U.S. Reps. Rob Menendez (D-8) and Nellie Pou (D-9) today joined Hudson County Executive Craig Guy and local officials to celebrate $3 million in federal funding for roadway safety improvements in Kearny, East Newark, and Harrison.
The funding will support construction of safer roadways, upgraded pedestrian crossings, improved traffic signalization, and other improvements designed to make one of the community’s busiest corridors safer for residents, commuters, and visitors alike.
Pou and Menendez secured the federal funds as part of the second tranche of congressional appropriations first passed by the House on January 22 and signed into law on February 3 as part of H.R. 7148.
“The mayor and I have a standing joke, I do like to spend a lot of time out here: It’s a Hudson County gem and I’m to always be here,” noted Guy as the press conference began at the Kearny Boat House on Passaic avenue.
“It’s a little tough down there for Democrats to succeed in gaining funding for a lot of good things that happen up here, not only in Hudson, but happen up here in the north region. I know Congresswoman Pou and Congressman Menendez, they are truly fighting every day down there. They have to scratch and claw for every nickel that comes this way.”
According to Guy, the renovations to Passaic Avenue will make the area safer.
“Up here in Hudson, we talk about safe streets a lot. We talk about Vision Zero, which has a prime purpose of keeping people safe and a prime platform which I strive each day. And this allotment of money is instrumental in keeping with that purpose,” the county executive added.
Guy also said that Passaic Avenue is a major thoroughfare through West Hudson that keeps small businesses booming.
Menendez began by thanking Guy for the work Hudson County has done with Hudson County Complete Streets on Vision Zero and other roadway-related improvements to keep pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers safe.
He also thanked Doyle for hosting the event and the elected officials from West Hudson in attendance.
“It’s a pleasure to serve Kearny alongside Congresswoman Pou and to continue to deliver and bring resources back to the district, back to the county. The county executive touched on it, it was a challenging time in Washington to get better funding back. But this was an easy one to find for me,” Menendez began.
“This is an important project. We see growth in West Hudson. We know that we want to make sure that the infrastructure here is ready for that increase in the number of businesses, the number of residents, people that are coming to say ‘It’s an incredible part of Hudson. This is an incredible part of New Jersey.’ So this is a good day.”
According to the congressman there’s more work to be done that they want accomplish not only on Passaic Avenue and in West Hudson, but across Hudson County and the rest of the country.
“It’s a vision of what we can do with the incredible team that the county executive has. So that’s what we’re going to do. I’m privileged to be in this work with so many great partners,” he added.
Afterwards, Pou began her remarks by thanking Menendez, Guy, and Kearny Mayor Carol Jean Doyle, as well as other local leaders present such as East Newark Mayor Dina Grilo, for their collaboration, noting the work they are doing in Hudson County.
She said it was a privilege and an honor to be representing Kearny and to be part of the “Hudson County family.”
“I am proud to celebrate this very important step for Hudson County, as it was mentioned, over $3 million Congressman Menendez and I secured to make Passaic Avenue safer. That’s what it’s really all about. Delivering for residents means focusing not just on the so-called big debates that go on in Washington, but on the practical things that shape everyday life,” Pout declared.
“Let me once again say, that, without the help and support and the involvement of the leadership here… we would not be able to do this because they’re the one that really identified and prioritized what the needs are for the county. And the fact that this is going to really crossover to several towns, three in particular, I think that’s a huge big win.”
According to Pou, these type of roadway safety improvements are important to keep residents, especially young students, safe.
“Road safety may not always grab headlines, but every parent understands what it means to watch their child cross a busy street. Every driver certainly knows the stress of a dangerous intersection. Every pedestrian and every cyclist deserve to know that they can travel safely,” the congresswoman continued.
“That’s what this funding is really all about. It will help Passaic Avenue along with safer roadways, better pedestrian crossings, and … make it safer for cyclists. Local leaders know their community best, and that’s why we’re here, because you’ve been able to ensure that your partners on the federal level, both Congressman Menendez and I, listen and were able to deliver. We are happy to be able to do that.”
Pou emphasized she and Menendez will continue to bring back funds for Hudson County in their responsibilities in Congress.
“Thank you for being who you are, for supporting this, and making this our responsibility of making sure that we represent each and every one of you,” she concluded.
After the event, Doyle told HCV that the safety improvements will make a noticeable difference for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers on Passaic Avenue.
“This is an amazing day for West Hudson and also for Kearny, obviously. We’ve had some improvements already, our county executive has done some crosswalks,” she noted.
“We have two safety crosswalks he put into place within the year, and now we have this $3 million for everything, the length of the entire roadway. So we’re very excited.”
According to Doyle, the improvements will include renovations to crosswalks, the installation of a bike lane, and the widening of the roadway along the entirety of Passaic Avenue.
“We have a queue all the way up almost to South Midland [Avenue] from here, so this will certainly eliminate some of that,” Doyle said.
“It’s because there’s so many cars and you can’t make a right or left turn. You have to wait for the light, so that also causes some issues.”
Further, Doyle is hopeful that the improvements will be quickly implemented, echoing her gratitude to Pou and Menendez for securing the funds for West Hudson.
“We couldn’t have done it without them. It was a joint effort.”