Rocky Hill Council President Appeals to Montgomery for Lower Speed Limit on Princeton Avenue

Nicholas Mistretta

MONTGOMERY, NJ — Rocky Hill Borough Council President Richard Novak appeared before the Montgomery Township Committee on Aug. 20 to ask for the township’s cooperation in lowering the speed limit on the Montgomery portion of Princeton Avenue approaching the Rocky Hill border.

Speaking during the public comment portion of the meeting, Novak framed the request as a pedestrian and traffic-safety issue affecting residents of both communities. The Aug. 20 meeting agenda included a public comment period but no separate action item regarding Princeton Avenue.

Rocky Hill is seeking a 25 mph speed limit on the section of Princeton Avenue between the Blue Spring Road area and the borough line, creating a consistent speed limit as motorists enter Rocky Hill.

Montgomery’s current traffic code establishes a 35 mph speed limit along the entire length of Princeton Avenue within the township. By comparison, Rocky Hill reduced its section of Princeton Avenue to 25 mph in 2024, from Washington Street to the Montgomery border.

Safety Concerns Near Homes and Van Horne Park
Novak told the committee that the Montgomery section approaching Rocky Hill has characteristics that, in his view, warrant a lower speed.

The roadway is bordered by residential properties and runs near Van Horne Park, which Montgomery and Rocky Hill jointly maintain in cooperation with Somerset County. Pedestrians also use the area despite the absence of a continuous sidewalk along portions of the route.

Novak expressed concern that motorists can gain speed as they approach the borough and said Rocky Hill officials would prefer to address the issue before a serious pedestrian incident occurs.

“We don’t want to wait until somebody gets hit,” Novak said during his appeal.

His request was not limited to speed-limit signs. The discussion also touched on the larger issue of pedestrian access and potential sidewalk improvements connecting the communities.

Rocky Hill Says Municipal Boundaries Complicate Improvements
Novak also addressed the difficulty Rocky Hill faces in funding improvements located within Montgomery Township.

Although Rocky Hill may pursue grants for pedestrian and traffic-safety projects within the borough, he explained that grant money awarded to Rocky Hill generally cannot simply be used to construct improvements on property or roadway sections located in another municipality.

That becomes particularly relevant along Princeton Avenue, where the two municipalities meet and where improvements on one side of the municipal boundary can affect conditions on the other.

Rocky Hill has been pursuing a number of traffic-calming and pedestrian-safety measures in recent years. The borough successfully lowered its own Princeton Avenue speed limit to 25 mph and more recently worked with Somerset County to establish a 25 mph limit on Washington Street, Route 518, throughout the borough.

Montgomery Has Previously Favored Enforcement
The request comes after previous discussions between officials from the neighboring municipalities concerning Princeton Avenue.

Montgomery officials have indicated that the township’s Transportation Advisory Committee did not support reducing the speed limit and instead pointed to targeted traffic enforcement as one possible way of addressing speeding concerns. Novak used his appearance before the Township Committee to ask elected officials to take another look at the issue and continue working with Rocky Hill on a solution.

The approximately 25 mph request would apply only to the Montgomery portion of Princeton Avenue approaching Rocky Hill; the borough’s section is already posted at the lower speed.

No ordinance changing the Montgomery speed limit was before the Township Committee for consideration at the Aug. 20 meeting.

For now, Princeton Avenue remains posted at 35 mph in Montgomery and 25 mph once motorists cross into Rocky Hill, leaving officials from the two neighboring communities to continue discussions over whether the lower limit should extend farther into Montgomery.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com