By Anne Levin

Princeton Council voted unanimously at a meeting on Monday, June 9 to approve the annual assessment for the Special Improvement District (SID), known as Experience Princeton. The vote was taken following a public hearing on the measure.

A physician whose private practice is located at 357 Nassau Street commented that because she is located outside the central business district, she doesn’t benefit from the enhancements that Experience Princeton provides. She asked that Council re-evaluate the proposed assessment.

“My concern, that I know is shared by other business owners who are being asked to pay taxes that are intended for revitalization and improvement of downtown Princeton, is that because we are not within that immediate downtown vicinity, we’re really seeing no direct benefit from these initiatives,” she said, adding that things like seasonal decorations and plantings are not extended outside the central downtown. “Despite this, we are asked to shoulder the same financial benefit as those who do benefit.”

Former Councilman Lance Liverman, who owns real estate outside the central district, said he used to feel the same way. But he has changed his mind.

“I can truly say that I have been converted,” he said. “Because the town of Princeton looks a lot better and a lot cleaner, and the businesses are attracting more people. I’ve seen an increase in folks applying for apartments. I do see that Experience Princeton has been a plus, even though I don’t see the things like seasonal greenery and lighting.”

Councilwoman Leticia Fraga said that she and Experience Princeton Director Isaac Kremer have discussed trying to do more outreach to local businesses about programs available to them. Kremer said Experience Princeton will be reaching out to all of the nine “sub areas” that are included in the district.

Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros commented that there is a lot of complexity in how the districts are set up. “There are things we are working on that may not be as visible as holiday decorations, but are very impactful to all the businesses across the board,” she said.

Also on the agenda was a presentation about a proposed pilot project on North Harrison Street between Clearview Avenue and Terhune Road to create a “road diet” for the installation of bicycle lanes. Assistant Municipal Engineer Jim Purcell said the pilot project will remove one lane of vehicular travel in each direction to accommodate a buffered bicycle lane.

The recommendation is included in the town’s Bicycle Master Plan and the Harrison Street Corridor Study prepared by the consultants Michael Baker International Inc. The road diet would reduce the width of North Harrison Street to a single lane in each direction, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities would be vertically separated from the roadway.

“In the interim, the recommendation from the consultant is to install pilot bike lanes within the roadway in each direction, and evaluate their effectiveness before implementing the capital construction of curbing and shared-use plans,” Purcell wrote in a memo.

Also known as a roadway reconfiguration, a road diet can improve safety, calm traffic, and provide better mobility. A full report on the plan, with diagrams, is available in the agenda packet for the meeting at princetonnj.gov.