On November 27, 2023, a fatal accident involving a 12-year-old pedestrian and her dog occurred on Rabbit Hill Road at the intersection of Abbington/Bennington. At the time of this accident, the speed limit on Rabbit Hill was a statutory 50 MPH speed limit due to the absence of any posted speed limit (there is a 35 MPH speed from Rabbit Hill/571 intersection until the unnamed County bridge). A speed study on Rabbit Hill Road in August 2023 concluded the average 85th percentile speed of 46 MPH. Studies show the risk of severe injury above 75% if the impact speed is at 39MPH and the risk of death above 50% at 42MPH. A speed limit above 35 is unsafe for a community with so many children at play, pedestrians, and bikers utilizing our roads, sidewalks, bike lanes, and the Trolley Line Trail.

On September 12, 2023, the West Windsor Council voted to post a speed limit to Rabbit Hill at 40 MPH due to the Manual Uniform Traffic Control Devices regulations. As of November 27th, these speed signs had still not been posted. 

In addition to extremely dangerous speeds on Rabbit Hill, the road lacks many safety measures that could have prevented a fatal accident, including stop signs, street lights, rapid-flashing pedestrian beacons, crosswalks, speed humps or elevated crosswalks, sidewalks on the north and south sections of Rabbit Hill where the road narrows, and damaged sidewalks where they already exist, forcing pedestrians into the road.

The once rural farm street has become a speedy shortcut between 571 and Cranbury Road for commuters, school buses, and large vehicles, leading to an unsafe community for the residents on Rabbit Hill and corresponding neighborhoods.  

Action Petitioned For: 

We, the undersigned residents of Rabbit Hill, Brookshyre I and II neighborhoods, Dey Estates, Kingspoint and Princeton View neighborhoods, and other West Windsor neighborhoods, urge West Windsor Township officials to address the speed and lack of pedestrian/bike safety on Rabbit Hill that lead to the tragic loss of a 12-year-old pedestrian and her dog. No parent should lose a child in this way. This tragedy has shaken our community and highlighted the urgent need for immediate action to improve safety for pedestrians, bikes, and motorists.

We urge the Township leaders to IMMEDIATELY set aside a budget to make the following safety improvements on Rabbit Hill Road:

1. Speed Limit Changes: the entire stretch of Rabbit Hill between 571 & Cranbury Road should be a maximum of 35 MPH IMMEDIATELY. We request the council further approve a speed of 25 MPH near the North and South ends of Rabbit Hill, where the road narrows, at a later date. Also, remove the end speed zone sign north of the unnamed county bridge.
2. Install Rapid-Flashing Pedestrian Beacons: We strongly support the installation of Rapid-Flashing Pedestrian Beacons at critical intersections in Rabbit Hill Road and Bennington Drive, particularly in areas with high pedestrian traffic. This simple measure could have potentially saved the life of the young pedestrian who tragically lost her life on Rabbit Hill Road.
3. Add a crosswalk in front of Abbington Road: The current repaving Rabbit Hill project is adding a crosswalk at the end of the Trolley Line Trail. We request the project be amended to add a crosswalk at the north Abbington Road/Rabbit Hill Road intersection.
4. Implement stricter speed enforcement: A newly paved road will increase the prevalent high-speed motorist behavior. We urge the township to implement the following speed enforcement efforts: 
   - 1 - Install Stop Signs and other road signage: A 4-way stop at the Bennington/Abbington and Rabbit Hill intersection could have prevented the fatal death of a child and her dog. We request a 4-way stop be added immediately. 
   - 2 - Calm Traffic: Make changes to the physical design of Rabbit Hill road to change driver behaviors such as raised crosswalks, horizontal shifts, or other measures recommended by NJDOT to break speed at multiple locations along Rabbit Hill Road and Bennington Dr. 
   - 3 - Speed Enforcement: Enforcement of speed limits by installing roadside Speed Radar Display trailers at multiple locations along the corridor in both directions, and posting police regularly on the road to monitor traffic.
   - 4 - Road Signage: Road safety signage, like crosswalk alerts and children/dogs at play throughout the road.
5. Extend the sidewalk: Extend the sidewalk on both sides of Rabbit Hill where the road narrows - northbound from Trolley Line Trail to the Cranbury Road intersection, and southbound after the Bennington/Abbington intersection to the 571/Rabbit Hill intersection.
6. Repair and maintain sidewalks: While sidewalks are available from the Bennington/Abbington intersection to North Barrington Drive, many areas are damaged or uneven, forcing pedestrians to walk on the road.
7. Increase street lighting: We support the installation of additional street lights along Rabbit Hill Road, Bennington Dr., and other areas with limited illumination. While the township has cited maintaining a "semi-rural feel" as a reason for little street lighting, we believe safety should be the paramount consideration.

Additionally, as a community, we would like support current plans to extend the sidewalk on Cranbury Road from Van Nest Park to Rabbit Hill. In conjunction with the sidewalk extensions on Rabbit Hill, a Cranbury Road extension would allow the Rabbit Hill community to walk safely to the Princeton Junction train station, eventually to WWP North HS, Community Middle School, Millstone River School, and create a complete loop around West Windsor Community Park and Grover’s Mill Pond. 

Together we can improve the Rabbit Hill residential area for those who live in the community and those who utilize the road in their commute.