…NJ Transit has received positive feedback from the state
By: Nick Norlen
A presentation by New Jersey Transit officials of their proposed Route 1 Bus Rapid Transit system and how it could include stops in Princeton was met with a variety of questions at the Regional Planning Board’s Master Plan Subcommittee meeting Tuesday.
Queries from both borough and township representatives related to potential hurdles such as funding, the number of entities involved, and public acceptance of the system.
Still, Borough Councilwoman Wendy Benchley said the plan was more "fully developed" and is beginning to make sense.
"Not only for the Route 1 corridor but for us, if we can figure out how we integrate it into our streets," she said. "The thought and the detail that is coming out now makes the plan sound like it might happen and that it would be very, very good for the region and for Princeton."
But questions about how the plan factors into the entire region prompted Borough Mayor Mildred Trotman to ask what would happen if certain pieces of the project don’t come to fruition.
"How will that affect the broader plan, and will you be able to proceed?" she said.
Jack Kanarek, NJ Transit Senior Director of Project Development and Capital Planning, said he believes "the plan is resilient."
"We’re encouraged that we can make this work," he said, noting that NJ Transit owns most of the sites that would be included in the system.
In addition, he said NJ Transit has received positive feedback from the state.
But Borough Administrator Bob Bruschi raised concerns about the feasibility of funding such a project.
"Until there is truly a dedication to providing this type of thing because it’s not going to cover itself, not in the beginning anyway somebody has got to step up to the plate," he said, noting that he expects a struggle to fund even the local jitney proposed in the borough.
Furthermore, Princeton Future Managing Director Sheldon Sturges said he isn’t sure the bus system will improve commutes.
"I don’t think the BRT is going to be able to get across town that much faster," he said.
However, Princeton University Vice President and Secretary Robert Durkee said that the busiest traffic times on Nassau Street are not during the morning commute hours, when people are most concerned about catching a train on time.
Master Plan Subcommittee Chairman Marvin Reed said the focus should be on ensuring that the car alternative is just as reliable.
But regardless of its efficiency, the success of the new system will depend on "changing the way people think about how they’re going to get places," said Township Mayor Phyllis Marchand.
To that end, Mr. Reed said the municipalities are "now at the stage where we have to develop a considerable public outreach effort in the community so that the community begins to understand that there really is potential here in developing a better transit-oriented system."
"As we make some of these changes, we’re not just doing it for the benefit of some developer," he said. "We’re really trying to come up with something that comes up with a considerable community benefit."
In the meantime, Mr. Reed said the board must continue to look comprehensively at the proposal and its implications.
"This discussion is going to be continued, because it’s one of the fundamental dilemmas we have to wrestle with," he said. "If a BRT system is going to be the core of our transit system, how does the rest of the system develop?"
But eventually, the municipalities are "going to have to be advocates" for a specific plan "and not just passive bystanders," he said.
"If the governor is going to make the commitment in terms of priorities, if the state’s going to make a commitment in terms of dollars, they’re going to expect the municipalities to really be endorsing the various proposals," he said. "And I think that we need to work on this in order to get it to that stage."

