By: Najla Alexander
Carteret officials announced that the Borough has won a $2.38 million competitive grant from the state Department of Transportation through the Local Transportation Projects Fund.
The Honorable Mayor Daniel J. Reiman stated that the funds will be used to complete roadway, curb, and intersection improvements along Carteret Avenue from Carteret Park to Locust Street.
The project will focus on curb-to-curb road resurfacing, striping, raised crosswalks, and boulevard island enhancements, such as irrigation, landscaping, wayfinding signage, and lighting upgrades, officials say.
According to Carteret officials, the funds will improve pedestrian and motorist safety by resurfacing the roadway, replacing damaged and deteriorated curbing, enhancing street lighting, and installing improved, raised crosswalks and traffic calming measures at five major intersections along Carteret Avenue.
“We are very grateful to Gov. Phil Murphy and Transportation Commissioner Francis O’Connor for these incredibly valuable funds,” Mayor Reiman said.
“The proposed improvements would tie into multiple active projects in the Borough, including the Middlesex County-funded intersection improvements along Roosevelt Avenue, NJDOT Safe Routes to School-funded curb ramp improvements along the length of Carteret Avenue, and NJDOT-funded bikeway improvements awarded for the length of the roadway."
"Given the condition of the existing roadway and curbs – in conjunction with the four concurrent projects focusing on various aspects of pedestrian and motorist improvements – the only aspect of Carteret Avenue that remains to be addressed is the road itself. LTPF funding will ensure the Borough is able to elevate the thoroughfare to its full potential for pedestrians and cyclists alike.”
Carteret Avenue has over 20 residential cross streets that convey traffic to Roosevelt Avenue and points beyond, Carteret authorities stated.
According to Mayor Reiman, at 1.24 miles, Carteret Avenue is the Borough’s largest pedestrian boulevard. It also connects to many important public facilities in the heart of the Borough, including Columbus Elementary School, St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Blazing Star Cultural Arts Center, First Presbyterian Church of Carteret, Carteret Park, Sullivan Athletic Fields, Tomczuk Memorial Tennis and Basketball Courts, Carteret Middle School, and Waterfront Park.
The LPTF grant is funding part of the multi-year four-phase Carteret Avenue Roadway, Pedestrian, Cyclist, and Beautification Improvements Project, which also includes the following grants:
- $400,000 NJDOT Bike Lane Grant
- $702,000 NJDOT Routes to Schools Grant
- $678,000 NJDOT Local Aid Grant
The LTPF grant brings total NJDOT funding for Carteret Avenue to $4.16 million, officials stated.
Carteret officials said that in August, the Borough also won a $5.4 competitive LTPF grant from NJDOT to extend critical roadway infrastructure in two areas of the waterfront: Waterfront Boulevard Extension and Lighthouse Way Extension.
The latter is underway, and improvements to the Lighthouse Way Extension will start soon, Mayor Reiman said.