Borough’s Traffic Committee Warns of University’s Expansion

Linda Arntzenius

In her last presentation to Borough Council last Wednesday, June 4, Sandy Solomon, outgoing chair of the Borough’s Traffic and Transportation Committee, urged Council members to “take real leadership on behalf of the citizenry of Princeton” with respect to Princeton University’s expansion plans.

“Now is the time to discuss these plans before the University spends thousands of dollars on designs, the basic assumptions of which should be questioned at this time,” said Ms. Solomon.

As part of its 10-year campus growth plan, the University is proposing to build a new Arts and Transit District that would involve moving the Dinky station several hundred feet south from its current location.

The University is also proposing to build a large parking garage on the east side of town adjacent to Princeton Stadium with access from Faculty Road.

Ms. Solomon and other members of the Traffic and Transportation Committee described these University proposals as “two areas of concern” for the Borough. They also criticized the University’s approach to long term planning about automobile traffic and its impact on Princeton as a “weakness” in the master plan.

“We are extremely concerned about the University’s lack of vision about the ramifications of this development on traffic congestion and pedestrian and bicyclist safety in Princeton,” said the committee’s report.

Apropos the University’s plans for the Dinky, Ms. Solomon reported “real skepticism about moving the Dinky further from town” among Princeton residents, who were more inclined to support moving the Dinky closer rather than further from town.

Speaking of a feeling of resignation among Borough residents — the belief that “what the University wants, the University gets” — Ms. Solomon said that Council should act now to influence plans that would have an impact on Borough traffic and transportation, especially given rising gas prices, calls for more mass transit, and concern for the environment. She suggested that an independent traffic consultant be hired to determine the Borough’s needs and survey existing traffic patterns.

Mayor Mildred Trotman pointed out that the Borough had hired an outside traffic consultant (paid for by the University) who had presented his findings to the Princeton Regional Planning Board in May, at which time University officials and consultants had also presented traffic and transportation plans.

Ms. Solomon responded that the Traffic and Transportation Committee would like to see the University’s plans displayed in Borough Hall so as to promote public discussion on the matter. Her remarks sparked a discussion of specific ways of improving public transport in Princeton.

Councilman David Goldfarb suggested that substituting a bus for the train would solve two problems in one, removing the need to replace the Dinky and alleviating parking problems.

But, said Ms. Solomon, buses get stuck in traffic. “Commuters need regularity.”

Andrew Koontz pointed out that the Dinky holds about 100 passengers, whereas even the largest bus holds around 80. He suggested that the Council look very critically at the University’s plans lest they get “spun around by the roundabout” (referring to the traffic circle that the University plan would place at the intersection of Alexander Road and University Place).

“The University plan would add a lot of turning motions to the traffic mix in the Alexander Road area,” said Mr. Koontz. “The roundabout isn’t a cure-all and the new buildings proposed will be heavily used, especially at night.” Mr. Koontz agreed that an independent consultant, perhaps hired jointly with the Township and possibly paid for by the University, should look at the matter.

Citing 700,000 rides on the campus shuttle each year, and collaborative efforts with the Princeton Theological Seminary to identify route duplication, Kristen Appleget, Princeton University’s director of community and regional affairs, said that the University is doing all it can to reduce its carbon footprint and to rethink transportation in and around Princeton. If the Borough Council wanted “the University’s input on this discussion and a presentation on improving transportation, we are ready,” she said.

Arch Davis, former chair of the Traffic and Transportation Committee, suggested that the University’s current plans were based on a faulty assessment of traffic patterns and congestion that, he said, stem from the intersection of Alexander Road and University Place. Mr. Davis said he believed the University should consider alternatives to its existing master plan before embarking on “major surgery” to its campus. “If I was going to have major surgery I’d want a second opinion, in fact I’d want a third or a fourth,” he said.

“Works in progress seem to become fait accompli in this town,” commented Mr. Davis. “The University should consider alternative plans and look ahead ten or twenty years.” He suggested some sort of mix of parking to help address some of the parking concerns, with incentives to University employees to park in West Windsor.

Members of the Borough’s Traffic and Transportation Committee recommended that the University be asked to provide a more detailed plan at a larger scale, which could be put in Borough Hall for the public to review more closely.

“The Borough should not allow the University to proceed with its plans without closer discussion,” said Ms. Solomon.

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