U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8), a former longtime member of the House Transportation Committee, today announced that the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) has awarded a $532,566 grant to create bike lanes along the proposed Morris Canal Greenway in the cities of Clifton and Paterson, along with other improvements.  Rep. Pascrell supported this grant application, submitted by Passaic County and made through the Transportation, Community, and System Preservation Program (TCSP).

"The County of Passaic is rich with American tradition as cities such as Paterson and Clifton were central to the early American industrial movement," said Rep. Pascrell, who is a member of the Congressional Bicycle Caucus.  "This grant will not only help restore an important piece of American history, but give local residents a place for recreation safe from the heavy traffic in Passaic County.  The County should be commended for working to implement this project to promote economic development, encourage environmentally-friendly transportation, and advance the County's sustainability and liability goals."

In 2008, Passaic County partnered with other counties across the state to create the Morris Canal Greenway, a proposed 25 mile walking and cycling path along the former Morris Canal. The vision of the project is to preserve and restore open space, create safe recreational opportunities for pedestrians and bicyclists, and promote cultural and heritage tourism within Passaic County.  The Morris Canal Greenway Feasibility Study was completed in June 2011, and adopted by the Passaic County Planning Board in October 2011 as an element of the County Master Plan.

TCSP funds will be used to create bike lanes along the proposed Morris Canal Greenway in the cities of Clifton and Paterson, upgrade sidewalks, and install 1,600 signs along the path at various sites in order to ensure the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists, and other recreational users.  The improvements will add approximately 5 miles of on-road bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements to the Greenway in Clifton and 3 miles in Paterson.

Passaic County Freeholder Director Pat Lepore expressed his thanks for the federal funding.

“I’d like to thank Congressman Bill Pascrell and his staff for working with our planning department to secure important funding to preserve and improve open space,” said Freeholder Director Pat Lepore.  “These funds will allow for the completion of a greenway trail in the cities of Paterson and Clifton, providing safe recreational opportunities for local residents and families.”   

Freeholder Director Lepore also expressed his appreciation to the Cities of Paterson and Clifton and all the dedicated volunteers who are helping make the Passaic County Morris Canal Greenway a reality.

The Transportation, Community, and System Preservation Program provides funding for a comprehensive initiative including planning grants, implementation grants, and research to investigate and address the relationship among transportation, community, and system preservation plans and practices and identify private sector-based initiatives to improve those relationships.  Funding will go through the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

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