By Charle Kim, Managing Editor
The Aging in Place Partnership is scheduling a Community Transportation Forum tomorrow to discuss how residents can get around the township better.
According to a press release from the organization, the forum will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 17 in the township’s Public Works building.
The event is free and sponsored by the AIPP and the Easter Seals Project Action, according to the release.
A number of transportation experts are scheduled to take part in discussions about how to make traveling around the township easier, according to the organization.
Those scheduled to participate include Grace Egan, the executive director of the New Jersey Foundation on Aging; Greater Mercer TMA representative Cheryl Kastrenakes; Krishna Murtha of Meadow Link Commuter Services; Middlesex County Travel Training Program representative Steve Fittante; David Cornelsen from Brunswick Mobility Mall; and Peggy Kelly from the South Brunswick Township Transit Services.
The event will feature a morning panel discussion, free lunch and then an afternoon session to develop an action plan for the community, according to the release.
The goal of the event is to hear from people in the community and build a plan on those issues and concerns, according to the release.
Residents wishing to attend the forum should register by sending an e-mail to [email protected] or by contacting the organization at 732-305-7079.
Residents also can register at the Senior Center by contacting Sue Trilli or Caryl Greenberg, according to the organization.
In addition to the forum, the township is moving forward with NJ Transit to build a new park-and-ride facility at the intersection of Route 1 and Independence Way only.
The project, funded through a federal government grant with New Jersey Transit, initially was going to be built either near the intersection of Beekman Road and Route 1 or the intersection of Route 1 and Independence Way.
Township Council members, however, voted unanimously May 24 to build the facility only at the intersection of Route 1 and Independence Way.
The new park-and-ride will be located only at the Independence Way and Route 1 intersection because residents of Beekman Road came before the council and asked not to have the proposed bus stop on that road, according to township spokesman Ron Schmalz.
Resident Susan Nissenblatt went before the council at an earlier meeting and said she was against building the facility on Beekman Road.
”Someone will get killed,” Ms. Nissenblatt said during that meeting.
Councilman Joseph Camorata said during an earlier meeting that he wanted all the money for the project to go into the proposed Independence Way site.
The residents said the park-and-ride should not be on Beekman Road because of traffic problems there and on Route 27, Mr. Schmalz said.
The project at the Independence Way and Route 1 intersection is planned to be double its 80 to 90 parking spot original size, according to Mr. Schmalz.
The park-and-ride will have NJ Transit buses to and from Trenton with stops in Princeton Junction, Mr. Schmalz said.
There also may be two Suburban Transit buses that will go into Manhattan, he said.
”(The township will) need to work that out with Suburban yet,” Mr. Schmalz said.
Suburban Transit was willing to run an existing New York service on Route 27 down Beekman Road.
The township just has to find out if the company is interested in running from Independence Way, Mr. Schmalz said.
Officials are hoping to finish building the facility within the year with the expansion coming over the next few years, Mr. Schmalz said.
