Essex County awards BrightView contract for Central Avenue signals; commissioners press for school safety features

The Essex County Board of County Commissioners voted Oct. 28 to award BrightView Engineering a one-year contract, not to exceed $594,566, to provide construction engineering and inspection services for a federally funded adaptive-signal project on Central Avenue in the City of Orange.

BrightView representatives told the board the firm is based in Essex County (offices in Roseland and Livingston) and said about 70% of the company’s workforce are county residents. "Seventy percent of our workforce are Essex County residents," Andrew Larson said.

Vice President Cooper and other commissioners pressed staff to ensure the project includes pedestrian-safety features near neighborhood schools. "Can we include as part of this review potential measures...so we could better secure our parking lot?" Cooper asked with reference to related safety improvements; he also asked specifically whether talking crosswalk signals like those used in South Orange could be included near schools on Central Avenue. BrightView’s representative said he would check the project specifications; David Antonio of the Department of Public Works said he would follow up.

The board moved and approved the contract by roll call. The county said the contract will support construction at 25 signalized intersections along Central Avenue and that BrightView was the highest-rated proposer of two submissions.

The department recorded a follow-up task to verify whether school-area audible/talking crosswalks are in scope or can be added, and to report back to the commissioners.