Mercer Crossings Regional Improvements Program

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PHASE: Program segmented out into multiple projects and phases. Ongoing efforts underway.

PURPOSE AND NEED:

The purpose of the program is to systematically make improvements to the “Mercer Crossings” Region which has an above average number of County Routes at the confluence of three municipalities. Improvements are primarily focused on safety improvements, fostering new economic development opportunities and allowing for multi-modal transportation alternatives. Additional improvements include improved traffic operations, modernized aging signage/traffic equipment, improved congestion management, access management, air quality, complete street improvements and more.

Mercer County has undertaken several studies over the past two decades focused on traffic improvements in this region and the County has set in place an ongoing program focused on making improvements to the “Mercer Crossings” region as funding becomes available and aging signals and other infrastructure need to be replaced.

BACKGROUND:

The Mercer Crossings region of Mercer County has long been a focus of Mercer County due to its central location and multi-municipal importance. The study area, located at the confluence of Trenton, Ewing, and Lawrence, has been greatly affected by macroeconomic and metropolitan growth trends outside of County control, as it lies in a transitional zone at the County’s urban and suburban edges. Sandwiched between Trenton’s urban core and the more affluent adjacent suburban Townships, it also is situated between several educational institutions—the College of New Jersey (TCNJ), Rider University, Mercer County Community College, and Thomas Edison State College—a regional hospital, and primary employment centers located both in the urban core and on the suburban edge. This study area has a higher population density than the County average and has several important commercial corridors.

Because of its location at the edges of three communities, the study area has long resembled a “hole in the doughnut,” as civic attention has historically been focused on other areas that are considered more important and central to each community, resulting in both physical and economic deterioration. Prior to the 2004 Urban Land Institute Report and coordination efforts, redevelopment had been largely uncoordinated among the jurisdictions and appeared to have been driven primarily by which community and private sector developer was able to land the “next attractive retail deal.” No evidence exists of a comprehensive land use or economic development strategy for the area prior to 2004. Since 2004, efforts have been made to coordinate improvements among the affected municipalities, local businesses, local non-profits and residents. To this end, Planning Department staff have facilitated several planning projects, many that have graduated on to engineering, design and ultimately construction.

HISTORY:

The Mercer Crossings area remained predominantly rural in nature up, especially in the Ewing and Lawrence sections of Mercer Crossings, until the early 20^th century. Following World War II, the area saw rapid suburbanization and densification. In 1939, in anticipation of the City of Trenton needing the property to build the infrastructure known as Route 29, the Trenton Market Growers Cooperative Association was formed and property was purchased on Spruce Street. The original market buildings were moved and the Trenton Farmers Market opened in 1948 at its current location. Other businesses such as Capital Plaza soon followed as Spruce Street, Princeton Ave and Olden Ave were improved for vehicle travel. As suburbanization took residents further out into Ewing and Lawrence, businesses and residents followed, resulting in less investment along Spruce Street, Princeton Ave and the surrounding area. By 2004, the area had been experiencing physical and economic decline for more than three decades up to that point..

With substantial support from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) in 2004, Mercer County invited an Urban Land Institute Advisory Services Panel to visit the area for a week, to interview local stakeholders, and to create a conceptual vision plan for redeveloping the area. A PDF copy of the ULI report can be downloaded below. A key takeaway from the study was that “Historically, the three municipalities have worked separately to redevelop their portions of the study area without much coordinated effort or unified leadership. The absence of a coordinated effort has hampered their ability to establish the full potential of the area as a target location for new investment, commerce, and residents.” Among the Panel's recommendations was continued collaboration between Mercer County and the three municipal governments to drive additional detailed planning studies. The ULI also recommended 'branding' the area with the name 'Mercer Crossings

Following this study, in 2005 and beyond, representatives from Trenton, Lawrence, and Ewing met regularly with Mercer County staff and other key interested stakeholders, including the DCA, the Ewing Redevelopment Agency, and the Municipal Land Use Center at The College of New Jersey. This group discussed the ULI vision plan in depth, considered specific recommendations, and came up with some additional recommendations. The outcome of these deliberations is a memo outlining short-term recommendations on which to act. In support of the committee's work, the Municipal Land Use Center researched and presented a white paper on mechanisms for inter-governmental cooperation to support economic development.

Working with this informal "Mercer Crossings Advisory Committee", several studies were born out of the initial ULI efforts. Mercer County soon after applied to the NJ DCA for a grant for a study centered on the Trenton Farmers' Market, which the ULI had recommended as a potential centerpiece for attracting economic redevelopment. For this project, the County hired Project for Public Spaces (PPS), a world leader in developing public markets, to create a redevelopment plan for the Farmers' Market and nearby parcels. The PPS concept plan was completed in fall 2006. On July 6, 2007, County Executive Brian M. Hughes joined with mayors and state officials to announce two new planning initiatives. With a grant from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, the Trenton Farmers' Market began implementing early phase recommendations from the Project for Public Spaces. With the assistance of architects, the Market prepared a civil engineering survey of existing facilities, drafted a site circulation concept plan, designed a new façade for Spruce Street, and researched improvements to exterior walls and interior lighting.

Another study that soon followed was an evaluation of the ULI recommendations regarding larger street improvements, undertaken by planners and engineers at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC). DVRPC and Mercer County Planning Department staff worked on the “Mercer Crossings Transportation Study: Building a Foundation for Redevelopment” which studied traffic conditions within the Mercer Crossings Area. This report documented transportation conditions in the depressed area and reviewed transportation improvements that would support redevelopment of Mercer Crossings. The study topics derived, in part, from the recommendations of the previous Urban Land Institute study, and following discussions with local businesses, local officials, Planning Department staff and the other members of the advisory committee.

In 2008, Mercer County successfully applied for grant funding from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission's Transportation and Community Development Initiative for a further traffic study. The goal of the project was to develop traffic engineering designs for Princeton Avenue (Brunswick Circle to Olden Avenue) and Spruce Street (Princeton Avenue to Prospect Street) that will enhance site access and improve travel safety for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.

For that project, the County hired a consultant to develop computer simulations to test alternative improvements, model traffic conditions, develop sketch plans for initially preferred alternatives, and develop near and long term implementation plans. Public outreach for the project included focus groups with local property owners and public meetings on April 22 and May 6, 2008. Draft recommendations were presented to the public on January 29, 2009.

Many of these studies and efforts were developed in 2007-2008, just as the nation’s economy was entering a new economic recession. This put significant uncertainty on local businesses and the larger financial industry which tightened financing. Despite the slowdown, Mercer Crossings remains an important region for our three municipalities. Following these studies and efforts, the County has set in place an ongoing program focused on making improvements to the “Mercer Crossings” region as funding becomes available and aging signals and other infrastructure need to be replaced.

Proposal:

Over the next few years, Mercer County has planned improvements to all County Roadways in Mercer Crossings. Aging signals will be replaced with modern equipment or converted to modern roundabouts where feasible. Corridor improvements may include road diets, bicycle lane improvements, new resurfacing and pavement markings, new signage, new sidewalks, new lighting, new medians or center turn lanes, new crosswalks, and/or new sidepaths. County of Mercer will work with local businesses and especially new (re)development projects on improving driveways and access, consolidating access and implementing access management where feasible.

As construction progresses, residents may be temporarily inconvenienced as improvements are implemented. Mercer County asks for all residents and businesses to be patient during this time as we work to rebuild our roads and intersections to create a better and safer network for the future.

For more information, please email Matthew Lawson [mlawson@mercercounty.org], Principal Planner-Transportation or Matthew Zochowski [mzochowski@mercercounty.org], Senior Planner.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:

The goals and objectives of the project are identified below. The Preliminary Preferred Alternative will be developed to satisfy as many goals and objectives as possible.

Improve pedestrian and bicycle compatibility along all County Roads where feasible
Promote mass transit success and use within the project area
Comply with Mercer County, NJDOT, Lawrence Township, Ewing Township and City of Trenton Complete Streets Policies
Reduce/eliminate barriers to pedestrian, bicyclist and transit user mobility along the corridor
Reduce heavy truck traffic impacts within the project limits
Improve traffic operations at signalized intersections where feasible
Reduce congestion and improve air quality when feasible
Minimize environmental, social and economic impacts along the corridor
Provide access management along the corridor to the extent possible
Correct controlling substandard design elements where feasible
Minimize disruptions to traffic operations during construction
Maintain access to adjacent properties at all times during construction
Minimize road user costs during construction to the extent feasible

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Additional Studies and Resources:

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