MARLBORO – The Township Council has reached an agreement with the state Department of Transportation (DOT) for improvements at two intersections on Route 79.
Route 79 is a state highway that runs through Marlboro.
At the Sept. 10 council meeting, Mayor Jonathan Hornik announced that improvements will be made at the intersection of Route 79 and Wyncrest Road and at the intersection of Route 79 and Route 520.
Route 520 is a Monmouth County thoroughfare.
When the improvements are completed, each of those intersections will have push buttons that will control the light and allow pedestrians to cross the intersection safely, pedestrian countdown signal heads, striped crosswalks and curb ramps.
The intersection at Route 79 and Route 520 — which is one of the busiest locations in Marlboro — will also have left turn signals, left turn phases, signal controller upgrades and vehicle video detection.
Officials said Marlboro will be responsible for 25 percent of the costs of the improvements — about $20,125, which will be paid out of an unused account with no impact on property taxes. The DOT will cover the remaining 75 percent of the work — about $60,375.
Council President Scott Metzger and council members Randi Marder and Mike Scalea approved the agreement. Councilwoman Carol Mazzola and Councilman Jeff Cantor were not present.
In other business, the council introduced plans to accept two grants that will fund a pair of projects.
The first grant is from the DOT in the amount of $240,000. The money will be used for improvements to Texas Road, which includes all work and materials.
“We are trying to get as many grants and fix as many roads as possible before the winter,” Hornik said. “The last two winters have been brutal and we will fix the infrastructure of our roads as soon as possible.”
The second grant, in the amount of $250,000, is from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the acquisition of an emergency generator.
“We learned very quickly during superstorm Sandy that the system gets overwhelmed very quickly,” Hornik said. “We are prepared for this winter in case we do not have a mild winter. We can take care of our residents and our own if necessary.”
Both grants will be considered for final passage after a public hearing at the council’s Sept. 24 meeting, which will be held at 7 p.m. in the clubhouse at the Rosemont Estates adult community, Wyncrest Road.
In other business, the council voted to accept a fuel truck that is valued at $37,063 and a front-end loader that is valued at $58,890 from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).
The vehicles will be provided to Marlboro at no cost under a program that permits the DOD to transfer excess vehicles and equipment to municipalities.
And, the council approved the renewal of the Morganville Independent Volunteer Fire Company’s liquor license through June 30, 2016.
Officials announced that the council’s Oct. 22 meeting will be held in the clubhouse of the Marlboro Greens adult community, Route 9.