River Edge to Seek Safe Routes to School Grant

Rather than seek a potential Department of Transportation grant to complete the Kinderkamack Road streetscape, the borough of River Edge has switched gears and will now begin working on a Safe Routes to School application this fall instead.

According to the New Jersey DOT website, Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a federal, state and local effort to enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school. SRTS facilitates the planning, development and implementation of projects that improve safety and air quality, as well as reduce traffic and fuel consumption around schools.

"The grant information is released after Labor Day," grant writer Marlene Casey of Capital Alternatives said. "I think you could qualify for that by the schools along Midland Avenue, but you probably also have other areas in town that you could put into one basket for pedestrian and school children safety."

According to Borough Administrator Alan Negreann, the administration and Police Chief Thomas Cariddi have also identified areas on Woodland and Elm Avenues that would also suit the grant.

The goal of the Safe Route to Schools grant funding is to encourage more students to walk and bike to school where it is safe to do so and to improve the areas where it is not safe.

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