Description
Very unsafe encounter this morning using the pedestrian crosswalk at the Paul Robeson, Bayard, and Hodge intersection. I had the right of way and was crossing Paul Robeson north to south.
A person driving an SUV failed to yield while making a left hand turn, from Bayard onto Robeson (coming from the north). Due to the speed of the oncoming traffic from the south, we accelerated at high speed (while in conversation with a passenger in the vehicle). Upon seeing me in the crosswalk, she slammed on the brakes. Seeing the oncoming traffic she grew panicked. Luckily there was enough space for her to pass in front of me.
This is Princeton’s most dangerous intersection for a reason (measured by vehicle crashes). The municipality cannot wait until the full Hamilton-Wiggins-Robeson project to fix this intersection. It is dangerous now and requires immediate attention. There may he lost cost measures that can quickly installed to slow turning vehicle speeds, including sidewalk extensions for the pedestrian refuge and a basic hardened center-line turning treatment. Furthermore, this intersection should have 10 to 15 second dedicated pedestrian signal. Pedestrian fatalities were up 8% in NJ from 2018 to 2017, and are up 35% nationwide since 2009.
6 Comments
Engineering - D.Stockton, Municipal Engineer (Verified Official)
No Car Princeton (Registered User)
Acknowledged Engineering-T. Patel Assistant Engineer (Registered User)
No Car Princeton (Registered User)
Hi, something else to consider — I think more than a dedicated pedestrian crossing time, this intersection needs a dedicated light phase for left turns onto Paul Robeson from Bayard (from the north). Essentially when oncoming traffic — including pedestrians and cyclists in the crosswalk — no longer had right of way, then cars could turn left onto Paul Robeson.
That doesn’t change the need for some sort of traffic calming, but I wanted to share the light idea.
Engineering - D.Stockton, Municipal Engineer (Verified Official)
Thank you so much for your constructive suggestions. As we discussed in our meeting, Bayard Lane is a state highway and the traffic signal and intersection at Paul Robeson is under their jurisdiction. We will consider your suggestion for a dedicated left turn signal in the Traffic Safety Committee, and refer it to NJDOT if supported. Curb bumpouts and changes to the right turn ramp from Bayard to PR cannot be done without approval by NJDOT.
For clarification, the Bayard / PR / Hodge intersection is not the most dangerous intersection in Princeton.
CRI (Registered User)