Borough of Point Pleasant – Borough Administrator Frank Pannucci stated that “The Borough of Point Pleasant has been awarded a $752,000.00 grant for sidewalk improvements via the New Jersey Safe Routes to School Program. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) administers this program in partnership with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Authority (DVRPA), and the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO). These organizations look to recognize the overwhelming needs of communities like ours and our desire to improve the health and safety of our children and residents of all ages who walk and bicycle in school areas. This year alone the State received 61 applications and was only able to fund 23 of them, one being ours. The Mayor and Council had our Engineer along with representatives from the Greater Mercer Transportation Authority (GMTA) walk this area last year to assess the feasibility of this plan. Not only did everyone agree this would be a huge improvement to this area, the State did as well.”
According to Mayor Robert A. Sabosik, “Look around town and you will see the beginnings of a public safety initiative never before enacted in the history of Point Borough. In addition to the $5 million dollars from the NJ Department of Transportation for River Road and Herbertsville Road sidewalks along with Bridge Avenue and Route 88 pedestrian safety improvements, we have just been awarded another grant on top of that for $752,000.00 to put in sidewalks in the area of Ocean Road Elementary School. We’ve already added more around Nellie Bennet and in various areas throughout town including Memorial Middle School and the High School, now we can focus on this area as well. This year alone, including the Dorsett Dock Road sidewalks we are installing, we will be awarding $6.1 million dollars worth of sidewalk and pedestrian safety improvements, the majority of which is all grant money.”
Council President Anotinette DePaola, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, added that “We’ve been saying for the last few years major improvements were coming our way throughout town. The only reason it took this long was because we needed to secure the funding for these widespread projects. This is truly a new beginning for our community. All of this grant money will help us catch up on improvements to accommodate the number of young families that have moved into our community over the past decade by making Point Pleasant safer.”
Councilman Joe Furmato, who chairs the Public Works Committee, state that “What an outstanding grant award. This money will go towards installing sidewalks and filling in gaps where there are no sidewalks on Hulse Road, Burnt Tavern Road, Old Farm Road, Johnson Avenue, John Street, George Street, Catherine Street and Borden Avenue. Further, if we still have enough money left in this grant award, we will put in ADA compliant curb ramps on Arnold Avenue at the intersections of Philadelphia, Lawrence, Pine Bluff and Morris.”
Borough Administrator Frank Pannucci elaborated that “The streets with the ADA compliant cutouts on Arnold will enhance the improvements the County has already committed to us with installing for the first time ever crosswalks on Arnold Avenue. “
Mr. Pannucci further stated that “In my almost ten years as the Borough Administrator, I’ve witnessed Mayor Sabosik and the Council do some amazing things. Truly improving our community and bringing us forward after years of stagnation. This year though, they have really stepped on the gas pedal. I’ve been in this area my entire life and I’ve never seen such a large-scale public improvement initiative like this. What the Mayor and Council have done securing these grants will have an everlasting positive impact on our community. It is an exciting time to be a part of this team.”
