As the snow melts from JFK Boulevard East, you may notice the new sidewalks on the popular walkway that offers sweeping views of the Hudson River and New York City from the Palisades Cliffs.
North Bergen has almost completed the streetscape project, replacing sidewalks and adding Victorian lighting, and plans to install bike racks and benches to the township’s section of the roadway.
According to Township Administrator Christopher Pianese, $1.085 million in grant funds have been allocated to the project.
“We had significant sidewalk issues on the east side of the [JFK] Boulevard East.” – Christopher Pianese
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Finding funding
Pianese said that residents asked them to complete upgrades in the area around 2006, when work was finished on Bergenline Avenue and Broadway, both of which are in the township’s Urban Enterprise Zone. Stores in UEZ zones collect 3.5 percent state sales tax and get the money back for improvements to the district.
JFK Boulevard East is not in a UEZ zone, so officials sought other funding to complete it.
In 2008, the township received a grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation for $400,000, but at that point, they believed the proposed improvements would cost close to $1 million. So they held onto the funds and applied for a federal grant, which they were awarded in 2009, for $285,000. Then in 2010, the NJ DOT awarded them an additional $400,000.
“The significant accomplishment doing this project is it was done without any taxpayer money,” said Pianese. “It’s a credit to the administration. It goes back [a few years because] it took us three years to get the funding.”
Work completed in fall, to resume in spring
Pianese said that Boswell Engineering, the township’s engineer, completed the new design for the area. Contracts to English Paving of Verona and PSE&G were approved totaling $850,000 for work that was completed in November, 2010.
This includes new sidewalks on the east side of the roadway up to James. J. Braddock Park, and some of the west side south of this area. Around 30 Victorian-style light fixtures were also installed.
Pianese said that the remaining funds will be used this spring once the township determines where benches and bike racks can be added.
Officials: Upgrades were needed
“We had significant sidewalk issues on the east side of the [JFK] Boulevard East,” said Pianese. “You had some areas that didn’t have some sidewalk or … there were dirt patches.”
Pianese said that the new sidewalk now abuts the retaining wall along the top of the Palisades, which was a “major upgrade” to what formerly was there.
Sacco said that it has “…made the area much more attractive.”
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.