With the DOT’s jughandle experiment entering its final few weeks, West Windsor residents have planned demonstrations in Penns Neck — the scene of nine motor vehicle accidents, hundreds of illegal K-turns and U-turns, as well as traffic nightmares. Residents have been asked to gather around 207 Washington Road from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the next two Saturdays, October 13 and October 20, to hold up signs and let passers-by know of the community’s fight against the jughandle closures becoming permanent.
Eric Payne of 237 Washington Road has led the charge by starting a petition on Change.org at the end of September and by heading up meetings at West Windsor’s senior center, including a gathering on September 27 where Mayor Hsueh outlined his strategy (WW-P News, October 5). Payne, whose family has resided in Penns Neck for almost 100 years, has also led the campaign to get the DOT’s attention through letters and articles in the local media.
On Tuesday, October 9, Payne instructed potential protesters to bring signs and voice a united message.
“Remember to make it clear that one of our ultimate goals is to have all of the lights on Route 1 removed in the Penns Neck area as opposed to this pathetic Band-Aid. They should not accept the NJDOT cheap, quick fix that does not work or improve anything,” Payne says.
To date the Change.org petition has recorded over 700 signatures.
Tamerra Moeller of 201 Varsity Avenue — another leader among West Windsor residents — sent out E-mail blasts to outline activities planned for the Saturday protests.
Safety, she said, would be a priority for residents as well as police. “We have permission from the township government and police to be on Washington Road at Fairview for our first demonstration. At least this time, we cannot be on Route 1. Police felt that the demonstration would be too much of a distraction to the drivers on Route 1 and that we could cause an accident — the last thing we want to do. Since the police have been very helpful, we want to support their guidelines,” she writes.
DOT Commissioner James Simpson paid another visit to Penns Neck during the week of October 8. His earlier visit on October 1 was known only by Police Chief Joe Pica, but this time residents caught up to him. Catherine “Camie” Anico wrote a mass E-mail to let her neighbors know that Simpson said he had not received any letters from people who are angered over the DOT project.
Before he left, Anico went up to Simpson and asked him a question. “I looked him directly in the eye and asked him if this was a done deal to which he said ‘No, not at all, not at all.’ I’d like to believe him, but I’m doubtful. Even still, we have no choice but to be believe him. We have to keep trying to make them see the light. Even if we fail, at least we went down trying,” she wrote.
