BY: Najla Alexander
Union County Board officials reported that the County of Union, in collaboration with local Senators, Mayors, and other stakeholders, is exploring all available funding opportunities to best address the impact on County roads from end to end.
"Improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods is our top priority, and having everyone on board will make all corners of Union County safer for our residents and more attractive and viable for investment and opportunity," said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams.
The Route 28 corridor, specifically, crosses into Plainfield from Middlesex County and travels through several municipalities in Union County, ending in Elizabeth, officials say.
With the help of several local dignitaries, officials report that the County of Union will be working to address the current and projected future congestion, mobility, and safety issues.
"Working together allows us to take a proactive approach in managing and improving our most heavily trafficked corridor," said Senate President Nicholas Scutari.
"The Route 28 corridor is a critical network of roads which run through multiple towns across the center of the County. I look forward to working with the County of Union in a multi-modal approach to evaluate and mitigate the impacts of congestion."
"Union County is thriving with the amount of housing and new businesses constructed across our municipalities. However, we are aware that with these projects, there come challenges with creating a safe, sustainable transportation corridor," said Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski, Union County Transportation Representative and Board Member of the NJTPA.
"We plan to study and address issues with mobility, safety, and congestion countywide, with particular attention paid to the Route 28 corridor."
"I would like to thank the County of Union for their willingness to hear our concerns and identify solutions to our traffic concerns," said Cranford Mayor Kathleen Miller Prunty.
"Easy-to-navigate and vibrant corridors are the cornerstone in making our towns a safe place to travel through, visit and live, and we need to make sure that we are doing our part as leaders to ensure our roads continue to remain operational and well-managed."
"New commerce and redevelopment are great for our towns. However, we know with added infrastructure, expansion, and growth, there will be concerns for traffic and the safety of our residents," said Roselle Park Mayor Joseph Signorello, III.
"And looking into additional funding to improve our roadways is a great step in ensuring our residents and visitors driving through Union County can continue to experience a safe and efficient travel system."