CEDAR GROVE - U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08), New Jersey's senior Democratic member on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure announced that the Township of Cedar Grove will be receiving $150,000 Transportation Enhancement (TE) grant for the Streetscape Improvement Project on Pompton Avenue.  Pascrell made the announcement with Assemblyman Kevin O'Toole and Assemblyman David Russo during Cedar Grove's Town Council meeting. 
 
"Cedar Grove is committed to enhancing its community by building a safe and visually appealing Town Center accessible for pedestrians," stated Pascrell, a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.  "This $150,000 investment will be a boon to the smart growth already underway in Cedar Grove.  This project is model for the way different levels of government can work in concert to bring positive change to local communities, and I am excited to be a part of it,"

"It always gives me a great sense of accomplishment when we can work with the federal government to help municipalities invest in their future, stated Assemblyman Kevin  O'Toole.

State Senator Henry McNamara, Assemblyman Kevin O'Toole and Assemblyman David Russo supported funding the project through the State's allotment of federal TE funds.  Cedar Grove Mayor Robert O'Toole has also been active in pursuing the streetscape improvement by gathering support at the local, state and federal levels of government.
 
The enhancements available through the grant will provide a safe and attractive destination to encourage not only pedestrian traffic, but also revitalization and economic development.  The Streetscape Improvement Project will integrate Route 23 into the Cedar Grove Central Business District and enhance access to NJ Transit bus lines.

Specifically, the Pompton Avenue Streetscape Project will cover 3,200 lineal feet that stretch down Pompton Avenue from Myrtle Avenue to Bradford Avenue.  It includes installation of paver block sidewalks, decorative street lighting, planting of trees, installation of five New Jersey Transit bus shelters, and additional benches, trash receptacles, and the refurbishment of the Essex County bicycle/pedestrian trestle bridge that crosses Pompton Avenue. 

Congress created the TE program in 1991 to fund transportation related activities that strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of the Nation's intermodal transportation systems.  The TE program was reauthorized in 1998 and again most recently in August of 2005, when the federal transportation reauthorization was signed into law.  As recently as 2003, Pascrell vigorously defended the TE program from attempted elimination by House Republican leadership.

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