West Orange Nets Largest ‘Safe Routes To School’ Grant In County

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Township of West Orange. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

The Murphy Administration recently announced that $21.1 million for 23 grants under the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program have been awarded. West Orange received $966,000, which was the largest grant awarded under the SRTS in Essex County.

Infrastructure improvements funded through this program in West Orange will include pedestrian improvements such as sidewalks, high-visibility crosswalks, ADA curb ramps, LED stop signs and flashing beacons along Gregory Avenue (CR 571) and Lowell Avenue.

The SRTS is a federally funded program to increase pedestrian safety among motorists and schoolchildren. The program is administered by the NJDOT in partnership with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) and the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO). The program was created to encourage children to walk and bike to school. The township’s goal with this grant is to make walking to school safer and a more appealing transportation alternative to our West Orange students while encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle for school children from an early age. Projects are designed to improve safety, reduce traffic and fuel consumption, and limit air pollution near schools.

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