Historic Preservation of the Dinky in both Function and Form

Alain L. Kornhauser, PhDProfessor, Operations Research & Financial Engineering

Director, Program in TransportationFaculty Advisor, Princeton Autonomous Vehicle Engineering (PAVE)

Founder, ALK Technologies, Inc.

Chairman, Advanced TRansit Association (ATRA)and

Vice Chairman, New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology (inactive)

Historic Preservation of the Dinky in both

Function and Form

Purpose of Historical Preservation

• Preserve the Function and Form of Historically Important elements of the Built Environment.

• Dinky: – Functioning since 1865– Current Form since about 1915– Station moved in about 1986 to current location

Purpose of Historical Preservation

• Preserve the Function and Form of Historically Important elements of the Built Environment.

• Dinky: – Functioning since 1865

Function Endangered?

Only if Moved Away from “Nassau Street”

Princeton – Princeton Jct. (2.7 Miles)

Location !, Location !, Location! 12

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30,0

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+ Tw

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sus)

Access to the World

Station Moved Twice

50% Walk & Ride ~500 patrons/day

43/150 Solid Top 30%

Grade CrossingsFaculty Road, Princeton Junction

Pre-1985 to Present Terminus~185 feet

http://www.daftlogic.com/projects-google-maps-distance-calculator.htm

Princeton – Princeton Jct. (2.7 Miles)

Location !, Location !, Location! 12

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Area around the Dinky Station

Dinky Station Parking

Garage

Faculty Road

Alexander Road

Arts District

The Conflict

February 16, 2010

This would be the 3rd time the station has moved towards The junction.

Definitions

It then 2st moved 170 feet to create better E-W mobility for Forbes Student

from: the end of the platform, to: the Freight Building

The Conflict Arises from the current 3rd attempt at a Dinky Land Grab Land Grab

Walk&Ride Accessibility Lost by Moving the Dinky Terminus South

Assumptions:1. All walk in a straight line to the station2. All Walk&Ride trips production/attraction are

uniformly distributed in the half plane north of the current terminus.

3. Walk&Ride Area Lost =~ R*D*(2*cos q + sin q ) where R = prime walk distance

D = Distance Terminus moved (460 ft)q = sin-1 (D/R)

¼ Walk&Ride Service Areas49% Prime Walk&Ride Area Lost http://www.daftlogic.com/projects-google-maps-distance-calculator.htm

Nothing is gained to the south to off-set the losses to the north

http://www.daftlogic.com/projects-google-maps-distance-calculator.htm

¼ Mile Walk&Ride Accessibility Analysishttp://www.daftlogic.com/projects-google-maps-distance-calculator.htm

1/2 Walk&Ride Service Areas24% Prime Walk&Ride Area Losthttp://www.daftlogic.com/projects-google-maps-distance-calculator.htm

Nothing is gained to the south to off-set the losses to the north

http://www.daftlogic.com/projects-google-maps-distance-calculator.htm

1/2 Mile Walk&Ride Accessibility Analysishttp://www.daftlogic.com/projects-google-maps-distance-calculator.htm

Conclusions: Walk&Ride Accessibility Analysis

• 49% loss of ¼ mile prime walking area implies loss of Walk&Riders could be as high as 49% and a 25% loss of Dinky ridership.

•24% loss of ½ mile walking area implies at least a 24% loss of Walk&Riders and at least a 13% loss of Dinky ridership

Congestion @ Alexander & University Place

Flow Pattern @ Alexander & University Pl.

Minimal Conflicts;Readily Accommodates Pedestrians

Endangered?

50% Walk & Ride ~500 patrons/day

43/150 Solid Top 30%

Preferred Dinky Terminus

Kiss

&Ri

de

FreeB, taxi~10

62

32

25

26

~7

On-street: ~100Small lot: ~62Commute Lot : ~150Total: ~340Yield: ~375 Boarders/day; ~680 McCarter Patrons

62 Baker surface lot ~150

(Commuter Lot)178

(Each Floor of Lot 7)

Existing Dinky Parking

Dinky / McCarter Parking

Area around the Dinky Station

Dinky Station Parking

Garage

Faculty Road

Alexander Road

Arts District

The Conflict

February 16, 2010

This would be the 3rd time the station has moved towards The junction.

Definitions

The Dinky