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Montclair oversight board keeps Harrison Avenue safety plan intact while debating $200,000 for pedestrian beacons
Summary
At its June 11 meeting, the Complete Streets board reviewed authorization to bid the Harrison Avenue reconstruction and debated whether to add rectangular rapid‑flashing beacons (RRFBs) at up to 14 crossings. Board members urged data‑driven prioritization and community engagement before committing roughly $200,000 in capital funds.
Jacob Neman opened the Complete Streets Oversight Board meeting and led an update on the Harrison Avenue project, saying the council will be asked to authorize the town to go out to bid and that an award would be expected at the August council meeting if the council approves authorization.
Norbero, the staff member who briefed the board on bidding and budget status, said the Maple Avenue bids came in lower than expected — the low bid was $316,000 and the high about $425,000 — and confirmed that part of Maple’s funding came from a $200,000 community development block grant that is reimbursement‑based. "As it stands right now, the low potential low bidder came in at $316,000," Norbero said. He told members that because the CDBG funds are reimbursed after project completion, the township must front the work and encumber funds, which affects how much of the roughly $1.4 million of capital money remains available for Harrison and other projects.
Staff also proposed adding rectangular rapid‑flashing beacons (RRFBs) at multiple Harrison Avenue crosswalks (about 10–14 intersections were identified). Supporters said the beacons would improve visibility at crossings; skeptics cautioned that RRFBs are expensive and that spending roughly $200,000 on one corridor could exhaust funds for other high‑risk locations across town. Mayor Baskerville and other members pressed for a prioritized, data‑driven approach rather than automatically deploying units at every crossing.
Board members generally coalesced around retaining the core Harrison reconstruction plan while asking staff to analyze crash and pedestrian data, identify the intersections with the clearest demonstrated need, and design a targeted deployment and community‑engagement plan. "We can take a look at the data to see if there's any particular intersections that deserve greater attention that haven't already been addressed," Jacob Neman said.
Why it matters: The decision will determine whether the town directs a large portion of limited capital toward a single corridor’s safety upgrades or spreads enhancements across multiple high‑risk locations. Because the CDBG and SS4A grants are reimbursement‑based, towns must ensure capital cashflow and project timing before awards can be put to work.
What’s next: Staff will return with refined cost estimates, a prioritized list of candidate intersections, and recommended public‑engagement steps before the council is asked to commit funds or authorize beacon installations. The council is expected to consider authorization to bid the Harrison project before the August meeting.
