Federal Aid Approved For Moorestown's Lenola Project

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Surveyors have begun collecting information, and construction is expected to begin soon on Lenola Town Center Landscape Improvement Project, Moorestown Mayor Nicole Gillespie said on Monday. Gillespie signed a notice to proceed on the project on Jan. 7, authorizing the firm of McCormick Taylor to begin work on the project.

The notice was signed one day after the township received an executed federal aid agreement to allow preliminary engineering work to begin on the project, according to township officials.

“The firm was champing at the bit to go,” Gillespie said.

In 2018, the township received a $971,500 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) for construction costs.

When a new council came into power last year, it applied for an additional $366,744 federal grant through the Design Assistance Program for preliminary engineering, final design and construction engineering costs not covered under the original grant award.

It was awarded that grant in August, and in September, council approved a bond ordinance that sets aside $1,500,000, including the borrowing of $500,000 in bonds or notes, for the project. At the same meeting, it approved a resolution to award a $366,774.62 contract to McCormick Taylor for preliminary and final design and construction engineering services for the project.

Read more here: $1.5M Bond Ordinance For Lenola Project In Moorestown Approved

In order to procure the federal grant, the township had to appoint a professional from a pool of six engineering design consultants selected by the state. That professional was McCormick Taylor. Read more here: McCormick Taylor Named Lenola Project Design Consultant

The township offered the firm that had originally been awarded the contract the chance to stay on the project moving forward, but that firm declined, Gillespie said.

The township was required to wait for an executed copy of the federal aid agreement in order to ensure that all funds expended at this phase of the project would be reimbursed by the new grant, according to officials.

The goal of the Lenola Town Center Streetscape Improvement Project is to enhance the aesthetic and economic vitality of the Moorestown-Lenola Business District. Officials hope to improve and increase connectivity of the Lenola neighborhood town center through enhanced signs, new bike lanes, traffic-calming measures, shade trees, decorative lighting, benches, litter/recycling receptacles, a bus shelter, attractive and ADA-compliant sidewalks, and decorative crosswalks.

Gillespie acknowledged what she referred to as the hard work of the township council, staff, professionals and citizen volunteers on this project, as well as assistance received from State Sen. Troy Singleton (D-7) and his office throughout the process.