$2.4 M Pump Station Plan Would Upgrade Wayne Sewer System: Sherrill

WAYNE, NJ — Wayne may get $2.4 million to upgrade the township's wastewater infrastructure and better manage sewage locally, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill announced Monday.

Democrat Sherrill – who represents part of Wayne and other North Jersey towns in the state’s 11th District – she has submitted 15 community funding project requests to the House Appropriations Committee for fiscal year 2024. The House Appropriations Committee is expected to mark up the annual appropriations bill later this year.

Rehabilitating the Mountain View Pump Station in Wayne is on the list, according to Sherrill's office. Funding would include replacement of three sewer pumps and related infrastructure improvements at the facility on Dey Road, which will better protect residents in case of flooding, said officials.

The facility treats 13.5 million gallons of wastewater per day, according to the township.

"Having safe and secure infrastructure in place to service and manage stormwater has become essential with the rise in severe weather events," Sherrill's office said. "If the pump station were to flood or malfunction, the health and safety of many residents would be at risk. Since this pump station lies within the 100-year flood zone, protecting and fortifying the station against flooding is critical in keeping 5,500 properties in Wayne safe, while strengthening the Township’s and region’s overall infrastructure needs."

Sherrill said she also requested $1.45 million for traffic light installations in Little Falls, to make safety improvements at two high-priority intersections in the county: Cedar Grove Road & Lindsley Road, and Long Hill Road & Clove Road. Funding would be used to install new traffic signals at these "problematic" intersections and make traffic flow better, she said.

"The project would facilitate a safer and more efficient connection to jobs, services, and schools to the residents and patrons that travel along these essential County roadways," Sherrill's office said. "These improvements are consistent with the Complete Streets Policy passed by the Board of County Commissioners in 2014 and will continue the County’s efforts to provide safe and equitable transportation access for all residents and visitors."

The round of requests is the third that Sherrill has made since taking office, she noted. Read More: These 14 Projects In NJ-11 Could Get Big Federal Bucks

“I’m excited to announce the 15 new community projects I am submitting this year on behalf of the 11th Congressional district,” Sherrill said Monday. “From bolstering public safety and improving water quality to updating community spaces and preserving our open spaces, all of these projects will have a great impact on towns in every corner of the district.”

The recently-redrawn 11th district includes part of Wayne and the Passaic County communities of Little Falls, Totowa, and Woodland Park as well as communities in Essex and Morris counties.

Patch's Eric Kiefer contributed to this report.