Nearly $9M in federal grants awarded in New Jersey

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New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), in partnership with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), recently awarded $8.8 million in 10 federal grants under the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TA Set-Aside) program.

TA Set-Asides funds projects that improve access to transportation, build pedestrian and bicycle facilities, create safe routes to school, create trail projects that serve a transportation purpose while promoting safety and mobility, provide environmental mitigation, and preserve historic transportation structures.

“As part of NJDOT’s Commitment to Communities, we work with the three regional planning authorities to provide federal funding to counties and municipalities for local transportation projects that improve safety and strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of our transportation system,” NJDOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti said. “The grants announced today will fund projects to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists in 10 North Jersey communities without having to impact local property taxes.”

The NJTPA is a 13-county region in northern New Jersey. Municipalities in the region submitted 83 applications requesting approximately $75 million.

U.S. Census data was used to determine eligible communities based on persons with disabilities, children, and older adults; racial and ethnic minorities; low-income residents; and those with limited English proficiency.

Municipalities are responsible for implementing their projects.