Livingston Plans To Boost Pedestrian Safety Near School With $505K Project

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Livingston township officials will be holding a public workshop to discuss plans for the “Safe Routes to School Program” on Northfield and Hillside Avenues.

The meeting will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11 in the training room at Town Hall, 357 South Livingston Avenue. Attendees will be able to review exhibits of the preliminary construction plans, ask questions, and share feedback with the township’s project team members.

The workshop on Feb. 11 is the first of two that will be held during the engineering phase of the project. A second public event will be held during the final design phase.

Here are some things to know about the project, according to township administrators:

BACKGROUND – “The Township of Livingston has received a grant through the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program to construct pedestrian safety improvements along West Northfield Road from State Route 10 to South Livingston Avenue and Hillside Avenue from Foxcroft Drive to West Northfield Road. The goal of the proposed project is to improve the existing conditions and create a safe pedestrian corridor to Heritage Middle School.”

EXISTING CONDITIONS – “West Northfield Road is a pedestrian and motorist thoroughfare from State Route 10 to South Livingston Avenue. There are existing sidewalks throughout the project limits along the east and west side of the roadway that varies between American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant concrete sidewalk and non-compliant asphalt sidewalk. Hillside Avenue operates as a two-lane roadway with non-compliant asphalt sidewalk on the south side of the road. The existing asphalt sidewalk does not comply with the current ADA standards and the Pedestrian Accessible Route (PAR) standards, thus making the corridor less walkable and accessible.”

PROJECT DETAILS – “The primary purpose of this project is to improve pedestrian safety by improving the existing sidewalk infrastructure along West Northfield Road and Hillside Avenue to meet current ADA standards. The proposed improvements include constructing concrete sidewalks, concrete vertical curbs as needed, ADA accessible curb ramps, and new crosswalk striping will be provided where curb ramps are to be reconstructed. All existing driveway aprons where sidewalk is proposed will be reconstructed to meet ADA standards and the limits of reconstruction will vary based on the necessary grading required to meet the existing topography.”

SCHEDULE/COST – “The Preliminary Engineering Phase of the project is expected to be completed by Spring 2026, with Final Design starting thereafter and lasting through Summer 2027. Construction is slated to begin in the Fall 2027 and is anticipated to last approximately three months. Construction costs are estimated to be approximately $505,000. All costs for Engineering Design, Construction, and Construction Inspection will be reimbursed through the Federal TAP program, administered through NJDOT Local Aid.”

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