As expected, at the February 5 business meeting (rescheduled from February 3 due to the snow storm), the West Windsor Council unanimously agreed to a contract with the Louis Berger Group Inc., the low bidder, for the Cranbury Road sidewalk project alternative study. The total cost for the study is $131,167, and will be completed within 180 days.
Business administrator Marlena Schmid added that, as part of Cranbury road study, the Berger Group will be asked to take a look at one resident’s specific request for a guardrail. “That will be a part of the study, and we asked them to look at that sooner rather than later, because there may be a need to reconfigure the road as well as adding a guardrail.”
The action followed the January 27 Council meeting, which was packed with residents concerned about the Cranbury Road issue. At that meeting Township engineer Francis Guzik said that, of the three proposals received, “the lowest bidder has also submitted the most complete proposal that best suits our needs. So it is my recommendation we go with that firm, the Louis Berger Group.”
Included in the proposals were two different concepts: ideas for sidewalks, bike and pedestrian lanes, and other possible improvements along Cranbury Road from Princeton-Hightstown Road (Route 571) to the intersection of Cranbury Road and Clarksville Roads; and a second one contemplating the same improvements along the entire stretch of Cranbury Road in West Windsor, ending at the Plainsboro border.
The town council and the administration have repeatedly said that they are committed to seeing this project get done — but there will be a significant cost involved. The cost of hiring the Berger Group is just the cost for the traffic study. Both Guzik and Pat Ward, the director of community development, noted that the traffic study is just phase one of the three-phase project. Phase two will be the engineering study, and phase three will be the construction contract. Actual construction is not likely to begin until 2015.
Said Council President Bryan Maher: “This project is going to cost a lot of money. The bid numbers for these proposals are very high. We are going to have to reallocate capital from other projects that we hoped to complete to pay for this one.”
He added that he had not yet received the list of residents who are in agreement with the sidewalk idea. “We don’t want one or two residents to sue the town over this, which will delay the projects and cost a great deal more money. So we need to work with all of the Cranbury Road residents to make sure they are on board with what we are going to do.”
Councilman George Borek added that, while council members were concerned about costs, “don’t be concerned about our reaction up here to the prices. We are committed to getting this project done.”
The numerous residents in attendance at the meeting, especially those who live on or near Cranbury Road, expressed concern that they had not been given the opportunity to review the proposals, and felt that the process should be more open and transparent.
“Let me please explain something,” Maher said. “What we have before us are a series of proposals, nothing more. Once we have awarded the bid, the public will be very much involved in discussions over which options are most feasible and also preserve the Cranbury Road neighborhood feel.”
One concern that many residents expressed was the concept of turning Cranbury Road into a one-way street. However, Ward assured the public — and the council — that the one-way option had been removed from the proposals and was no longer being considered.
The issue of the placement of a guardrail in front of John and Ruth Jones’ property was again discussed. The county engineers had determined that a guardrail was not needed, and could actually exacerbate the traffic accident problems there. The county is proposing rumble strips and more signage as a way to deter speeding.
Said John Jones, the county’s plan is a “bunch of hogwash. Sooner or later, someone is going to get killed there. Is that what it is going to take to get the county to put in a guardrail there?” he said.
Maher responded that he will make sure that the Jones’s get a guardrail. “If I have to, I will give him the guardrail in front of my house that I don’t need.”
New Vaughn Drive Traffic Signal. At the February 5 meeting, Council also approved, 5-0, a contract with Carr & Duff Inc. for the Alexander Road/Bear Brook Road/Vaughn Drive Signal Upgrade Project, at a cost of $59,210.
Resident John Church noted that the signals appeared to be in good working order, and asked “why do we need this upgrade?”
In response, Schmid explained, “the purpose of the project is to upgrade the pedestrian signal heads, to be triggered by pedestrian pushing button, to make it safer for pedestrians and bikers to cross the intersection. In addition, we are adding more lighting, and a GPS priority control system, which allows emergency vehicles in transport to go to hospital or respond to call to operate the traffic signals. As to why it is being recommended, although the signal may look to be functioning well, in terms of technology that exists today, including the size of signal heads, it is outdated. Plus, because of the safety need to allow pedestrians to activate a button to enable them to cross safely.”
“This project is from the 2010 capital budget, and the money will come out of the bicycle and pedestrian improvement account. And it will be done in 60 days,” she added.
“This will be the third GPS system installed in West Windsor,” said Borek. “The first is at the intersection of Penn Lyle and Clarksville; the second is at South Mill Road and Route 571. The police and emergency squads have looked at intersections where they have had trouble getting vehicles through, and identified this as one of the problem intersections.”
Alison Miller, a member of the Parking Authority and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance, provided further details. “The Alliance held a walk there and found it was impossible for a normal pedestrian to cross the street even if the light was with him or her-only a runner or motorized wheelchair could make it across in time. The township took this information, plus testimony from a person who had been struck in this intersection, and decided to conduct a study on how to make the intersection safer.”
Added Maher: “This is one of the more heavily traveled lights, so even though it is expensive, it is a major intersection. And we did receive three bids for this project, and this was the lowest bid, so I am going to support this.”
The Council unanimously approved the appointment of Virginia Manzari to the Zoning Board and the re-appointment of Jean Jacobsohn to the Affordable Housing Committee.
The administration will present its budget by close of business on Friday, February 7. There will be three public budget meetings, tentatively scheduled for February 14, February 21, and March 3, and the council will formally introduce the budget on March 17.
The council and the administration all applauded the public works department, the police department, and PSE&G workers for their efforts during the recent winter storms. Schmid gave a special thanks to the Princeton Junction and West Windsor fire companies, and Twin W rescue squad, “who have been fantastic. The township’s Emergency Management Services staff have had many, many calls, and volunteers really stepped up and need to be recognized for their efforts,” she said.
Added Samonte: “There is a salt shortage across the state of New Jersey and our town has done a very good job getting the resources we need to keep the roads cleared.”
Zoning Meeting. The Zoning Board was scheduled to meet Thursday, February 6, to hear an application from John Mulcahy and Ana Lomba of Hereford Drive for a variance to allow an increase in the home’s floor area ratio to 14.25 percent, compared to the required 13 percent.
The zoning notice quoted the homeowners: “This proposed renovation, required to adapt our home to meet our daughter’s extraordinary special needs, will maintain the overall design and character of our center hall, Colonial home.”
