EZ Ride  |  The Transporter |  August 2024                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Nine municipalities in EZ Ride’s service area have been awarded $8.1 million in federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) infrastructure funding, representing 39 percent of the $21,068,000 awarded to 23 communities in New Jersey.

The grants will fund various safety improvements, including high-visibility crosswalks, sidewalks, curb extensions, pedestrian bridges, new traffic signals, signage, lighting, and bike parking. The grants awarded to the nine communities include:

• Township of Belleville: $962,000 for Belleville Public Schools Pedestrian Safety Project
• Essex County/Township of Verona: $436,000 for a signal at County Rt 636/Lakeside Ave. & Pease Ave.
• Freehold Borough: $972,000 for the Freehold Borough Safe Routes to School Project
• Keyport Borough: $749,000 for Maple Place, W 4th Street, St. Peters Place & St. George Place SRTS Improvements
• Township of Nutley: $557,000 for a School Intersection Improvement Project
• City of Orange Township: $912,000 for the Lincoln Avenue School Safety Project
• City of Passaic: $1,089,000 for Parker Ave. & Van Buren St. Improvements Project
• Township of Teaneck: $1,500,000 for a pedestrian bridge over the CSX Railroad
• Township of West Orange: $966,000 for the Gregory Ave. & Lowell Ave. SRTS Project

Prior to receiving the infrastructure grants, the nine communities had promoted safe walking and biking to school and have received SRTS recognition awards

• Belleville: Gold municipal award and seven Gold school awards in 2024
• Freehold Borough: Gold municipal award in 2023
• Keyport: Bronze municipal award in 2024
• Orange: Gold municipal award in 2022 and seven Gold school awards in 2023
• Passaic: Gold municipal award and two Gold school awards in 2024
• Teaneck: Silver municipal award and one Silver school award in 2023, and two Bronze school awards in 2024
• Verona: Silver School award in 2024, two Silver and one Bronze school award in 2023
• West Orange: Gold municipal awards in 2024 & 2022, two Gold school awards in 2024, and six Gold school awards in 2023

The Safe Routes to School program is instrumental in supporting active transportation for students in grades K-12. It aims to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution near schools, creating safer and healthier environments for children. The infrastructure improvements funded by these grants are anticipated to have a significant positive impact on these communities, providing safer, healthier, and more appealing transportation options for all students, including those with disabilities.

For more information and to learn how to get involved, please contact EZ Ride’s Bike and Pedestrian team at (201) 939-4242 ext. 3.

Upcoming Bike-Ped Events

• August 22, OVPTR Newark E-Scooter Class                                                                                                                                                                                                                 5:15pm – 5:50 pm | Register
• August 23, Newark E-Scooter Class                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Register
• August 28, Prospect Park & EZ Ride Learn 2 Ride Class                                                                                                                                                                                               9:30 am – 12:00 pm | Register
• September 14, Washington Township Library Safety Event                                                                                                                                                                                         9:00 am – 10:15 am | Register