The Township of Verona is thrilled to announce that we have been awarded a $1.5 million grant from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) for the Bloomfield Ave Streetscape Improvements & Renovations project. This project aims to create a unified look and feel for Verona's main Bloomfield Ave corridor, which stretches from Fairview Avenue to Park Avenue. In additional to a consistent and attractive design, this project will also ensure there is ADA compliance throughout, evaluate traffic calming features and improve pedestrian access and stormwater management.

Verona Township is one of only 29 North Jersey communities to receive this highly competitive grant from the NJTPA, who provides funding for community-based projects that expand travel choices and enhance the transportation experience by improving cultural, historic and environmental aspects of the transportation system.

"Thank you to the NJTPA for their support of this vital project for the future of Verona's downtown," said Mayor Christopher Tamburro. "This funding will ensure that the joint efforts of the Township Council, Administration, Committees, stakeholder groups, and engineers in designing the new streetscape will create an inviting, accessible, attractive, and safe downtown in Verona for years to come."

In order to understand the current state of Verona's main Bloomfield Ave Corridor, project partners Strans Engineering and LiRo Hill have been actively engaging with Township Committees as well as with residents to identify any pain points or issues and to ensure any new design concepts work in harmony with Verona's surrounding natural, social, economic and cultural environments.

Alongside this project, the Verona Township is also collaborating with New Jersey Future on an Age-Friendly Community survey, which is entirely funded through a separate grant. This initiative is aimed at supporting the well-being, independence, and quality of life of older adults in our community. Learnings from this survey will be incorporated into the Bloomfield Ave Streetscape project. This 55 and older community survey is expected to be distributed in February.

The initial design concept for the Bloomfield Ave Streetscape project is slated to be presented during a Q1 Township Council meeting. For more information about the Bloomfield Ave Streetscape Improvements & Renovations project, please visit www.veronanj.org/bloomfieldaveimprovements