(Camden, NJ) – The Board of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) recently awarded Camden County more than $3 million for a series of projects that will improve and expand sustainable means of transportation.
“Here in Camden County we are always searching for ways to improve operational sustainability, shrink our carbon footprint and boost the quality of life for our residents. And receiving these funds to enhance travel options countywide will help propel this mission forward in a big way,” said Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. “Funds will be distributed to several major projects in Camden County that tackle everything from intersection improvements to installing missing sidewalks and more. Once these projects are completed, our residents will have a wider variety of choices when it comes to multi-modal means of travel such as biking, walking and public transit. We are thrilled that the DVRPC sees the value in creating safer and more environmentally friendly travel options.”
Six of the projects are being funded through the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program, which supports projects that make biking and walking to school safer and more appealing to students.
These projects include:
Peach Road and Victory Drive Intersection Improvements in Bellmawr Borough, Camden County ($422,000)
- Improvements include a new roundabout at the intersection of Victory Drive and Peach Road, signage, striping, crosswalks, flashing beacon pedestrian warning signs and ADA ramps.
Installation of Missing Sidewalks in Haddon Heights Borough, Camden County ($1.2 million)
- Will provide continuous sidewalks along multiple school routes in the area, including Atlantic Avenue Elementary School, Glenview Avenue Elementary School and Seventh Avenue Elementary School.
Echelon Center Pedestrian Improvements in Voorhees Township, Camden County ($675,000)
- Includes the construction of a 5-foot wide sidewalk to allow for pedestrian travel along both sides of Van Buren Road and Lucas Lane. Also proposed is the installation of numerous ADA ramps, crosswalks and traffic signage.
Gibbsboro Road and Berlin Road Intersection Improvements in Clementon Borough, Camden County ($470,000)
- Improvements will include updated traffic signals, new compliant ADA ramps and regrade to the intersection while adding crosswalk striping.
Gateway to Downtown Collingswood, Camden County ($272,000)
- Will create safe and improved access throughout Collingswood including the downtown business district, community assets, and PATCO train station.
Additionally, there are two statewide and regional projects being funded by the Travel Options Program (TOP), which supports projects that provide better access to more travel options across the region, such as walking, biking, and taking transit, with the goal of reducing the number of single occupancy vehicles.
These projects include:
New Jersey Safe Passing Law Marketing Campaign ($98,698)
- Sponsored by the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, working with NJ Transit, the project will raise awareness of the new safe passing law via an outreach campaign to educate drivers and all people using the roads. This project will focus on a bus wrap marketing campaign on NJ TRANSIT buses to ensure that people throughout the region see information about this – both from a driver’s point of view as well as a cyclist or pedestrian; this effort will cover about 50% of buses in DVRPC’s region.
Return to PATCO: A Promotion of Transit, Walking and Biking in South Jersey, Multiple Counties ($125,000)
- This project, sponsored by the Cross County Connection TMA, involves a need-based outreach, education and awareness strategy and campaign to aid in boosting ridership on PATCO from pandemic lows; to engage target audiences promoting personal health, financial, and the many environmental benefits of public transit; and to foster increased awareness of the Camden Waterfront and other tourism-destination locations and southern New Jersey’s downtown business districts accessible by PATCO.