A long-awaited traffic signal at the intersection of Ingleside Drive and Route 31 is now fully operational, marking the completion of a safety project years in the making at one of Hopewell Township’s busiest and most challenging intersections.
Township officials announced that the signal is live and expected to significantly improve traffic flow and safety for residents, commuters, and visitors traveling through the area.
“This traffic signal represents a meaningful step forward in protecting our residents, visitors, and all who travel through Hopewell Township,” said Mayor David Chait in a statement. “Our Township Committee has pushed for this improvement for many years, and we are proud to see it completed. Safety is — and will continue to be — our top priority.”
The Township Committee thanked the New Jersey Department of Transportation and Mercer County Executive Dan Benson for partnering on the project, which addresses longstanding concerns about congestion and crash risk at the intersection.
The activation of the signal coincides with a series of actions taken by the Township Committee earlier this month that also emphasized public safety, trust in government, and community well-being.
Township Endorses Immigrant Trust Act
At its Jan. 12 meeting, the Hopewell Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution supporting the New Jersey Immigration Trust Act, proposed state legislation intended to codify provisions of a 2018 Attorney General directive aimed at strengthening trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities.
Both the proposed legislation and the existing directive prohibit state and local police from assisting federal immigration authorities in civil immigration enforcement, bar officers from asking about immigration status during routine interactions, and limit the sharing of personal information with immigration enforcement agencies. Hopewell Township has followed the directive since it was issued.
In endorsing the resolution, several committee members cited their own families’ immigrant roots. Chait said the action reflected the township’s “long commitment to being a fair and welcoming community.”
Committee member Kevin Kuchinski emphasized that local policing would remain focused on public safety rather than immigration status.
“If you report a crime, or are pulled over in a traffic stop, we will not investigate your immigration status,” Kuchinski said.
Police Chief James Rosso confirmed that the department has incorporated the directive into its operations, describing fairness and empathy as the “two pillars” of policing in Hopewell Township and noting that those values are embedded in officers’ code of conduct.
Since the committee meeting, the New Jersey Legislature has passed the Immigration Trust Act, though Gov. Phil Murphy did not sign it before leaving office, citing concerns that the bill’s language could leave it vulnerable to legal challenges. Murphy did, however, sign a companion measure, the New Jersey Safe Communities Act, which limits immigration enforcement in schools and hospitals and directs the Attorney General to develop model policies for other sensitive locations.
Chait said he was disappointed that the Immigration Trust Act was not signed into law but welcomed progress made through the Safe Communities Act. Sponsors of the Trust Act have said they plan to reintroduce the legislation now that Gov. Mikie Sherrill has taken office.
Six New Police Officers Introduced
During the same meeting, Rosso introduced six new police officers selected from a pool of 140 applicants.
The new officers are:
- Nicholas Wright, a Hamilton native and Rowan University graduate who served with the Army National Guard and was deployed to Syria in 2024.
- Sarah Sharpe, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Rider University and has worked for the Manasquan Police Department and as a 911 dispatcher in Ocean County.
- Milo De Los Santos, a Hopewell Valley native, Stockton University graduate, and para-professional at Hopewell Valley Central High School.
- Nick Venettone, a Catholic University graduate whose father is a former police captain in Lambertville.
- Karla Jenkins, a Temple University graduate and former intern with the New Jersey State Police.
- Frederick Reiniger, a University of Alabama graduate who has worked in public safety at Princeton University.
All six officers will complete police academy training before beginning their duties in Hopewell Township.
Committee Honors Heidi Kahme
The Township Committee also recognized Heidi Kahme on her retirement as chair of the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance.
Chait praised Kahme’s nearly 20 years of leadership, citing her role in launching initiatives such as Healthy Communities Healthy Youth and 40 Developmental Assets, as well as her work on National Night Out, the Teen Job Fair, Caring for Our Kids mental health symposia, and numerous other community programs. He thanked Kahme for her service and offered the township’s congratulations on her retirement.
Additional reporting and photograph by Seth Siditsky
