Route
31 Project
Hunterdon
County
Background
Congestion on Route 31 through Raritan
Township and Flemington Borough has
been a growing concern for area residents,
business owners and elected officials
for some time. For decades, an interstate-standard
highway by-pass, complete with grade
separated interchanges, had been planned
for the land east of Flemington through
mostly vacant, industrial-zoned land.
The aim of the proposed Flemington
Bypass was two-fold: to relieve congestion
on Route 31, which went through the
community's commercial district, and
to provide access to the industrial
land between Route 31, Route 202 and
the South Branch River. This project
was never completed and the industrial
areas around the proposed site remain
relatively undeveloped.
Project
description
The Route 31 Project was one of the first
to be examined under NJFIT principles.
The plan for the bypass has been replaced
with a more
context sensitive parkway
to provide an additional routing option
to Route 31 while enhancing the area's
transportation network and celebrating
the natural, historic and cultural resources
of the area. The two lane parkway would
define an edge between the area's urban/suburban
and rural/agricultural development patterns.
One of the most important components
of this project is the emphasis on a
connected street network. As development
occurs, a new street network will be
built, adding routing options for local
traffic and minimizing pressure on Route
31. This new network will include sidewalks
and other amenities to encourage pedestrian
and bicycle movement throughout the area
and increase connectivity. Additionally,
more direct routes between areas of housing,
employment and retail will be provided.
Following the New Jersey
Department of Transportation
(NJDOT)
| conceptual
study of Route 31,
additional funds
were provided by
New Jersey Office
of Smart Growth. With
these funds, Raritan Township completed
the Route 31 Land Use and
Transportation Plan. Beginning
with the integrated street
network as a base, the
township evaluated several
land use alternatives before
adopting one that promoted
mixed use development,
a multi-modal transportation
system, sustainable economic
and social development
and preserved green space.
Recognizing that this section
of Raritan Township has
historically been its industrial
and agricultural heart,
they made every effort
to preserve the unique
character of the Route
31 area through Design
Guidelines. These design
guidelines provide information
to appropriate materials,
size and massing of buildings,
set-backs, parking, access
and spatial relationships. |
To complement the South
Branch Parkway, an
expanded street network
will provide transportation
alternatives and
increased connectivity
for local traffic. |
 |
 |
The historic
character of the area
will be protected through
historic design guidelines
for new development. |
Project
status
Raritan Township adopted the Route 31
Land Use and Transportation Plan in November
2008. The NJDOT continues to work with
developers and the municipalities to
preserve the alignment of the proposed
parkway and develop a street network.
NJFITness
goals advanced by the Route
31 Project
are rated on a scale of
one to three stars, with
three stars indicating
the most strongly pursued:
The
NJFIT tools that are
most applicable to this
project are starred:
|
