$290K In Pedestrian Safety Upgrades Coming For Belleville

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Belleville will use a $290,000 state grant to make improvements at two pedestrian corridors leading to the Silver Lake Light Rail Station, town officials recently announced.

Belleville will get $290,000 in state funds as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 Safe Streets to Transit Program grants. Read More: NJ Awards Belleville $290K For 'Light Rail Pedestrian Safety'

According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), $8.6 million has been awarded to 19 municipal projects in nine counties. See the full list here.

In Belleville, the money will be used to replace broken and missing sidewalks along Belmont Avenue and Franklin Street. The funding will also allow the township to make the areas fully accessible under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

• See related article: Belleville School District Finishes Long-Awaited ADA Renovations

To ensure work on the walkways is completed prior to the opening of the complex, the township is also working with the offices of Rep. Albio Sires and Senators Cory Booker and Robert Menendez to secure Congressional appropriations under the federal Community Project Funding allocation, Belleville officials said.

The light rail system is a low-cost transit option that quickly connects to Bloomfield and Newark Penn Station, the latter of which links to NJ Transit rail and bus, as well as the PATH train.

About half of Belleville households own one or fewer vehicles and often rely on public transportation, town officials said.

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