bicycle & Pedestrian Alliance Treasurer and resident Sandy Shapiro said at last week’s Township Council meeting that the road was in need of improvements to make it more bicycle and pedestrian friendly.
"Right now it’s very difficult to cross the roadway safely and there are not enough clearly marked crosswalks," said Ms. Shapiro. "Many people live in the area, and they should be encouraged to walk to MarketFair and other shopping centers instead of driving such short distances."
The project could include reducing the roadway from four lanes to three, with a lane on both sides and a left-turn lane in the center, along with roadway medians, according to Mr. Parvesse.
The township also intends to study the roadway’s intersections for the possibility of installing traffic signals, especially at the Meadow Road and Carnegie Center Boulevard intersections.
West Windsor officials said they believe the volume of traffic at those two intersections already warrants the installation of traffic signals.
Mr. Parvesse said the township would look into other traffic-calming measures to improve the road for pedestrians and cyclists.
West Windsor Township Business Administrator Christopher Marion said some of the impetus for the project has come from safety studies prepared by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the West Windsor Police Department.
The High Priority Mitigation Study performed with the DOT showed Canal Pointe Boulevard had an elevated number of accidents and suggested reducing the number of lanes, according to Mr. Marion.
In addition to those studies, the West Windsor Bicycle & Pedestrian Alliance sponsored a walk of the roadway in April by residents and township officials.
The walk, along with earlier studies performed by Orth-Rodgers Planners and the mayor’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force, created a list of recommended improvements that included:
Reduce travel lanes.
Construct pedestrian safety islands.
Create high visibility crosswalks with pedestrian-activated signals.
Create pedestrian crossings at the intersection of Meadow Road and Canal Pointe Boulevard.
Make curb cuts and connect crosswalks to existing sidewalks.
The West Windsor Bicycle & Pedestrian Alliance began as an outgrowth of the Mayor’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force and now has more than 180 members.

