the staff of the Ridgewood blog
RIDGEWOOD, NJ — The Village of Ridgewood, in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Local Aid Program, is moving forward with the final design phase of its Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Project — a federally funded initiative aimed at improving pedestrian and bicycle access for students throughout the village.
A Public Information Center (PIC) will be held on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the Ridgewood Municipal Court, located at 131 North Maple Avenue. All Ridgewood residents, parents, business owners, and tenants are encouraged to attend.
???? Project Overview
The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Design Assistance Program seeks to enhance student safety and accessibility by improving sidewalks, reducing roadway widths at crossings, and installing driver feedback signs near local schools. The project is funded through federal grants administered by NJDOT Local Aid.
???? Schools Included in the Project
The proposed improvements will benefit students walking and biking to the following Ridgewood public schools:
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Willard Elementary
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Ridge Elementary
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Orchard Elementary
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Travell Elementary
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Somerville Elementary
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Hawes Elementary
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George Washington Middle School
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Ben Franklin Middle School
???? Planned Roadway Improvements
Work is proposed on several key Ridgewood roads including:
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Lincoln Avenue
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Grove Street
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Franklin Avenue
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North Monroe Street
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West & East Glen Avenues
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Bogert Avenue
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Hickory Street
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Northern Parkway
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Franklin Turnpike
Enhancements will include new sidewalks, narrowed roadways for safer crossings, and driver feedback signs in high-traffic areas near schools.
????️ Project Timeline
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Public Input Session: June 18, 2025
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Final Design Phase: Summer 2025
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Construction Start: Anticipated in 2026
????️ Cultural & Historic Considerations
As part of the planning process, NJDOT and the Village of Ridgewood will coordinate with the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office to ensure proposed changes respect historic sites such as:
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Ackerman House (Listed on State and National Registers)
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Van Dien House (Listed on State and National Registers)
???? Provide Your Input
Public participation is encouraged. Attendees can review project exhibits, ask questions, and share feedback directly with Village officials and project consultants.
If you can’t attend in person, visit ridgewoodnj.net and submit comments no later than July 2, 2025.
???? Need Assistance?
Contact:
Chris Rutishauser, P.E., CPWM
Village Engineer / Director of Public Works
???? 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
???? 201-670-5500 ext. 238
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More government waste, funding common sense, no cost programs which are easily implemented locally (and largely unnecessary if parents taught their children common sense).
In 2005 the federal government allocated $1 BILLION to SRTS programs (under the SAFETEA-LU Act) to be used from 2005-2012
In 2012 this was replaced with “Shift To Alternative Transportation (TA) under MAP-21. This funding was also in the BILLIONS but was combined with other “walking and biking programs’ making it difficult to know EXACTLY how much went to SRTS.
This continues to this day with NJ-DOT allocating 24.4 million from the original 2005 SAFETEA-LU money to SRTS in 2024. This does not count money from other subsequent Federal SRTS programs nor State Funded SRTS money.
Ther remains AT LEAST 78 MILLION from the 2005 SAFETEA-LU money still unallocated that states are scrambling to grab before it gets reclaimed by the federal government this year.
This is another example of MASSIVE WASTE of Federal Taxpayer money.