Zimmer Asks Council to Approve $1M Bond to Plan Repaving of Washington Street

After a few weeks off for the summer, the Hoboken City Council is returning to work on Wednesday night, with its first council meeting since early July. 

On the packed agenda, is a bond ordinance to create a plan to repave Washington Street. In order to pass the $1 million bond, at least six of the nine council members have to vote in favor. 

The bond was introduced on first reading last month. Now, it's back on the agenda. 

The approximately $1 million bond would also include a plan for the design and improvements to Sinatra Drive between 4th Street and 11th Street, to increase pedestrian and bicycle safety along the waterfront.

The bond also covers the city's obligation to secure federal funding for  The City of Hoboken has $2 million in federal funding to improve Observer Highway and $240,000 in federal funding to improve Newark Street between River Street and Washington Street. 

If the bond passes, a request for proposal process will follow. 

"The planning is important," Melli said. "If we have a plan in place, it puts us in a strong position to get federal and state grants."

The repaving of Washington Street itself will probably cost several million dollars, Melli added. Traffic signals cost roughly $250,000.

For the renovation of Observer Highway, the city is in possession of $2 million. The city has to pay for the engineering costs of this project, said spokesman Juan Melli in a phone conversation on Friday afternoon. 

Roughly $800,000 of the proposed $1 million bond would be used for the repavement plan, Melli said. 

Last month, we also asked you, the residents of Hoboken, if you think Washington Street should be repaved. Let us know your thoughts in the comments and our poll.