By Greg Forester, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR — Township Council unanimously passed a resolution calling for the state to reinstate $19 million in funding for the Vaughn Drive Connector that was recently removed from a 10-year state capital budget by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Township officials have labeled the roadway as a critical part of the township’s redevelopment planning process for the 350-acre area surrounding the Princeton Junction train station.
The proposed roadway is seen as providing an important route between Alexander Road and Route 571, in an area that is currently the scene of frequent peak-hour traffic snarls.
”Wherever redevelopment goes depends on the Vaughn Drive Connector,” said Township Attorney Michael Herbert, describing the resolution to council members. “The whole idea of the Vaughn Drive Connector is that it will allow better access to the train station, while relieving traffic on arterial roads.”
The state should provide even more funding than the $19 million, which has been said previously to account for half of the cost for constructing such a roadway, according to council members.
They cited the train station’s importance to the regional transportation picture as a possible reason for the allocation of additional state money.
”The state should pay 100 percent,” said Councilwoman Linda Geevers. “It’s not just West Windsor’s train station, it’s a state asset.”
Council President William Anklowitz said the roadway fit perfectly with the state government’s emphasis on “Smart Growth,” a policy emphasizing concentrated development in already developed areas and reusing existing infrastructure and developed land, instead of expanding into diminishing areas of open space.
”To me, the Vaughn Drive Connector is part of Smart Growth,” said Mr. Anklowitz. “We already have this train station, and we need to improve traffic.”
In other business, the council passed a resolution urging the Council on Affordable Housing to amend rules currently being considered, which West Windsor officials say could be highly damaging to New Jersey municipalities.
The resolution listed many of COAH’s proposed regulations, and said they would put an unnecessary financial and planning strain on communities, while actually making it difficult to provide affordable housing opportunities.
The council also introduced an ordinance laying out the salaries for lieutenants in the West Windsor Police Department. A public hearing is scheduled March 17.
