Old Trenton Road Reconfiguration - Township Committee Meeting April 12

[Guest]

If you are concerned about the widening and reconfiguration of Old Trenton Road that will begin in a few weeks, PLEASE make a point to attend the April 12th Township Committee Meeting at 7PM in the Cranbury School Large Group Meeting Room. The Old Trenton Road issue is on the agenda.

This project will result in cars and trucks driving even faster on the road, more traffic, and an overall reduction in safety to nearby residents.

[Dangerous]

The widening project is going to be a major problem I fear it will increase the traffic and safety risks.

1) The speed limit will not be reduced because the turning cars are no longer impeeding traffic flow. The center lanes are the county's solution to that issue. As a result, the speed of cars will actually increase because the obstacles that did slow down the faster vehicles- turning cars are no longer an issue. Problem solved from the county view. The only solution for the town is then to staff a speed trap to ensure cars don't go above 50mph.

2) The homes on Old Trenton Rd. will now have vehicles approx. 6-8' closer to their homes going at a faster rate. With children in these homes we're now putting more risk on the child who may be in their front yard who is now that much closer to the road. I have an aunt who lived on a similar road and her front of the home was hit by a drunk driver. The house had a similar curve as Old Trenton Rd does. To think we can keep kids restricted to the back yard is impossible. Kids will follow a bird or butterfly or chase a ball that goes over a fence.

3) We have kids riding bikes to the Swim Club, Park, and Shadow Oaks. We do not need to have something done that increases the traffic speed.

4) While minor in the grand scheme there is also a look. Do we want three lanes of road way R, L, and Center turn. I think it will look ugly personally and out of character as the entrance to the village.

Lastly, while a county road I am not of the opinion that the TC knew nothing of this widening occurring until now as some claim. Perhaps Mr. Taylor and Mr. Cook did not since they have been on the TC for only 3 full months. However, the others had to know and I wonder why they did not communicate this? Perhaps they were concerned about the negative aspects?

I spoke with Mr. Taylor this weekend who has stated his concern to the widening and center turn lanes, but he said he needs support from residents to help make the arguement against it. Please help show up, we want to reduce the speed not give cars an opportunity to go faster closer to the homes. This is a key safety issue for many residents and children.

[Guest]

Where is the official news release on this project?

"Dangerous" are you expressing opinion or do you have facts about this project and where are the facts printed? (not an attack, just curious)

As far as all the rumors I have heard, the speed limit will be reduced to 40mph and although there will be turning lanes, the travel lanes will be thinned to slow traffic also.

Again these are rumors I have heard and I do not have any facts to back them up.

[RobDiamond]

Thank you "dangerous". Very well put.

I want to add that this project seems to be terribly mismanaged. I had to hire a lawyer because the county is preparing to pave over part of my property without right-of-way, easement, nor any condemnation proceedings. They are ready to cut down a row of 100+ year old oaks on our property to make room for the road.

Also, it appears that they plan on illegally paving over some preserved farmland as part of the project. I have alerted the NJ Dept. Of Agriculture about this, and they are investigating.

Surely, the state money being spent on these "improvements" could be put to much better use elsewhere (like our schools).

Please come out for this meeting. Hopefully, we'll be able to see the actual plans for the roadway.

[why didn't they tell us?]

Mismanaged is a good word to describe this because according to a posting from Dave Cook's web site from last year someone with authority from Cranbury knew about these dangerous changes for Old Trenton Road. Mr. Cook however is not at fault for reporting this information. The fault lies with the person of Authority from Cranbury Township who told Mr Cook of these changes while at the same time neglecting to inform the rest of the community. The question then is who with a position of authority in our town would have known of these planned changes for Old Trenton Road? Could this person be a member of our Township Committee? Perhaps that person is currently Mayor? Who else would have known the details of the changes and would have told Mr Cook of them?



On September 16, 2009 David Cook says:
Great News for Shadow Oaks

The much needed changes to Old Trenton Road have taken a giant step closer to becoming reality. The bidding process for the changes to be made to Old Trenton Road will be conducted in the Fourth Quarter of this year (2009). The contracts should be awarded in December 2009. The work to be started in the spring of 2010.

"The changes to be made will include:
1. The Millstone Park Driveway will be aligned with Washington St.to reduce the staggered entry into Old Trenton Rd. This will allow for a controlled traffic flow in and out from both sides of the road.

2. Old Trenton Rd will be widened allowing for Center “Left Turn” Lanes to be installed to create a De-Acceleration effect of car speeds. This will also reduce “sling shoting” when a car goes around another car using the shoulder that endangers pedestrians and motorists alike.

[Guest]

[Guest]

Perhaps in my old age I have less patience, but I am getting tired of politics being played at my expense on a local, state or federal level.

I too do not fault Mr. Cook. What does concern me is that someone gave him this information for a campaign site and did not communicate it to impacted residents.
The second issue is we now have members of the TC who served last year or ran with this information now saying they had no idea of road widening occurring. Either we have members of the TC who are very lax when it comes to realizing road widening means a wider road. Or we have people who may be conveniently forgetting and hoping we did not find out the truth about the road widening so they can say I am fighting for you and have it both ways. I have no idea the case, but either one tells me I should be concerned.

Either way politics has gotten involved and the residents are now impacted. They are losing front yards, traffic speed will not be decreased and cars because they no longer have to worry about a turning car will go faster.

In terms of the speed. I asked two members of the TC in the last week or so and both said the county did not approve a speed reduction. They did not know where this rumor started about a lower speed.

[RobDiamond]

[Guest 2]

A quick read through these postings tells me the following:

The fact that the road was being "altered" - entrance to park, Washington road and turning lane was public knowledge at least 9 months ago. That some people did not digest this info is not the fault of the TC or a "cover up" or "politics". It was out there and it just didn't hit this board as an OMGosh hot topic. [Heck I knew about it and I don't live anywhere near Shadow Oaks.]

Secondly == the "facts" presented -- change in speed limit, taking away of agricultural land, etc... turn out not to be facts at all -- just rumors.

There is no conspiracy out there guys -- just county working on a road and some residents being caught sleeping on the issue. The town knew about it - they don't have to send you personal e-mails.

[oh well]

Live on a county road, this is what happens. More people in the state, more people traveling. Some Cranbury Residents might not know this, but the roads in the Township are a major artery to the rest of the state.

[Guest 2]

Remember Old Trenton Road was SOLD as a main road for people to use to get to Rte. 130 without going through town when Cranbury Greene was built.

It was never built to be a quiet country road -- if you bought on that road -- sorry to break it to you -- but they don't make roads that wide for nothing.

[Guest]

[Guest]

I don't know if it is part of the current changes, but the plan is also to have Old Trenton Road become 4 lanes between Main St and Rt 130 (the section through Cranbury Greene)

The "T" at the 130/OTR intersection is going to be opened to allow truck traffic better access to the warehouses on the east side and the turnpike, so there will be increased truck traffic going down OTR to that area. OTR will become a major E/W road to the turnpike.

[Guest 2]

[Guest]

That's the Liberty Way extension, which I think is dead. Something to ask about at the meeting on Monday.

[Guest]