Mercer County planned a Public Information Center (PIC) to provide local residents and businesses in Hopewell, with information on the Mercer County Great Western Bikeway (GWB) project for June 27.
The project comes under the Regional Transportation Alternatives Program TAP-R-2017-Mercer County Great Western Bikeway, and traverses Hopewell Township, Pennington, Lawrence and Ewing.
The purpose of the meeting was to provide an opportunity for input on the project (as a follow up to a Virtual PIC held on March 9, 2022). The PIC was planned for in person at Hopewell Township Municipal Building Auditorium, 201 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road in Titusville, NJ Tues., June 27, 2023 from 6 to 8 p.m. Attendants had an opportunity to review exhibits, ask questions, and discuss any concerns with County representatives and their consultant. Property owners with rental units are advised that tenants were also invited and encouraged to participate. For those unable to participate or want to provide comments after the meeting, they can visit the County’s website for information about the project and provide comments by July 11, 2023.
The Great Western Bikeway (GWB) will be the first new link in a planned network of dedicated bicycle facilities throughout Mercer County. The primary route, Segment 1, will provide a continuous 10-mile bicycle route running east-west, predominantly along County Route (CR) 546 within Hopewell Township, Pennington Borough, and Lawrence Township and link between two branches of the D&R Canal State Park Trail: at Washington Crossing State Park to the west and Bakers Basin Road to the east. Two secondary routes will link Ewing Township to the south (Segment 2, CR 611) and Pennington Borough’s downtown district to the north (Segment 3, CR 640). Design and Construction costs are funded by federal funds administered through NJDOT Local Aid Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP).
Proposed project limits and improvements
• On-road bicycle lanes for a majority of the 14-mile route.
• In several locations where exclusive bicycle lanes cannot be provided, the bicycle facility will continue with either shared lanes or an off-road shared-use path.
• High visibility crossings with Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons (RRFBs).
Cultural resources
Federal and State regulations pertaining to the protection of cultural resources, referred to as the Section 106 and the NJ Register of Historic Places Act processes, require Mercer County and NJDOT to consider the effect of proposed projects upon cultural resources listed on, or eligible for listing on, the NJ and National Registers of Historic Places. These processes require coordination between the NJDOT and the NJ Historic Preservation Office, along with other appropriate consulting and interested parties. The project is located within 3 historic districts – Washington Crossing State Park Historic District, Lawrence Township Historic District, and Bound Book (Reading) Railroad Historic District – and there are several other cultural resource sites along the corridor. An assessment of project effects will be provided for all historic districts and any other eligible resources that are identified within the project area.
Anticipated project schedule
Design Phase Completed: Summer 2024; Construction Start: Fall 2024
For further information, please contact: Matthew Zochowski, PP/AICP, Senior Planner Mercer County • Department of Planning 640 South Broad Street P.O. Box 8068 Trenton, NJ 08650 P: 609-989-6985 E: mzochowski@mercercounty.orghttps://www.mercercounty.org/home/showdocument?id=22941