An information session about next month’s experimental closings of two Route 1 jughandles brought more than 70 area residents to Borough Hall last Wednesday evening. Department of Transportation officials, who also gave a presentation in West Windsor last week, were faced with an agitated crowd who wanted answers to their questions, and not necessarily in the forum that the DOT intended, which was to answer questions one-on-one.
“Frankly, I don’t need to be pushed into a corner by you guys thinking you know better than us,” said David Newton, vice-president of Palmer Square Management. “I have no idea how you can spring this on us without first talking to the business community.”
Mr. Newton, who was applauded by others in the room, was one of several residents and business owners to express displeasure at the the DOT’s plan to close the jughandles at Harrison Street and Washington Road for up to 12 weeks. The closure is an experiment to see if it would lessen the backups of vehicles waiting to drive through the interchanges in the morning and evening rush hours, when the buildups regularly slow the flow of traffic in the right lane and reduce the road’s capacity.
New Jersey Transportation Commissioner James S. Simpson told the crowd that as a Princeton resident, he understands their concerns. But the traffic problem is such that it needs to be addressed. “If the trial is a complete disaster we will pull the plug,” he said. “But you’ve got to give it a chance.”
Simpson added that he has met over the years with five mayors as well as officials from Princeton University and Princeton Healthcare to discuss the project. “Our modeling says this is a done deal,” he said.
Drivers going north on Route 1 would no longer be able to make a U-turn or a left turn into Princeton using the jughandles. Alternatively, they would need to turn off at Alexander Road, or proceed north to Scudders Mill Road and double back.
Borough Mayor Yina Moore asked the DOT officials if they were considering the environmental impacts of the congestion undoubtedly to be caused by the experiment. One resident asked why the data from last year’s closing of Alexander Road for road construction could not be used, but was told this was not the same type of situation. Another person asked whether there were alternative solutions to the problem.
Among those commenting on the proposal after the meeting was Princeton Township Mayor Chad Goerner, who said that Route 1 is a highway meant for heavy traffic use.
“This proposal essentially will turn Faculty Road and Alexander Road into significantly higher receivers of traffic congestion — with Faculty Road being forced to serve as an alternative north/south route,” he said in an email. “Princeton should not be forced to take on the consequences of this action and instead the DOT should look at long term Route 1 intersection improvements that result in a holistic compromise for all surrounding communities. Instead, they are trying to tie a band-aid on a traffic problem that has the potential to result in significant consequences for our community and our businesses. This better be just a ‘test’ with open-minds at the DOT that hear the voices of our governing body, our institutions, and our residents. We have not and will not be silent — I can tell you that.”
Bob Durkee, vice president and secretary of Princeton University, said the DOT’s experiment will slow already busy traffic to and from the campus, particularly at the intersection of Faculty and Washington roads. “We have been expressing our concern and will continue to express our concern,” he said. “I believe they have now decided they are going to continue this experiment into June, and that will overlap with our reunions and graduation. We hope they will really look hard at what they learn from the experiment, and that means collecting data at multiple times. And we hope they will approach it with an open mind. This will probably be a significant inconvenience for people trying to get to work at the University, and for visitors and alumni.”