By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Someday in the not-too-distant future, a roundabout — or traffic-calming circle — may sprout on Princeton Avenue near Knapp’s Cyclery, and the entrance to the Trenton Farmers’ Market may be realigned closer to Mulberry Street.
Around the corner on Spruce Street, several driveway entrances into the Trenton Farmers Market and the Halo Farms store could be consolidated into three driveways — the main driveway that would allow cars to enter and exit, plus a right-turn in driveway and a right-turn out driveway.
Those are some of the more than one dozen recommendations contained in a study of Princeton Avenue and Spruce Street in the proposed Mercer Crossings redevelopment area, which spans Lawrence and Ewing townships and touches the City of Trenton.
Other suggestions include reducing the four lanes on Spruce Street to one lane in each direction, plus adding a center lane for left turns into businesses on both sides of the street. Eventually, a dedicated bicycle lane and sidewalks could be created to make it a “complete street,” according to the report.
And either a roundabout or a traffic light — depending on which technique would be more helpful — might be installed on Spruce Street at Tiffany Woods Drive to calm traffic and to improve the flow of cars.
A draft version of the report, which was prepared by engineering consultant DMJM Harris, was reviewed at a public meeting Jan. 29 at the Mercer County Agricultural Extension Service office on Spruce Street. The final report is expected to be completed next month.
The “baseline” principle of the study, which was funded by a grant from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, is to reduce the speed of cars on the two streets and to improve traffic safety, said consultant James Hess.
The zoning on the two streets is nonresidential, but a review of the area by the Urban Land Institute several years ago proposed mixed-use development — a combination of residential and nonresidential development, Mr. Hess said. Many of the recommended changes outlined last week would not occur unless the zoning is changed.
“What we are recommending is a phased-improvement approach,” Mr. Hess said. Some suggested improvements would occur immediately, but others would occur only after certain activities occur — substantial new development on Princeton Avenue or Spruce Street, or revised zoning regulations on Spruce Street.
For example, a roundabout on Princeton Avenue near Knapp’s Cyclery would not be constructed until there is substantial development between the Brunswick Circle Extension and Harney’s Corner, where Princeton Pike and Lawrence Road/Route 206 cross.
The roundabout would improve traffic flow, while at the same time it would calm traffic because vehicles would have to slow down to negotiate around the circle. The roundabout also could serve as a potentially decorative gateway into the Mercer Crossings redevelopment area.
But restriping Princeton Avenue at Spruce Street could take place immediately. The report suggests painting new stripes on Princeton Avenue southbound to create one lane for right turns onto Spruce Street and one lane for cars that continue south on Princeton Avenue.
The report also suggests widening the small island at the intersection and adding a pedestrian walkway. The combined changes would make it easier to turn right onto Spruce Street, and also provide a pedestrian refuge for people crossing the street.
Mercer County Planning Director Donna Lewis said the recommended improvements would not be built “tomorrow,” because “it is very complicated — everything is dependent on nine other things.”
“The objective here is to make a real street that is attractive for development and redevelopment,” Ms. Lewis said. “It’s not just a transportation project, it’s (also) an economic development project.”
Municipal Manager Richard Krawczun said he liked the idea of phasing in the improvements. He said the meeting “created a starting point” for conversations between the municipalities and Mercer County.
Mayor Pam Mount added that the recommendations are “very practical and do-able.” The possibility that at least some of the recommendations may be implemented “are very real,” she said.
