By Victoria Hurley-Schubert, Staff Writer
Five transportation plans for Princeton, ranging from eliminating the Dinky train for a bus rapid transit system to personal rapid transit, a series of individual cars on a track, were presented Saturday morning.
The Princeton Library’s community room was filled to standing-room only at some points in the presentation, sponsored by Princeton Future. Audience members lingered well after the presentation talking about the proposals, which were enlightening to many. Afterward, the main feeling among attendees was for the Regional Planning Board not to make a decision about the proposed Bus Rapid Transit plan on Thursday night.
Up for a vote on Thursday night is a BRT plan “for sufficient, reliable, and more frequent service from Nassau Street to the Princeton Junction Station with a trip time goal not to exceed 10 minutes and running on the average of once every 10 minutes, especially with enhanced service that will connect with all trains during peak commuter hours the municipalities will support the simultaneous conversion of the current “Dinky” right-of-way to two exclusive BRT express roadways and a walkway/bikeway between the center of town and the Princeton Junction Station,” as it reads from the proposed resolution.
”I would like to see no vote taken, there are too many wonderful propositions presented to vote, a resolution is premature,” said Dorothy Koehn, who was wearing a “Save the Dinky” button and owns properties in the Princeton Borough and Township. “We are no where ready to take on the enormity of the project.”
”I am in favor of encouraging people to go to the Planning Board meeting this Thursday and making the statement not to jump into anything until a long-term plan is thought through with all the alternatives. Princeton is a town that could look to the long term and implement some long-term innovative solutions,” said Patricia DiMaio, a borough resident who takes the Dinky daily. “When I heard pod (during the PRT presentation), I thought of the Jetsons, but now I realize there are more alternatives out there.”
The five plans presented were: Bus Rapid Transit; Save the Dinky; Ultimate Accessibility Through Modernization and Extension of the Dinky to Palmer Square; Modern Streetcar, and Personal Rapid Transit.
The plan that had most people talking was Personal Rapid Transit, or PRT, presentation that generated lots of buzz.
”I think Dr. Anderson surprised a lot of people with how advanced the plans are for PRT technology,” said Arch Davis, the former chair of the traffic and transportation committee. “I was surprised at how advanced the technology is and how many places it’s going in the world. The country needs development and investment in ideas like this to advance society as a whole for alternative energy and transportation solutions.”
The room also contained visitors who lived outside the Princetons who came to see what the ideas were.
One Montgomery resident had hopes the plans could be regionalized to areas outside Princeton borders. “The only proposal that addressed areas outside Princeton was the PRT,” said Ch Tai, a Montgomery resident. “They need to address regional transportation issues, Princeton is not alone by itself.”
The presentations had people speculating about other transportation fixes that were not presented and offering their own solutions.
”I don’t think the BRT is a good idea, it’s a bus like any other bus; it won’t have enough people and have management issues like the Dinky,” said Layla Fryc, a Hamilton engineer who specializes in pedestrian and bicycle studies. “Fix the management issues with the Dinky and the existing busses. The PRT is worth thinking about.”
Keeping the rail lines in place was one idea from Princeton Borough resident Rodney Fisk “I strongly support saving the Dinky and then converting it to light rail,” he said. He explained a light rail system could make five round trips per hour between its borough location and Princeton Junction train station in West Windsor.
Others didn’t like one plan over another and walked away with a lot to think about.
”I thought there was an incredible wealth of ideas, concepts and alternatives that are food for thought for anyone that wants to rethink public transportation in Princeton,” said Jim Constantine, director of Princeton Future and a borough resident. “There were some new things I hadn’t thought of before, so I’m mulling it over.”
”There are interesting aspects to each proposal,” added Mr. Constantine, who has a one-car household and who has used the Dinky, Free B jitney and Community Coach within the past week. “I’d like to see ways to move in town and across town that don’t necessitate you having to get in your car.”
There were those who were skeptical of all the ideas presented. “The reality is America likes its car,” said Joshua Zinder, a Princeton architect, during the public comment section. “With a family of six, I don’t know how I could take advantage of this system.”
The Princeton Regional Planning Board will have a special meeting on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the main meeting room at Princeton Township Municipal Complex at 400 Witherspoon St.

