Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Eric Payne praises the New Jersey DOT for tackling the traffic issues, but says the state's concept plan isn't the right solution.
Although the New Jersey Department of Transportation has proposed a concept plan to reduce congestion along Route 1, a Penns Neck resident says it's not the right solution. "This is exactly the (failed) pilot plan, but it's worse because they're adding a light," said Eric Payne. "Anytime you add a stop ,you add delay. Adding lanes is good, but adding a light will nullify it. "Let's bite the bullet and do it right the first time," said Payne, a member of a volunteer group of concerned citizens known as Smart Traffic Solutions. The best idea, he says, is to build an overpass over Route 1. But if that plan isn't economically feasible, he proposes a first- and less expensive- step. His plan includes: Creating a road parallel to Route …
Thursday, February 21, 2013
"There is a lot happening here, we've got a lot of corporate folks here and new folks coming into the region. At some point, traffic is going to be a detriment, if it's not already."
New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner James Simpson wants residents and elected officials to weigh in quickly on the conceptual plan to ease traffic along Route 1 in West Windsor and Plainsboro. "If we can get this (project) into the (federal transportation) program, if everyone buys into it, it will be a Herculean task," Simpson said. "So the message that I want to deliver to everybody here is get on board quickly or say no quickly." Simpson spoke to a packed crowd at a breakfast meeting the Nassau Inn on Wednesday, hosted by the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce. "This region is so critical to the Einstein Alley," Simpson said. "There is a lot happening here, we've got a lot of corporate folks here and new folks …
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
The bill would not affect current jughandles, like the ones in place at Washington Road and Harrison Street.
A bill that would ban the future construction of jughandles in New Jersey passed muster with a state Senate panel Monday, paving the way for its potential consideration before the entire body. The measure by state Sen. James Holzapfel (R-Ocean) would prohibit the planning, design or construction of any additional jughandles on roads or highways statewide. It passed the Senate Transportation Committee Monday. Holzapfel, in a statement issued after the committee vote, said the bill was inspired by projects on several state highways – including Routes 1, 4 and 130 – where issues of heavy congestion and frequent accidents were solved by removing jughandles and replacing them with flyover bridges and modernized interchange designs. "While …
Monday, October 15, 2012
DOT Commissioner James Simpson arrived at a Saturday afternoon protest in Penns Neck with welcome news.
DOT Commissioner James Simpson arrived in Penns Neck on Saturday afternoon with welcome news to most area residents; he is calling an immediate end to the 12-week trial closure of the jughandles at the Washington Road and Harrison Street intersections with Route 1. The barrels, barricades and signs will be removed as soon as possible, probably starting in the next couple of days, Simpson told residents. By 10 p.m. on Saturday, nearby residents were already reporting the signs and cones had been removed. Drivers will also be allowed to make right turns from Route 1 north onto Varsity Avenue and Fisher Place, and left from Route 1 south at Fisher Place and Washington Road. The announcement came during a protest by neighbors in the …
Monday, October 1, 2012
A West Windsor resident launched an online petition requesting that state officials abort the project. DOT representatives never specified what would determine the project’s success or failure: many residents see only failure.
In what seems to be a growing movement against the Route 1 jughandle closures, a resident of Penns Neck in West Windsor has launched an online petition asking the New Jersey Department of Transportation to end the 12-week pilot program. The closures- which prohibit drivers from turning left off Route 1 north at Washington Road and Harrison Street- aim to reduce congestion along Route 1 north through Lawrenceville, West Windsor and Plainsboro. If the trial- which began in early August- is a success, the state plans to close jughandles permanently. But what confuses many people is that DOT representatives have never specified what would determine the project’s success or failure. Many residents see only failure. “The NJDOT implemented the …
Monday, August 6, 2012
With the Route 1 jughandle closures now in place, how is your commute?
The 12-week pilot project to restrict left turns and U-turns on Route 1 at Washington Road and Harrison Street went into effect on Saturday, Aug. 4. If you travel through the area, we're interested to know what your experience has been with the traffic changes so far. Drivers traveling into Princeton may no longer turn left from Route 1 north onto Harrison or Washington. Instead, drivers may use Alexander Road or continue north to Scudder’s Mill Road and onto Route 1 south. The New Jersey Department of Transportation seeks to reduce congestion at those intersections where the rightmost of three lanes becomes crowded with motorists waiting to make left turns, particularly during peak travel periods.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Determining the success of the 12-week pilot program will be difficult to quantify, New Jersey DOT official says.
The left-hand jughandle that turns off Route 1 north at Washington Road and Harrison Street in West Windsor will close for 12 weeks beginning either July 30 or Aug. 6, according to Joseph Dee, director of communications at the state's Department of Transportation. The pilot program aims to reduce congestion along Route 1 north through Lawrenceville, West Windsor and Plainsboro, and is expected to affect the roadway from Lawrenceville through to South Brunswick. What’s still unclear is what will determine the project’s success or failure. Local business owners pressed Dee for an answer at a recent transportation forum that included members from Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce and Capital Region …
Aira D
10:28 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
I work in the area, I have almost been hit 3 times, that is when it has become illegal to turn around in someones driveway! Just yesterday the school bus had the red lights, a child was crossing the street and jumped back, someone making a turn. It won't change until someone is killed..... more ›