Princeton Transitway
The Princeton Transitway Study is a concept-level review of the Princeton Branch to define the future of transit service on the Princeton Branch. It identifies and assesses existing and future needs, evaluates opportunities to utilize the corridor as a multi-modal backbone for improved mobility in the Princeton and West Windsor area, and recommends alternatives to advance to future study. It is the first step in the project delivery process.
The final summary report from the study can be viewed here.
Why was this study conducted?
NJ TRANSIT’s Princeton Branch, also known as the Dinky, is a 2.7-mile electrified commuter rail line running between the Branch’s two stations, Princeton Junction (in West Windsor) and Princeton. For over 150 years, the Princeton Branch has been a vital connection between Princeton and the Northeast Corridor (NEC). Today it provides connectivity to NJ TRANSIT’s NEC rail service to New York City, Newark, and Trenton, as well as to Amtrak regional and national rail services.
NJ TRANSIT recognizes the importance of both maintaining this connection and developing new approaches to mobility in the corridor, due to a variety of factors including aging rail vehicles, the need to address declining ridership, and new demands for travel following the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, NJ TRANSIT undertook the Princeton Transitway Study to begin to guide the future of the Princeton Branch.
What was the study area?
The Princeton Branch corridor between the Princeton Station and Princeton Junction Station was the primary study area, shown in yellow in the map below. Concept plans were prepared for alternatives that fell within this study area. In addition to looking at alternatives for the Princeton Branch, the study assessed opportunities to improve connections to other modes, including bus, pedestrian, bicycle, and other microtransit and micromobility modes. These connections were evaluated within the multi-modal connectivity study area, defined in the green line on the map.
What alternatives were evaluated?
NJ TRANSIT conducted a preliminary evaluation of four (4) Alternative concepts for the Princeton Branch, which are described in the chart below.
The purpose of the evaluation was to screen the alternatives listed above and select one or more to advance for further study. The alternatives were evaluated at a concept level based on the following factors:
- Potential peak period service frequencies
- Enhanced community connections
- Mobility access
- Potential right-of-way (ROW) impacts
- Potential environmental impacts
- Stakeholder and public input
- Order of magnitude capital and fleet costs
Based on the results of the evaluation, and customer and stakeholder input, Alternatives 1 and 4 were selected to advance for further study and evaluation. Alternative 2 was not recommended for advancement because of substantial potential ROW impacts, potential environmental impacts, and higher implementation costs. Alternative 3 was not recommended for advancement due to customer and stakeholder preference for alternatives with higher service frequencies, as well as for alternatives with rail service.
What outreach was conducted?
Outreach was an important component of the Princeton Transitway Study as it provided valuable information and feedback to the NJ TRANSIT team at each stage of the study. The outreach effort consisted of the following components:
- Three virtual Stakeholder Committee meeting were held, consisting of representatives from State and local government, the municipalities of Princeton and West Windsor, Mercer County, the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), Greater Mercer TMA, and other interested transportation parties.
- A website that provided basic information regarding the study and contained links to presentation materials, surveys, and a comment form.
- Two surveys that were distributed via e-mail and web-link.
- Two virtual public information sessions hosted by the Princeton Borough Public Transit Advisory Committee and by the West Windsor Township Department of Community Development.