Princeton Has Opportunity To Implement Bike Facilities Plan: Officials

PRINCETON, NJ – During the last council meeting a work session on the 2024 Bicycle Facilities Implementation Plan was held.

A presentation was made to Council during which Assistant Municipal Engineer Jim Purcell talked about ways to implement work elements of the Master Plan Bicycle Mobility Plan into projects taking place like resurfacing roads, make capital improvements and repaving sidewalks.

“We have some opportunities this year. PSE&G gas system modernization is underway. As most people know 12 miles of gas mains are being replaced... so they're doing a pretty good job tearing our roadways,” Purcell said.

“Whenever we have opportunities, we do take into consideration bicycle facilities in our construction projects and the first thing we look at is the master plan and the bike network for the mobility element.”

With all the construction work currently taking place, township engineers are looking at implementing the goals of “complete street” which is providing safe transportation alternatives to all residents.

PSE&G is required to repave the trenches and the engineering department has identified roads where the company has to repave the entire width. The township is working with the company to determine what roads they can repave full-width.

Purcell said PSE&G will have to replace the current bicycle markings that were disturbed when they put in a new gas main.

“We have a short time frame because we don’t have a lot of time to plan and design new facilities. We can do what’s available through traffic marking,” Purcell said.

Key details include repaving existing markings; installing new markings for shared lanes and bike boulevards.

According to the proposed plan Riverside Drive will have a bike lane going north and shared markings going south. This would result in the elimination of the parking lane in front of Riverside Elementary School. A council action will be required for that at a future date.

“Our recommendation is that the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee be tasked with reviewing the bicycle network in total as it is currently presented in the master plan,” Purcell said.

Councilwoman Eve Niedergang expressed concern about removing all parking on Riverside drive. She said it could lead to the lowering of friction needed to reduce the speed of cars.

“Are we compromising safety by taking away the parking there and encouraging the cars to speed?” Niedergang asked.

Purcell said although they might see increased speed in the area, more bikes on the road will lead to cars reducing their speed.

You can watch the work session here.

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