FY2025 Community Projects for NJ-04

Members of Congress may submit a limited number of public projects for consideration of direct federal funding.  Each project must have garnered local community support and exhibit a demonstrated need.  These carefully chosen submissions must also meet stringent criteria established by the committees of jurisdiction, and they are restricted by the rules of the 
committees.  I have developed this page to keep the public informed about the important projects below. Please feel free to read about these projects:

Request Title: Silver Lake Stormwater Management and Resource Protection Project
Request Description:  The ability of Silver Lake to discharge floodwaters as the tide recedes is a critical component of Belmar—and the region’s—stormwater management capacity and ability to withstand severe weather events, such as Superstorm Sandy. Prior to Superstorm Sandy in 2012, the lake had a direct connection to the Atlantic Ocean via a buried pipe that allowed the ocean water to enter the lake at high tide and freshwater to exit the lake at low tide. As a result, the brackish lake had a regular flushing of new, clean water. However, due to intense storm events, this connection became blocked, and Silver Lake has been acting as a freshwater impoundment since the blockage. This has resulted in eutrophication, a large population of geese, and nutrient loading from stormwater runoff. In 2023, there began a dangerous health advisory from harmful algal blooms (HABs)—that risk persists today and will continue until the lake is restored. The purpose of this project is to improve the stormwater management abilities of Belmar, N.J. and the surrounding communities by repairing a flow pipe between Silver Lake and the Atlantic Ocean that runs under Ocean Ave, and to improve stormwater retention and drainage capacity, establish effective flood mitigation measures by establishing a living shoreline, and to restore a healthy estuarine ecosystem to better mitigate the effects of extreme weather events.

Letter of Request from Rep. Smith

Letters of Support

Request Title: Shadow Lake Stormwater Management and Hazard Mitigation Project
Request Description: Shadow Lake is an 80-acre man-made flood mitigation and stormwater collection pond within the Navesink River system, constructed by the Works Progress Administration in 1936. The greater Navesink River is a critical tidal estuary connecting central New Jersey’s rivers and streams with Sandy Hook Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The Shadow Lake Dam runs underneath Hubbard Ave connecting Middletown to Red Bank. The purpose of this project is: to improve the stormwater management abilities of Shadow Lake, the greater Navesink River, and the surrounding communities by removing silt and materials that have accrued behind the dam since its construction; to replace the weir structure, removing debris and naturally occurring arsenic from the waterway; establish a modern stormwater collection and storage venue, while preventing future erosion from the banks of the river; to better affect flood control solutions and hazard mitigation strategies. This is a critical project to reinvigorate the natural ecosystem of a critical estuary surrounded by densely populated areas, including senior communities.

Letter of Request from Rep. Smith

Letters of Support

Request Title: Seaside Park Bayfront Flooding Mitigation and Shoreline Restoration Project
Request Description: The Bayfront Flooding Mitigation and Shoreline Restoration Project is critical to sustain the bayside shoreline of Seaside Park, develop a resilient living shoreline to better manage stormwater overflow in Barnegat Bay during extreme weather events, and to restore the critical estuarine ecosystem to promote native aquaculture and a healthy population of wildlife. This project is focused along N. Bayview Avenue in Seaside Park, between I Street and Island Ave. Superstorm Sandy significantly altered the composition of Barnegat Bay and led to long-term erosion of the barrier peninsula shoreline. This portion of Bayfront Avenue has continued to deteriorate, resulting in chronic flooding during significant weather events, and has resulted in the destruction of critical infrastructure including New Jersey Department of Transportation pump stations, stormwater outfalls, critical underground utilities including gas mains, watermains, and sanitary sewer mains.

Letter of Request from Rep. Smith

Letters of Support

Request Title: Lakehurst NAS Naval Secure Test Aviation Research Hangar
Request Description: This request is for planning and design funding for Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, to facilitate the construction of a critically needed Secure Test Aviation Research Hangar. This state-of-the-art installation would include enhanced physical and cyber security features necessary for integration of advanced technology systems needed to enact the Navy’s Air Wing of the Future Program. This project fits well with the Naval Support Activity (NSA) mission at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, the largest employer in Ocean County, N.J. which is already host to nearly all of the nation’s aircraft carrier launch and recovery systems’ research, development, manufacturing and maintenance.

Letter of Request from Rep. Smith

Letter of Support

Request Title: County Route 537 (CR 537) Corridor Improvements Section B Project
Request Description: The requested funding for this critical project is in the amount of $2,500,000 to facilitate improvements that will include roadway widening, reconstruction, and drainage and safety improvements that are sorely needed on this heavily traveled roadway. The project improves safety and traffic flow along the CR 537 corridor where numerous new developments and projects are underway. CR 537 is a critical thoroughfare connecting I-195 and State Route 9, both heavily trafficked roadways. More than 20,000 vehicles use this passage daily, and it is considered a high accident corridor.

Letter of Request from Rep. Smith

Letters of Support

Request Title: Wall Township Bike Path Extension & Overpass
Request Description: This project will connect not just the northern and southern ends of this 32-square-mile suburban community, but it will also allow for safe bicycle and pedestrian travel for residents of numerous neighboring communities and alleviate the need to traverse the dangerous Route 138. State Route 138 is a six-lane highway that runs along the north side of the Wall High School property and bisects the Township. For students trying to get to school as well as residents attempting to get to the opposite ends of the Township on foot or bicycle, crossing Route 138 is a significant obstacle as it has heavy traffic, vehicles traveling at high speeds, and no pedestrian or cyclist access. Limited visibility and driver distractions also contribute to the danger of crossing Route 138. A dedicated overpass will provide a safe and separate path for bicyclists and pedestrians, ensuring they do not have to interact with vehicular traffic. By providing this easily accessible crossing point, the overpass reduces the inconvenience, danger, and time required to reach a safe crossing location.

Letter of Request from Rep. Smith

Letters of Support

Request Title: Ocean County Sheriff's Office Fleet Augmentation
Request Description: The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office requires federal funds to augment their vehicle fleet to meet the growing law enforcement demands of Ocean County and the greater region. The federal support will enable the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office to continue delivering critical emergency and law enforcement services to a geographically large county home to critical federal installations, a large senior population, and complex and varied terrain including the New Jersey Pine Barrens, the barrier peninsula and barrier island along Barnegat Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. This project has the strong support of local and county elected officials.

Letter of Request from Rep. Smith

Letters of Support

Request Title: Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office Communications Interoperability Project
Request Description: The requested funds would be used to acquire upgrade communications equipment that provides for interoperability between the Sherrif’s office – the County’s Emergency Management Agency – and the multiple law enforcement and emergency services providers throughout the county. These law enforcement partners include multiple municipal police departments, the New Jersey State Police, the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, the Monmouth University Police Department, New Jersey Transit Police Department, federal law enforcement partners such as the United States Coast Guard, Department of Defense Police located at NWS Earle and many others. This would support upgrades including interoperable multi-band portable and mobile radio equipment, interoperability communications equipment as well as core appliances to allow real-time video integration into the Sheriff’s operations center. Upgrades included interoperability multi-band portable and mobile radios, interoperability communications infrastructure systems as well as core appliances to allow real time video integration into the crime center. This includes integration with public camera systems such as transportation cameras, gunshot detection equipment, alarm and alert integration, and school panic alarms.

Letter of Request from Rep. Smith

Letters of Support

Request Title: Eatontown Community Flood Mitigation Project Part II
Request Description: The residents in the Wampum Lake watershed region of Eatontown are predominantly apartment occupants and it is this area that experiences repetitive, significant flooding events due to lack of short-term runoff storage available in the watershed. Phase II consists of infrastructure repairs and improvements to enable the municipality to lower the water level of Wampum Lake in advance of a storm event and bring the road infrastructure up to modern compliance standards to prevent cyclical damage to housing, businesses, roads, transportation, and recreational greenspace. Additionally, Wampum Lake is directly upstream from the former Fort Monmouth, which is undergoing largescale redevelopment into apartment housing and business developments.

Letter of Request from Rep. Smith

Letters of Support

Request Title: Manchester Township Clean Water Project
Request Description: The expansion will help meet the water needs of Manchester and allow for the mitigation of wells contaminated by Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS). The Manchester Township Clean Water Project consists of constructing new state-of-the-art water treatment facilities to service contaminated wells. This project ensures the township's water supply meets the new stringent PFOS regulations, safeguarding over 50,000 residents' health. It will also allow the township to provide safe drinking water supply for our mostly senior citizen population, including affordable housing units. Federal funds would allow for the establishment of water treatment facilities, including the necessary piping and infrastructure upgrades to connect and modernize wells 1-4 in the township’s Eastern Service Area. Wells 1-3 are necessary to bring back online for the township to meet the water demands of New Jersey’s Affordable Housing Requirements. This proposed project has the widespread, strong support of local, county and state elected officials.

Letter of Request from Rep. Smith

Letters of Support

Request Title: Historic Manitou Park School House Rehabilitation
Request Description: The historic Manitou Park School House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1929, the schoolhouse served only African American students and is the only remaining building in the township with ties to segregation and the broader civil rights movement, serving as a testament to social, educational, and architectural progress over time. The project will restore this blighted site which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the restored schoolhouse will act as a multi-purpose community center, complimenting the playground and basketball courts the Township has already invested in directly adjacent to the school building. The renovation project involves comprehensive repairs, including structural restoration, interior and exterior renovations, and upgrades to meet current safety standards. Key components include roof repairs, weatherization, and restoration of historically significant features. Previous work, funded by the New Jersey Historic Trust and the Neighborhood Preservation Program, included asbestos remediation and design elements. The Historic Manitou School House Rehabilitation project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds as it is in keeping with the stated goals of the Community Development Block Grant program, being a project with a clear economic benefit.

Letter of Request from Rep. Smith

Letters of Support

Request Title: Lakewood Shomrim Radio Communication Enhancement Project
Request Description: The Lakewood Shomrim Radio Communication Enhancement Project is designed to significantly enhance the effectiveness of government and law enforcement officials in protecting and serving the public. The requested funds will be used to upgrade the radio communication infrastructure for the Lakewood Shomrim, a vital volunteer organization that works hand-in-hand with the Lakewood Township Police, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office and Ocean County Prosecutors Office, in a commitment to law and public safety. Funding for this invaluable project would provide the acquisition and installation of upgraded radio communication equipment to give crucial support to emergency response efforts.

Letter of Request from Rep. Smith

Letters of Support

Request Title: Dottie's House Domestic Violence Shelter Continuation of Services
Request Description: The Dottie’s House Domestic Violence Shelter Continuation of Services project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds as the activities are consistent with, and supportive of, the Office of Justice Programs’ mission and aligned with the purposes of the Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) program, being a program to support crime victims and witnesses. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds as it is in keeping with the stated goals of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program providing specific funding for programs support crime victims and witnesses. Dottie’s House has strong connections with community partners including law enforcement, the Ocean County’s prosecutors office, and local social services and healthcare organizations. This proposed project has the widespread, strong support of local, county and state elected officials, and is well positioned to being immediately obligated upon receipt of funds.

Letter of Request from Rep. Smith

Letters of Support

Request Title: Ocean County Utility Authority Area Wide Pump Station Hydraulic, Piping and Valve Improvements
Request Description: The scope of the project includes the replacement of aging isolation valves, check valves, slide gates, and channel covers at several pump stations throughout Ocean County. Additionally, this project would allow for reconfiguration of outdated valving and piping interfaces built in the 1970s which no longer reflect industry best practices. The majority of the valving and piping throughout the Ocean County Utility Authority wastewater conveyance system are original and do not lend themselves to thorough examination. Proper maintenance and evaluation of these systems are critical in maintaining the health and safety of residences, as well as ensuring wastewater does not pollute critical waterways such as Barnegat Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Project No. AW1909 includes the replacement of isolation valves and check valves at: Lavallette Pump Station CPS-1; Ocean-Birdsall Pump Station CPS-7, and; South Toms River-Flint Road Pump Station CPS-9. The project also includes the replacement of slide gates and channel covers at Berkeley-Veeder Lane Lift Station CPS-13.

Letter of Request from Rep. Smith

Letters of Support

11.  Request Title: Cross Street Safety and Streetscape Improvements
Request Description: This project will bring critical safety and economic improvements to a busy thoroughfare and associated intersections that connects the heavily trafficked Route 9 with the East Veterans Highway. The Cross Street Corridor contains a mix of residential housing, industrial and commercial businesses, as well as multiple education facilities, with further smart growth anticipated in the coming years. At present, Cross Street needs significant streetscape improvements, to both protect the local community due to the increase in vehicular traffic and promote smart and safe growth. The County plans to improve the roadway and access points to the corridor in the coming years, and completion of this project would support local efforts to advance sustainable growth and improve traffic safety. This project will support complimentary upgrades scheduled to be completed by the State and localities to meet the demands of vehicular traffic in keeping with the published smart growth plan.

Letter of Request from Rep. Smith

Letters of Support