By Kristine Snodgrass, Staff Writer
PLAINSBORO With the help of volunteers, two community groups are embarking on a project to evaluate the safety of 770 intersections and pedestrian crossings in the township.
The West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance is working with the GREEN Community Problem Solving Team, made up of students from West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South, to evaluate the crossings based on standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
WWBPA President Chris Scherer said volunteers will be looking for everything a pedestrian needs to safely cross the street, including crosswalks, curb cuts and walk signals. The assessment will be performed May 16.
”I have a feeling we’ll find lots of stuff that’s missing,” he said.
The data gathered in the assessment will be used to create an online map that helps people identify safe walking routes through the township to work, transit and school, he said.
The groups then will evaluate the data to create a priority list of improvements needed, which will be presented to the township, he said.
The groups received a $1,400 grant for the mapping project from The McGraw-Hill Companies as part of the company’s sixth annual Global Volunteer Day.
Last year, the WWBPA performed a similar assessment of West Windsor Township.
The groups are looking for volunteers to help perform the assessments and to assist in follow-up evaluation of the data. All participants must register and attend a brief training session. Register at www.usaservice.org or visit the WWBPA Web site at www.wwbpa.org.
A training session is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday in the history room of the Plainsboro Public Library. A second session will be held April 25 in the library’s basement.
Interested participants are invited to meet at 9 a.m. May 16 at the Millstone River Elementary School.

