ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County officials announced Wednesday that the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) awarded the county $14.8 million in federal grants to make safety improvements at 31 local intersections.

The NJTPA grants were awarded on the same day that its board elected Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. as the organization's new secretary. See related article: Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo Elected NJTPA Secretary During their Jan. 22 meeting, the NJTPA – which oversees regional transportation planning for 13 counties in northern and central New Jersey – authorized grants that will "improve safety" at 31 intersections in Montclair, Orange, East Orange, Newark, Belleville, Irvington, Bloomfield and Maplewood.

The projects are among 14 throughout the region that the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) Board of Trustees approved at its Jan. 22 meeting. The Essex County projects are part of the NJTPA's Local Safety Program.

According to county officials, the improvements will be completed in two parts:

PROJECT 1 Traffic signal upgrades, pedestrian countdown signals, high visibility crosswalks, and left-turn lanes will be installed, where feasible, at 12 intersections along Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair and nine intersections along Park Avenue in Orange, East Orange and Newark. New traffic signals will be installed on Bloomfield Avenue at Midland Avenue and Seymore Street, and on Park Avenue at Cleveland Street and Mt. Prospect Street. The grant for this project is $9,685,049.

The intersections along Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair included in this project are Mountain Avenue, Orange Road/Bell Street, Valley Road, Midland Avenue, Park Street, Fullerton Street/Church Street/Glenridge Avenue, Seymore Street, Willow Street, Gates Avenue/Lackawanna Plaza, Elm Street/Grove Street, Hartley Street, and Maple Avenue/Pine Street. The intersections along Park Avenue in Orange, East Orange and Newark included in this project are Cleveland Street, Day Street, Lincoln Street, Clinton Street, 19th Street, Parker Street, Ridge Street, Mount Prospect Street and Garside Court.

PROJECT 2

Traffic signal upgrades, pedestrian countdown signals, high visibility crosswalks, and left-turn lanes will be installed, where feasible, at 11 intersections on five county roads: Franklin Avenue in Belleville, Springfield Avenue in Irvington, Bloomfield Avenue in Bloomfield, Broadway in Newark and Valley Street in Maplewood. New traffic signals will be installed on Springfield Avenue at Smith and Orange streets, on Broadway at Kearny and Carteret streets, and on Valley Street at Pierson Road. The grant for this project is $5,089,005. The intersections along Franklin Avenue in Belleville are Joralemon Street and Mill Street. The intersections along Springfield Avenue in Irvington are Smith Street, Orange Street, Maple Avenue and Avon Avenue. The intersections along Bloomfield Avenue in Bloomfield are Municipal Plaza and Grove Street. The intersections along Broadway in Newark are Kearny Street and Carteret Street. The intersection of Valley Street and South Pierson Road in Maplewood is also included.