This is in response to a July 13 article in the Princeton Packet regarding traffic lights in Plainsboro. When we moved to Plainsboro in 1986 from a very congested North Jersey town, we loved our little three light, bedroom community. Our commutes to work beyond Route 1 were effortless.
But as time progressed and the town grew the drive from Route 1 to our condo doubled because of the traffic calming project along Plainsboro Road. It then became a half-hour because of the added lights. The interesting thing is that additional traffic lights and planted medians were installed to stop people from crossing Plainsboro Road between lights, yet it didn’t stop them, and today you will still see people crossing in the middle of this four lane road. All the traffic calming project did was slow our commutes to a snail’s pace as we dodged people getting off the bus or out from the shopping center and running across the road with no courtesy to the oncoming vehicles.
When we moved to the village section, we were able to cut down our commuting time. It would take 10 minutes or less to get to Route 1. Now with the hospital, the extra lights, and the increased trucks at Firmenich, it can take upwards of 25 minutes.
My commute home would take eight minutes; now it’s around 20. I try very hard to realize that people driving in and around the hospital may be under duress because of a sick loved one or they are new to the area, but combining that with these additional lights is frustrating. I don’t know who did your study on the traffic lights, but they certainly don’t see what I see on my daily commute at 7:30 a.m. or 4:15 p.m.
Who ever designed the new right turn to make a left into the hospital did not take into consideration that a lot of people can’t see it in advance because of the tree branches and the little signage you have. I feel that the turn into Punia Drive should have started more gradually; about 500 yards out and more clearly marked from the moment you turn off the highway.
Every day I’m behind someone who didn’t see the turn off, almost stops dead in the middle of the road then inches up to the light where they make a left into the hospital. Did your study show that I’ve almost been rear ended four times since these lights went in? Prior to the May 22 opening, I started to pull off of Route 1 more slowly. The signage is poor; drivers think they should make a left into the first driveway, which is an exit only. Then they encounter the danger zone of Punia Drive and the geese. All I have to say is … really. Does Plainsboro need all of these lights, they don’t seem to be working?
Kathy Straley
Plainsboro
