Maplewood Gets Federal Money To Make Intersections Safer

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo announced last week that the county will receive $26.4 million in federal grants from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority to make safety improvements at 39 intersections — including some along Valley Street in Maplewood and South Orange.

The projects include extending curbs and installing refuge islands, where feasible, to shorten crossing distances for pedestrians; and the installation of leading pedestrian interval signals, which stop traffic in all directions to allow people to cross more safely.

“This funding supports infrastructure improvements to enhance safety for motorists and particularly pedestrians," said DiVincenzo. "The intersections identified for upgrades are along some of our most heavily traveled corridors."

The improvements will be completed as part of two separate projects:

The first project received $17 million for traffic and pedestrian signal upgrades at 25 intersections throughout the county, including leading pedestrian intervals, four new traffic signals, and curb-extensions and pedestrian refuge islands where feasible. Those intersections are in Belleville, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Millburn, Montclair, Nutley, Orange, South Orange, West Orange, Verona and Newark.

Intersections to be upgraded in the first project include the following:

1. South Orange Avenue and Prospect Avenue, South Orange

2. South Orange Avenue and Ridgewood Avenue, South Orange

3. Washington Street and Watchung Avenue, West Orange

4. Pleasant Valley Way and Woodland Avenue, West Orange

5. Washington Street and High Street, Orange

6. Fairview Avenue and Personette Avenue, Verona (New Signal)

7. Millburn Avenue and Vauxhall Road, Millburn

8. Franklin Street and Newark Avenue, Bloomfield

9. Franklin Street and Garden State Parkway Northbound Ramp, Bloomfield

10. Franklin Street and Garden State Parkway Southbound Ramp, Bloomfield

11. Franklin Street and Municipal Plaza/Montgomery Street, Bloomfield

12. West Passaic Avenue and Broad Street, Bloomfield

13. West Passaic Avenue and East Passaic Avenue, Bloomfield

14. Broad Street and MacLeod Lane, Bloomfield (New Signal)

15. Belleville Avenue and State Street, Bloomfield

16. Belleville Avenue and Broad Street, Bloomfield

17. West Passaic Avenue/Kingsland Street and Darling Avenue, Nutley

18. Springfield Avenue and South 17th Street, Newark (New Signal)

19. Rutgers Street and Cortlandt Street, Belleville

20. Valley Road and Normal Avenue, Montclair

21. Valley Road and Mount Hebron Road, Montclair

22. Watchung Avenue and Grove Street, Montclair

23. Watchung Avenue and Ridgewood Avenue, Glen Ridge

24. Franklin Avenue and Church Street/Booth Drive, Nutley (New Signal)

25. Irvington Avenue and Prospect Avenue, South Orange

The second project received $9.4 million for similar improvements to 14 intersections along two corridors — Valley Street in Maplewood and South Orange and Springfield Avenue in Irvington. This project also includes the installation of four new traffic signals.

Intersections to be upgraded in the second project include the following:

1. Valley Street and First Street, South Orange (New Signal)

2. Valley Street and Third Street, South Orange

3. Valley Street and Parker Avenue, Maplewood

4. Valley Street and Oakland Road, Maplewood

5. Valley Street and Oakview Avenue, Maplewood

6. Valley Street and Tuscan Road, Maplewood

7. Valley Street and Baker Street, Maplewood

8. Valley Street and Millburn Avenue, Maplewood

9. Springfield Avenue and Orange Avenue, (New Signal), Irvington

10. Springfield Avenue and Smith Street (New Signal), Irvington

11. Springfield Avenue and 42nd Street (New Signal), Irvington

12. Springfield Avenue and Becker Terrace, Irvington

13. Springfield Avenue and Clinton Avenue/Union Avenue/Myrtle Avenue, Irvington

14. Springfield Avenue and Grove Stree, Irvington

The award was approved and announced at the NJTPA meeting on Nov. 9. The grants are part of the NJTPA’s Local Safety Program.

The NJTPA is the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for 13 northern New Jersey counties.

Under federal legislation, MPOs provide a forum where local officials, public transportation providers and state agency representatives can come together and cooperatively plan to meet the region’s current and future transportation needs. The agency establishes the region’s eligibility to receive federal tax dollars for transportation projects.

Got news? Email caren.lissner@patch.com. To be the first to get news alerts with breaking stories in Maplewood, or to get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters.