Saturday, February 28, 2004

WEST WINDSOR - When Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh came into office in 2001, he brought with him an idea of a commuter-friendly town where residents wouldn't worry about traffic jams just to get to the market.

His grand vision for a "transit village" would link the seven communities of West Windsor through bike trails, walkways and a more developed sidewalk system.

Still in its early stages, the last few weeks have been oil in the gears toward the township realizing Hsueh's goals.

Two meetings between the mayor's Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force and a state Department of Transportation consultant have brought bikeways and walkways to the forefront of discussions.

"I envision one major bicycle trail to connect all the communities," Hsueh said. "I love riding my bike, staying healthy, not having to drive."

The Route 1 highway and Amtrak's Northeast Corridor train line demand right-of-way, said Hsueh.

But Hsueh has visions of a third continuous pathway for bicycles that would run almost the entire length of West Windsor - from Community Park near the northern border with Plainsboro to Mercer County Park in the the south.

"We would like to build the bikeway along the PSE&G utility line easement," he said. "We need the company's permission before we go ahead with this."

A spokeswoman for Public Service Electic and Gas said the company is reviewing the township's plan and hoped to have the issue settled in a couple of weeks.

In the meantime, Hsueh said, a new 8- to 10-foot-wide bridge across the Bear Brook in Community Park has been planned for construction.

"We have received a $200,000 grant from the state DOT to build a beautiful wooden bridge," he said. "It is the start of the path through the township."

The bridge will be placed in the easement of the PSE&G utility lines.

Ken Carlson, a co-chairman of the mayor's task force, said the group has been working to secure state grants to fill in gaps of the township's pathways.

"Our goal is to expand and improve the bike and pedestrian infrastructure," Carlson said. "There's very few towns where a 13-year-old can ride his bike outside of his development. This group wants to change that situation here. That's a measuring stick we're using for success."

Besides the bridge in Community Park, a small piece of what will become part of the PSE&G bike path, including a short stretch along Princeton-Hightstown Road (Route 571) went before the planning board on Wednesday.

That bike path will run along Princeton-Hightstown Road from Slayback Drive to the utility easement, board chairman Marvin Gardner said.

"It's a small piece, but I asked that the developer there pay for the path and they agreed to build it," Gardner said. "I also made sure that the path be eight feet wide so there's ample room for bikers and walkers going in both directions."

Gardner said the small path will make a good piece of the overall bike path.

"If we can create an arterial network of bike pathways throughout the township, it would be a magnificent accomplishment."

Another member of the task force, Dick Snedeker, who has lived in Grovers Mill for more than 45 years, said traffic in town has increased over the years as the population has risen.

"If you can figure out a way to get to the commuter train without using your car, that's the goal," Snedeker said. "Getting cars off the road is definitely a good thing. Traffic in town is horrendous."

Hsueh said the bike path is the beginning to a township-wide community.

"In the past, we didn't have this type of link. I wish we had started this 20 years ago," he said. "People can start saying we don't have to drive around to get places, but that we can ride bikes or walk. It's my vision toward the transit village and Princeton Junction."

(