By Matthew Hersh

Princeton will likely begin seeing more of the “pedestrian” elements of Princeton’s Vision Zero effort take hold, as the revisioning around traffic safety and traffic fatality reduction begins to take shape this fall.

Launched in June, Vision Zero sets out to create additional safety measures in and along Princeton roadways and to implement roadway safety design elements.

While Vision Zero’s ambitious agenda includes “eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries while improving access to safe, equitable, and sustainable transportation,” it will take the form of smaller steps and targeted community outreach. At Monday’s Council meeting, the community got a glimpse into that incremental progress as the Princeton Council approved advisory bike lanes (ABLs) and related signage along Armour Road. This effort served as an example of identifying a problem in the community, addressing it by meeting with residents in the area, and then implementing the best practices of Vision Zero, said Councilman David Cohen, who is tasked with leading Vision Zero at the local level.

“This helps us understand where we have problems and where we need to focus our resources when problems arise,” said Cohen, pointing to the work on Armour Road as an example of how the town will proceed with Vision Zero moving forward. While Princeton’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee is updating the Princeton Master Plan’s bike mobility element, municipal officials are getting out in front to begin implementing modern transportation guidelines and bikeway design.

“Armour Road is a great example of how these principles can work,” said Cohen. “There are no sidewalks and residents there feel like there is a fair amount of cut-through traffic,” he said, pointing to drivers often navigating off Stockton Street to get to Elm Road, making it potentially dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians.

Cohen said residents endorsed the concept of ABLs, as they are typically used on streets that are too narrow to accommodate both marked bike lanes and conventional general travel lanes in two directions, according to the National Association of City Transportation Officials.

“These are mainly for low-volume/low-speed roads, so when we met with residents of Armour Road, they liked the idea,” Cohen said, adding that the municipality will continue to look for similar opportunities.

Working with the PTOs

Additionally, Cohen met with the Riverside PTO last week to begin addressing ways to encourage parents and students to feel comfortable as their kids traverse to and from school, sometimes in challenging pedestrian environments.

The PTO meeting was the first step in assessing Riverside-adjacent pedestrian and cycling needs since the town launched its Vision Zero initiative.

“It was a really productive meeting, and we have a follow-up this week with representatives from all of the schools’ PTOs,” said Cohen. Among the many issues raised were safe routes to school initiatives, similar to what Princeton has done in the Rosedale Road area.

“As we try to reduce traffic congestion and as kids and parents get to and from school, these steps will make our entire community safer both in the short- and long-term,” he said.