Donald J. Cox of Princeton
Recently, we learned Princeton Borough property taxes doubled over 10 years, are going up again this year and new property assessments are coming.
Corzine is looking to cut costs for tax relief, yet borough hall is is acting like the economy hasn¹t tanked — with new pay raises, continued work with Nassau HKT regardless of contract differences on money issues) and now a free shuttle mainly duplicating county and private bus routes for New Jersey’s most pedestrian town.
Who will really benefit from this token operation? Certainly the limited Monday through Friday commuter schedule is not made for seniors or children. What percentage of residents living along the route actually works uptown or uses NJ Transit¹s Dinky?
I live east of the eastern edge of this service and selected the jug-town neighborhood because it was only a 20-minute walk to the uptown shops and walking distance to the Dinky Station on weekends. If and when I drive uptown, it is not because of the distance, but because I cannot afford the time to walk or for that matter wait for a 20-minute jitney.
Why is the university, which seems to resist paying much more for anything else in lieu of taxes, suddenly paying for a few weeks of service — a departing gift to Councilwoman Benchley before council support changes for a “Dinky Station move” marketing gimmick?
If it’s not a gimmick, why isn¹t the commitment long term? And, for that matter, the same question should be asked of NJ Transit’s limited rebate. Last year, wasn’t this bus to cost $30,000 to $40,000 and be covered by NJ Transit? But now it is $50,000 to $60,000? This summer, gasoline may go to $4 per gallon. Is $60,000 per year still realistic?
What happens once the rebates to sell moving the Dinky Station expire — is this going to end like the subsidized parking gimmick for non-residents using the library?
A long-term critical issue, raised in the past, but is not being addressed now, is what is going to be the impact of this service on residential streets when the service shifts traffic and parking problems from business areas to residential neighborhoods?
Unlike the streets closer to uptown businesses, many of the back streets in my neighborhood do not require residential parking permits. Wasn¹t this problem supposed to be solved before this service started? Today, streets such as Sergeant Street, very close to the jitney route, provide free overflow parking to the businesses on Nassau Street. Thus, even without the jitney, it is nearly impossible for residents to park on Sergeant Street during business hours.
What happens when word gets out to cash-strapped commuters that we¹re paying for their last mile of gas with free shuttles to free parking in residential neighborhoods?
When my kids bike to school, is their route going to look and feel like lots at the Princeton Junction train station?
Is the shuttle truly for residents or are residents giving control of their quiet kid-friendly streets to non-residents for a temporary marketing gimmick?
Donald J. Cox
Harrison Street
Princeton
