$647K In Grants For Monmouth County Road Improvements Secured
…and other Monmouth County Government News
Freeholder Director Tom Arone
By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone
A Monmouth County project will reduce Memorial Drive in Asbury Park from four lanes to two. Monmouth County has received $422,000 from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority’s Local Safety Program to improve Memorial Drive, which carries Monmouth County Road 40-A from Avon-By-the-Sea through Neptune Township and into Asbury Park.
On behalf of The Board of Chosen Freeholders, I serve as the liaison to the North Jersey Transportation Authority, and one of my duties is to try and receive money. I am very pleased to be able to report that I was successful in doing just that.
The project, known as a road diet, will also install wider shoulders, bicycle lanes and a center turning lane off Memorial Drive. The Transportation Authority recognized that Memorial Drive, with few signalized intersections south of Asbury Park and poorly-marked crosswalks, was dangerous for pedestrians and other non-motor vehicle traffic.
In addition to obtaining funding for this project, I am also pleased to report that on behalf of the Freeholders I was successful in lobbying the authority to fund $150,000 in safety improvements at a Howell intersection between West Farms Road and the Squankum-Yellowbrick Road that will include a blinking traffic light and improved pavement markings.
Other news in Monmouth County – The Department of Public Works and Engineering has received a grant from the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for de-snagging and debris removal at various stream corridors. The Division of Bridges is in the process of completing this project which will result not only in the county receiving $75,000.00 to offset the cost, but will also reduce flooding and damage to our infrastructure.
Additionally, the Divisions of Engineering and Highways are assisting the Borough of Bradley Beach through our Shared Services program in developing the county’s first maritime forest near Fletcher Lake. This project is another example of the efficiency and cost savings for our municipalities.
Some important news pertaining to the county’s economic development – The Made in Monmouth expo looks like it is going to be great again this year. We have more vendors registered than we did last year. We continue to be impressed by the quality and variety of products made in Monmouth County. Everyone is invited to join us, free of charge, on Saturday, September 28 from 10 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Monmouth University to see the great products made in the county and to have an opportunity to shop local.
The Grow Monmouth Façade Improvement Program is off to a great start. We have received our first applications and have begun the review process. We are still accepting new applications.
Lastly, we just completed our 100thGrow Monmouth presentation in Sea Bright last week. As a result, the Sea Bright business owners group has asked for a meeting to learn more about the tools available through the Grow Monmouth program, and our Economic Development staff will be scheduling that meeting shortly.
As liaison to the departments mentioned in this writing, and on behalf of The Board of Chosen Freeholders it is great to see all the progress being made in and around Monmouth County for the continued betterment of our residents
More from my site
Freeholders Raising Awareness- Freeholders Raise Awareness For Pediatric Cancer and Suicide Prevention
- Reforming Engineering Bidding Process Saves Tax Payers Money and Increases Competition
- The Arnone Report
- The Arnone Report: Share the roads with cyclists and pedestrians
Overflow crowd urges Freeholders to save Bradley Cove- The Arnone Report: Over the rivers and into the parks
Monmouth Freeholders Oppose Legalizing Recreational Marijuana
Leadership We Can Depend On- The Arnone Report