Trenton Times Article on Impact of Arts Plan to the Borough

Princeton Borough Municipal Meeting, May 24, 2011 which includes presentation by Henry Posner from Princeton Community Television on Vimeo.

Preserving Rail Service: The Battle to Save the Dinky | Rail Planning. by David Hunt

In a time when states are rejecting money for enhancing rail services, one community is fighting to preserve its railroad. The Princeton Branch of NJ Transit, affectionately known as the “Dinky,” is a commuter rail line connecting Princeton Borough to the Northeast Corridor rail line at Princeton Junction. The threat comes not from lack of ridership, nor from budget cuts, but from a plan to relocate the Dinky station further from downtown Princeton to accommodate a new Arts and Transit Neighborhood on the University campus.

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The Borough Council will be discussing the benefits and costs of the new E-5 which would encompass the University Arts Campus.  An update on the Rail Transit District will be given as well.

The meeting is at Borough Hall on Tuesday, June 21 at 7:30pm.  Agenda

The assertion that the Dinky is in jeopardy of being unfunded by New Jersey Transit because of low ridership was debunked by New Jersey Transit at its presentation to Borough Council on June 8.

“The Dinky is doing better than the system overall. So on that basis alone, it’s not something that’s likely to be reduced, because it’s effective compared to everything else. It’s also an important feeder into the Northeast Corridor.”
–John Leon, Senior director of community and government relations for NJ Transit

“If your highest priority is saving the Dinky, approving this project is the surest way to achieve that goal.”
– President Shirley Tilghman, Jan 31, 2011

Princeton Borough Municipal Meeting, June 8, 2011 from Princeton Community Television on Vimeo.

The primary election is Tuesday, June 7th.  Polls are open 6am – 8pm.

Candidates were asked the following question. Responses follow.

What is your opinion of the university’s proposal to move the Dinky terminus to a point near its lot 7 garage?   Do you believe this represents good public policy? If not, what strategies would you use to persuade the University to alter its Arts District Plans to incorporate the Dinky terminus in its current location? Continue reading →

In the June 1st Town topics.

From The New York Times, May 11, 2011:

“Princeton University, for example, pays $1.2 million voluntarily to the Borough of Princeton, and $500,000 to the township. But when the university met resistance from local officials this year to some zoning changes it is seeking to build a new $300 million arts complex — especially to its proposal to move a train station a little farther from downtown — university officials said that they might rethink those voluntary payments.

‘It would be difficult to justify continuing contributions at existing levels to local officials who not only refuse to help the university achieve a key educational objective, but in some cases have sought to prevent the project from going forward,’ Robert K. Durkee, the university’s vice president and secretary, said in an e-mail, adding that the university already pays taxes on some properties that could qualify for exemptions, including housing for graduate students.”