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Highlands seeks $200,000 in Monmouth County CDBG funds for ADA sidewalk upgrades near elementary school
Summary
Borough staff presented a FY2027 Monmouth County CDBG application requesting the program’s $200,000 maximum to repair sidewalks, add ADA-compliant curb ramps and improve crosswalks near the elementary school; estimated project cost is about $329,000 and would require county and state engineering concurrence.
Borough staff presented the Highlands FY2027 Monmouth County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) sidewalk-improvement proposal at the July 17 council meeting, seeking the program’s maximum award of $200,000 to address deteriorated sidewalks and noncompliant curb ramps near the elementary school.
The presenter said photos and slides show cracked, uneven sidewalks, raised curb ramps and other trip hazards along Waterwitch Avenue and the section of Route 36 by the school. “There is significant high foot traffic by students and families near the elementary school, so there is a serious threat to pedestrian safety along this busy roadway,” the presenter said.
The preliminary concept calls for sidewalk repairs, ADA curb-ramp replacements, detectable warnings and improvements to crosswalks and curb lines. The presenter estimated the total project budget at roughly $329,000 and said the borough will request $200,000 from Monmouth County’s CDBG program; no local match is required for the county program. The presenter described the CDBG timetable as conservative: the borough would submit this summer, with a likely funding-execution decision about a year later and construction to follow the awarded agreement timetable.
Council members asked how the project would coordinate with Monmouth County engineering and the state for work adjacent to Route 36. The presenter described a workflow: borough staff submit plan specifications to county planning, the county routes them to county engineering, and the state is asked for concurrence when required. The presenter said the work is limited to the county right-of-way and should not require private-property acquisition.
Council members also discussed recent sewer/street work in the same area; the presenter said recent storm-sewer repairs should reduce the risk of repeat trenching that would disrupt newly installed sidewalks. The presenter closed the discussion and opened the item to public comment; no members of the public spoke on the item during the meeting.
Next steps: The borough will finalize application documents and submit the CDBG application this summer. If awarded, staff said it will go out to bid per the grant timetable and coordinate construction with county and state agencies.
