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Vol. LXV, No. 1
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Happy New Year!
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Wednesday, January 5, 2011
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Vol. LXV, No. 1
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Happy New Year!
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Wednesday, January 5, 2011
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Alain Kornhauser
Montadale Circle
Francesca Benson
Bainbridge Street
To the Editor:
Town Topics, in “Core Community Issues Impact” (Dec. 29), inappropriately characterizes the impact of Princeton University’s desire to move the Dinky station when it states that it “…would aid traffic flow.” In fact, the only “aid” is to give a few Forbes College students a shorter walk to and from a few campus destinations and to University employees using the Lot 7 parking garage, who would have a less circuitous drive to & from work.
For Dinky users there are no positives, just negatives. 50 percent Walk&Ride; all will need to walk farther. For the other half that get to the station by car, those that Kiss&Ride will need to drive farther and many that Park&Ride will have a longer walk from their parking spot.
With respect to aiding the traffic flow on University Place, moving the Dinky provides little relief; however, making University Place one-way from Alexander to College Road and Alexander one-way from College to University will work because the Alexander-University “intersection” becomes a branch-only location with no vehicular cross-traffic conflicts. This eliminates the constant need to interrupt the flow in order to resolve these conflicts. A traffic signal is needed only to assist the crossing of pedestrians. This light could remain at the “intersection” or be located further south to more conveniently connect Forbes with the “Arts Neighborhood.” With University Place one-way in front of the station, there is plenty of room for two traffic lanes to allow for the smooth flow of traffic, diagonal metered parking for McCarter and occasional Dinky riders and pull-over space for the FreeB, Taxis and Kiss&Riders.
Furthermore, at-grade crossings (for pedestrians opposite Forbes, and vehicles at the “north” end of the garage), as have existed for many years at the Princeton Junction end of the Dinky line, would provide the sought-after “aid” to Forbes students and Lot 7 users without moving the Dinky terminus.
So, in fact, “aid traffic flow” is achieved in a substantial way by NOT moving the Dinky station.
Alain Kornhauser
Montadale Circle
To the Editor:
I am writing to thank the Borough Council members and Mayor Trotman for expressing concern about the cost of the community pool and delaying a vote for the pool project until their concerns about cost are answered (“Pool Funding Stalled As Borough Council Denies Vote This Year,” Town Topics, Dec. 29). They have listened for months to their constituents voicing anxiety about tax increases, and they know that many residents worry about being able to remain in Princeton because of these increases. I couldn’t agree more with Councilwoman Barbara Trelstad, who is quoted as saying “…if we can save $100,000, then we need to do that.” We’re fortunate to have a Councilman like Kevin Wilkes who has the expertise to know that the cost to renovate a structure can be “half the cost to build anew”. The Borough Council and Mayor are simply doing what they were elected to do — make sure that our money is spent as wisely as possible.
Francesca Benson
Bainbridge Street