Woodbine Seeks $400,000 Grant to Revamp Sidewalks

WOODBINE — Mayor William Pikolycky announced that the Borough of Woodbine has made application to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Small Cities Public Facilities program for grant funding  of $400,000 to reconstruct and construct sidewalks and curb ramps in the downtown area. This will be a means for providing safe, more-accessible use by pedestrians, especially those with disabilities.
According to a release, with this grant, the borough would make sidewalks and curb ramps compatible with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards in the downtown, which is the most densely populated section of the borough. It is where numerous facilities and places of public accommodation are located, such as the school and adjacent facilities and also the Woodbine Developmental Center.  
Notably, the school district provides no courtesy busing for students, so many students must walk or ride bicycles to school.  
As a result of the lack of sidewalks and curb ramps, students and other pedestrians must often walk in the paved roadway which creates an unsafe situation.
Using a pedestrian planning study previously funded by the Department of Transportation as a guide, Woodbine has taken a systematic approach to reconstructing/constructing sidewalks and curb ramps.
The muncipality has applied for and received funding in the past from the NJDOT for such purposes, but gaps in accessibility remain.
This Small Cities application is another step in addressing that deficiency.   
The improvements are important to the overall quality of life for borough residents and visitors, as it will allow for greater access to public facilities and other places of public accommodation.
 Several objectives in the state plan are also addressed and supported by this proposed project, specifically Redevelopment and Public Facilities/Services.   
“This project, if funded, would be a continuation of our existing infrastructure program that is currently underway at the present time,” stated Pikolycky.