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POMPTON LAKES - Downtown's streetscape project needs state's OK
(by Leslie Scott - Staff Writer - August 27, 2008)
POMPTON LAKES - The municipality awaits approval from the state to begin the streetscape project. During the Aug. 13 Borough Council meeting, Mayor Katie Cole said the town expects to begin the restoration project in the spring.
The streetscape project will redesign Wanaque Avenue from the monument at Hamburg Turnpike to the railroad tracks with a new sidewalk, lights and benches.
The borough received a $1.4 million grant from the federal government in 2005 to complete the project, which has been in the planning stages for some time. A design theme has been approved and the municipality is waiting for the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) to give its backing, opening the door to grant funding.
“Once we do have that final approval, we will be in the position to go out to bid to purchase the materials. We need DOT approval in order to release the funds before we can actually go out and start spending the money,” Borough Administrator Vito Gadaleta said during the Aug. 13 council meeting.
DOT spokesperson Erin Phalon said the state agency would start reviewing streetscape applications in the fall.
Mayor Cole said the Streetscape Committee and the Business Improvement District (BID) are working together to purchase extras for this project.
“A substantial portion of our budget has been set aside for visual improvements,” said BID Chair John Soojian.
Cole said the Streetscape Committee would come to the council and discuss what type of items will be purchased for the downtown.
“The idea is we hope to purchase things this fall so when the actual works begin this spring, we’ll have a jump on it because the prices are constantly going up,” said Cole.
Councilman Mike Simone, a BID and Streetscape Committee member, said they are ready to move forward.
“Hopefully we will get permission to start doing things. We look forward to pre-purchasing things. It is one way to save some money,” he said.
The mayor said the borough would complete as much of Wanaque Avenue as possible with this grant.
If additional grant money is found the borough will expand this project. Cole explained that, in the future, the borough also would like to include outlying areas such as Lakeside and Colfax avenues.
“This is basically a project that is ready to happen. By this time next year that project should be either entirely done or like 90 percent done,” said Simone.
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