West Windsor officials are deciding NOW what to include in the budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. And the West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance has two big requests for the capital improvement program.
One is to fully fund construction of the next phase of the Cranbury Road sidewalk, from Van Nest Park to the Trolley Line Trail entrance on Rabbit Hill, rather than doing it over two years. The FY24-25 budget pays for the design work, and this additional step would let construction start in 2026.
The second is to once again budget $100,000 for crosswalk improvements, as was done this time last year. This has helped fund a number of projects to install pedestrian-activated yellow flashing lights near several schools. But we know there are many more spots in town that need them. And there are other projects that would help make West Windsor a better and safer place to walk.
You can read our letter to Mayor Marathe and council members here.
Agree with us? Please email the mayor at [email protected] and let him know!
He is finalizing his budget proposal now and will hand it over to the council for their input by the end of February. Public work sessions are likely to happen in March. These are the best times to influence the outcome rather than waiting for the public hearing ahead of the vote on the budget (likely in May).
The capital improvement program is funded through a bond issue, generally in September. Only after that can a project go out for bid, meaning that realistically 2026 is the earliest the sidewalk and other projects in the FY25-26 capital budget could be built.
Tags: sidewalks