PENNINGTON: Officials set to vote on circle proposal

Hopewell Township Committee voted Feb. 23 in favor of resolution requesting DOT to make improvements to circle. Pennington Council will vote on a similar measure Monday

By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
   A Pennington Council vote on supporting a package of proposed improvements to the Pennington Circle is expected at Monday’s meeting.
   The 7 p.m. session was postponed from March 2.
   The circle actually is in Hopewell Township, just south of the borough. The state Department of Transportation (DOT) has jurisdiction over the circle because its main artery is Route 31. The circle also is intersected by Route 546, Blackwell Road and Pennington Road.
   The proposed improvements to the heavily congested circle include curb line modifications, lane restriping and traffic island reconstruction. Over 200 accidents have occurred on the heavily traveled Pennington Circle or its approaches during the past three years, the DOT said.
   The Hopewell Township Committee voted 4-0 Feb. 23 in favor of a resolution requesting the DOT to make the improvements to the circle. The Pennington Council will vote on a similar measure Monday night.
   Township Administrator/Engineer Paul Pogorzelski and DOT officials say the proposed improvements to the circle would improve traffic flow significantly at relatively little cost and with relatively little disruption to homeowners and businesses at or near the circle.
   Mr. Pogorzelski said the improvements could be completed this year, costing less than $1 million. Federal economic stimulus money could cover the cost, township Mayor Vanessa Sandom said.
   Mr. Pogorzelski added that the DOT says the proposed improvements would maintain traffic Levels of Service at the Pennington Circle at Level C through the year 2027.
   Traffic engineers rate intersections and circles at Levels of Service from A through F, with F being the worst level. “A C level of service in New Jersey is actually quite good,” Mr. Pogorzelski said last week.