To the Editor:

Thank you for bringing our attention to the Harrison Street Corridor concept plan that was presented to Princeton Council on November 12 [“Council Hears Report on Harrison Street Corridor,” November 20, page 1]. I am glad that pedestrians and cyclists are getting a high priority in planning. While I am at various times, driver, cyclist, and pedestrian, it is hard to consider the needs of all three simultaneously. The concept plan seems to manage this particularly well by proposing separate lanes for bicycles and increasing the sidewalk coverage around the Princeton Shopping Center area. While the “road diet” (reducing four lanes to two) sounded strange to me at first, I realized that Route 206 is one lane in each direction, and that works most of the time.

The plan proposes that the section of Harrison along the shopping center be divided into car lanes, bicycle lanes, and sidewalks in both directions. Pedestrians will find the sidewalks on both sides of Harrison at the shopping center to be a life saver.

The driver in me applauds a traffic light at Route 206 and Ewing Street. Roundabouts at Bunn, Terhune, Valley, and Nassau may help relieve car and truck congestion, and cyclists will be directed to more peaceful roads to avoid much of Harrison Street. Slowing traffic at the D&R Canal will be very helpful to runners, walkers, and cyclists, since the flashing lights are not visible around the sharp corner heading north.

While I am feeling positive so far about the plan, some questions remain in my mind. Will roundabouts have pedestrian crossing lights? Will cyclists need to become pedestrians to safely enter and leave the roundabouts? I find roundabouts to be intimidating as a cyclist, since many drivers are not happy when a bicycle occupies a full lane. Are the new apartments surrounding the Princeton Shopping Center fully considered in the traffic data? I am looking forward to hearing more about this large and complex plan.

Alice Macnow
Bunn Drive