Under pleasant if mostly cloudy skies, Hopewell Borough officials and luminaries from the Township, County, and schools gathered at Borough Hall beside the flagpole for a ribbon cutting ceremony, on September 4, 2024, to celebrate recent town achievements in pedestrian and bicycle safety.
Mayor Ryan Kennedy opened with remarks detailing the time and energy it took to secure more than $1.6 million in grants — the largest single award for any municipality in the State — to go toward road, sidewalk, crosswalk, and school safety. He continued with expressions of gratitude for the multiple offices involved.
Also in attendance were members of the Hopewell Township Police Department, including Chief James Rosso, all of whom listened intently with one eye and ear toward E. Broad Street as motorists demonstrated why enforcement remains a concern.
At one point, two officers jumped in their patrol vehicle to admonish a driver whose flashing 37 mph pace drew exclamations from the crowd. This after one officer stopped a vehicle by standing in the middle of the road to reprimand a speeder. These spectacles, as well as several bicyclists who appeared almost on cue, were all attendees needed not only to acknowledge the Town’s success but also to demonstrate the need for even more safety infrastructure, policy, and enforcement.
Mercer County Executive Dan Benson spoke passionately about the fruits of collaboration with departments such as engineering and transportation, partnerships that were necessary to forge for Borough officials since Broad St. incorporates two County roads in its route.
“It takes everyone,” said Benson as he spoke fondly about the “sense of welcome” the slower speed limits and signage will help instill. Citing his own son starting 4th grade, Benson hoped aloud that more similar projects will be undertaken in our communities.
Council President Krista Weaver has relied on more than hope. Over the past three years, she has spearheaded the work of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Committee. Starting out as a member of the committee, Weaver began advocating for pedestrian safety, especially sidewalks and crosswalks. Now Council President, she and Committee Chair Mel Born, of Columbia Avenue, forged ahead with the projects even when the Borough lacked a full-time administrator.
High priorities included reducing the speed limit from 35 to 25, end to end, sidewalks connecting King’s Path to town amenities, sidewalks connecting St. Michael’s Preserve to the Borough, particularly to Hopewell Elementary School (HES), and additional safety features throughout, all designed to get children and pedestrians safely to and from anywhere in the Borough.
Weaver stressed the importance of “physically connecting our communities in new ways” as she thanked many folks from HES and Hopewell Valley Regional School District, D&R Greenway, and the police department.
Even as paint from the brand new crosswalks at Broad and Elm streets was still drying, the crowd gathered around the flashing speed indicator to ceremonially cut the ribbon, inaugurating a new era of pedestrian and bicycle safety.
Hopewell residents can only hope the kindly rider of the white bicycle at Princeton Avenue would be proud of the Borough’s efforts to honor her legacy.
