Hopatcong Streets Scrutinized in County Study

Hopatcong Mayor Sylvia Petillo said last week that the borough has been selected as one of seven Sussex County towns to be included in the county’s “Complete Streets” study.

Complete Streets is a program that aims to  study how to safely incorporate all transportation modes — motor vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation —  and users of all ages and abilities.

The study is a joint effort of Sussex County and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, the agency that funnels federal transportation funds into 13 Jersey counties.

Petillo said Hopatcong’s inclusion in the study gave the borough some extra points on recent grants applications. As a result, she said, the borough received two state transportation grants this year.

One grant for $200,000 is for the repaving of Durban Avenue, and the second is $268,893 for the second phase of paving on Hopatchung Avenue and the construction of a walking path at Modick Park.

The council discussed the path earlier this year and said it would allow walkers and mothers with strollers to more safely  use the park, which is at the busy intersection of Hopatchung Avenue and Lakeside Boulevard.

Petillo said, in Hopatcong’s favor, one of the areas of study in the county project includes Lakeside Boulevard, Hopatchung Road, and River Styx Road to the bridge, areas  covered by the new grant, and an area — River Styx — that is targeted as a town center.

The fact sheet on Complete Streets says the program may study the use of sidewalks, bike lanes, road striping, frequent and safe road crossings, median islands, curbs, transit stops, accessible pedestrian signals and even narrower travel lanes.

The study is not an opportunity to drive street design, the fact sheet said,  but a way to choose which features fit best and increase street safety for  all users in a rural setting.

Petillo urged residents to attend the public information sessions on June 17 at the county complex, One Spring Street, Newton.

A Complete Streets walking tour will take place at 4 p.m. as study and county officials tour the Spring Street Courtyard.

At 7 p.m. in the freeholders meeting room, an interactive workshop will be held to outline the concepts of Complete Streets.

Information on the projects can be found at the project website.

In related news, Councilman Richard Bunce said the water utility has identified 400 properties that are near water lines and could be hooked into the public system. Bunce said letters would be sent to the property owners informing them of the situation.