New Jersey awards $30.1M in freight impact grants

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New Jersey recently awarded $30.1 million in FY24 Local Freight Impact Fund grants to counties and municipalities statewide.

The Local Freight Impact Fund helps communities fund projects that renew aging structures that carry large truck traffic, emphasize and enhance the safe movement of large truck traffic, promote economic development, and support new transportation opportunities.

Projects are eligible that fall into one of five categories: truck safety and mobility, bridge preservation, new construction, pavement preservation, and pedestrian safety.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) received 55 grant applications and awarded 20 grants to 15 municipalities and five counties. There is one bridge preservation project, one project is new construction, one truck safety and mobility project, two pedestrian safety projects, and 15 pavement preservation projects.

“New Jersey provides a vital link in our regional and national economies with the volume of goods that move through our seaports, airports, rail yards and highways,” NJDOT Acting Commissioner Fran O’Connor said. “The Local Freight Impact Fund provides counties and municipalities with funding to make necessary improvements to local roads and bridges that carry commercial truck traffic to ensure our infrastructure remains safe, efficient and equitable.”

Projects were evaluated for a criteria including percentage of large truck traffic.