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Voorhees applies for state aid for bike paths, sidewalks and road paving at Nov. 10 meeting

Voorhees Township could be seeing new bike paths, new sidewalks and some road re-pavements in the near future as the township committee voted to submit applications for aid to help fund these projects. The committee agreed on Monday, Nov. 10 to apply for the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund, which these project fall under, in hopes to receive grants to fund the projects.

“We always try to get all of the grants that we can, especially for major roads,” township administrator Larry Spellman said.

The New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority Act provides that each county receive an annual state aid allotment for roads and bridge projects. It also provides state aid funds for a wide variety of projects and activities that support and encourage residents to walk and bicycle to public transit stations. The projects, Voorhees Township Bicycle Network, Echelon Road Resurfacing Project — Phase I, Laurel Road Resurfacing Project — Phase II and White Horse Road Sidewalk Improvements — Phase III, have been identified as eligible for the aid.

The Voorhees Township Bicycle Network qualifies for aid under the Local Bikeway Program. The grant, if approved by the state, would be used for improvements between the existing bike path on Victor Boulevard to the Wynnewood development in Gibbsboro, along Kresson Lake on Route 73 South, and Kresson Road from Centennial Boulevard to Evesham Road.

“We’ve been working on our bike path for years. There are a few spots we’d like to connect between Voorhees and Gibbsboro,” Spellman said.

The Echelon Road Resurfacing Project — Phase I and Laurel Road Resurfacing Project — Phase II are for roadway improvements to Echelon Road from White Horse Road to Van Buren Road and to Laurel Road from the Voorhees Town Center entrance to Echelon Road.

The White Horse Road Sidewalk Improvements — Phase III qualifies for State Transportation Trust Funds under the Safe Routes to Transit. The sidewalks would run from Haddonfield-Berlin Road to Front Street. The sidewalks are to support and encourage residents to walk and bicycle to public transit stations.

“We want the town to be as pedestrian friendly as we can,” Spellman said.

The applications for each project will be forwarded to the state Department of Transportation for review.

In other news:

• The second review of bond ordinances for $35,000 for road improvements still needing to be done due to last year’s winter and $100,000 for a sewer line break on Laurel Oak Road that happened over the summer were passed. According to Spellman, the township didn’t want to wait one more year to continue fixing the roads and let them get worse, and the sewer break was 12 feet down and required 100 yards of pipe to replace the broken ones.

• The township approved the retirement of four employees — Michael Odd effective Nov. 1, and Joseph Struckus, David Scott and James Weldon all effective May 1, 2015.

• A resident came forward at the meeting and asked for signs to be put up at Connolly Park saying dogs had to be on a leash at the park except for when they are in the dog park. According to Spellman, at the public works meeting, the issue was brought up and signs will be put up. The issue will be put into an ordinance at a future meeting.

• The next committee meeting will be on Monday, Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

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