Hello - The West Windsor township has released their proposed budget for 2024. The 1st public budget meeting will be TOMORROW, Thursday, March 7, starting at 10am. Public comment is at the end of the meeting, probably sometime around noon.

You can watch the meeting on YouTube (link in the agenda), but public comment will only be available to those in person.

Here is a link to the agenda: 

https://westwindsornj.org/images/TC-documents/2024/TC-agenda-030724-budget-meeting.pdf

Here is a link to the proposed budget: 

https://westwindsornj.org/images/finance/2024-Municipal-Budget-Capital-Improvement-Program.pdf

Of the requests in this petition (sidewalks extended on Rabbit Hill, additional lighting, stop sign and rapid flashing beacons at Bennington/Abbington intersection - studying the intersection to determine how to improve safety), only the sidewalk extension from Van Ness part on Cranbury Rd. to Trolley Line Trail on Rabbit Hill is specifically mentioned (page 119 in 219 page PDF). 

The Mayor has requested a budget that does not increase taxes for West Windsor residents. Potentially, in other parts of the budget, there would be funds available for Rabbit Hill's requested needs. However, these needs have not specifically been stated in the budget. If not specifically mentioned, there is not promise that 2024 budget allows for our requests. It is important that our voices are heard.

If possible please attend the budget meeting TOMORROW to request the council add line items in 2024 budget to:

• increase lighting on Rabbit Hill Rd.
• study the Abbington/Bennington intersection to improve safety with a stop sign, rapid flashing beacons, and/or other traffic measures such as a roundabout, raised crosswalk, etc. 

If you are not able to attend, please email council members and the mayor to ensure they prioritize these requests. I've included a sample email below. 

Here is a link to all of the council members and their emails

https://westwindsornj.org/council-members

The Mayor’s email is: 

mayor@westwindsortwp.com

SAMPLE EMAIL:

Mayor Marathe and council members Gawas, Geevers, Mandel, Weiss, Whitfield - 

As a resident of the Rabbit Hill community, I wanted to reach out regarding the safety improvements our community requested after the heartbreaking fatality of one of our youth, Ananta Ahuja, and her dog on November 28, 2023. 

First, thank you for including the extension of Rabbit Hill sidewalks on both sides at the north end of Rabbit Hill Rd. into the 2024 budget. 

However, I do not see mention in the 2024 budget that would immediately address these urgent requests that require allocated budget: 

- increase street lights to Rabbit Hill Rd and Bennington Drive. 

- improvements to the Abbington/Bennington and Rabbit Hill Rd. intersection. We requested rapid flashing beacons and stop signs - we are aware that a traffic study would most likely need to occur to determine measures for improving safety at this intersection. It is unacceptable to not have a commitment from the council to allocate funds specifically to address the intersection where a 12-year-old in our community unnecessarily lost her life. 

Please ensure the finalized 2024 budget addresses these needs.

Sincerely,