Countdown to Street Crossing: Lights Should Improve Mobility

Matthew Hersh

If you feel a sense of urgency crossing the streets in the Township, don¹t be quick to blame it on cars coming your way. It may just be that you are being reminded how long you have to cross the street.

In an attempt to improve pedestrian access throughout the community, Princeton Township¹s Department of Public Works has taken steps to install crosswalk signals that "countdown" the amount of time a walker has before the light turns red.

The program, which has cost the Township approximately $12,000, has already been put into effect. With the pedestrian signals, which count down from 30 seconds, new lights have been installed at the corners of Witherspoon Street and Valley Road, Mt. Lucas Road and Ewing Street, Mercer Road and Lovers Lane, and at Terhune Road and Harrison Street.

Township officials say they are keeping in step with changes already made to all state and county lights in the area with energy efficient light emitting diodes, or LEDs. The new lights are about 75 to 80 percent more efficient than the incandescent bulbs used by most municipalities.

"It actually drops our bill by about 80 percent," said Chris Torres of Public Works. "It¹s a great energy cost reduction for us."

The former bulbs used by the Township typically needed replacing every four to six months, Mr.Torres added. With the LED, the minimum life expectancy is five years, but Mr. Torres said his department expects to see the new lights last up to 10 years.

While this is a cost to Township tax payers, Mr. Torres said the new lights should pay for themselves within two years.