NJODOT announces $67.5 million in grants to New Jersey municipalities
Funds local street improvements;
provides property tax relief
(Trenton) - New Jersey Department of Transportation
(NJDOT) Commissioner Jack Lettiere today announced the award of
$67.5 million in Municipal Aid grants to 408 New Jersey towns to
fund local safety, rehabilitation, and street improvements. These
grants will provide direct property tax relief for municipalities
that would otherwise be forced to pay for these improvements using
local taxes.
Commissioner Lettiere
announced the
winning Municipal Aid grants (pdf 48k) at a ceremonial check
presentation at the headquarters of the New Jersey State League
of Municipalities this afternoon in Trenton .
"These grants
will make local streets safer, pay for needed sidewalks and crosswalks,
and help revitalize downtown areas," said Lettiere. "The Municipal
Aid program illustrates our commitment to relieving congestion,
improving safety and enhancing the quality of life in our communities."
The NJDOT has
awarded a total of $67.5 million to 408 municipalities statewide.
This funding is distributed using a formula based on a town's population
and road mileage. NJDOT provides towns with 75% of the amount of
the grant up front and the remaining 25% after work is completed.
"Municipal
governments maintain roughly 70% of the roads in New Jersey ,"
stated New Jersey League of Municipalities President, Mayor Peter
Cantu of Plainsboro. "This investment by the NJDOT is essential
to keeping these vital arteries open and in good repair."
Each spring,
municipalities are encouraged to apply for funding through the NJDOT
Local Aid Division. Applications cover a variety of project types
including road resurfacing, rehabilitation or reconstruction and
signalization.
"This funding is essential in maintaining transportation infrastructure
while minimizing the impact on the local taxpayers," said Assemblyman
John S. Wisniewski, Chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee.
"Every dollar a municipality receives in state transportation funding
is a dollar that does not have to come out of the pockets of the
local taxpayers."
Municipal governments
maintain over 25,000 miles of New Jersey 's 36,000 miles of roadway
- roughly 70 percent. In many instances, local property taxes do
not provide sufficient funds for proper repair and maintenance to
these roadways.
"With New
Jersey 's reputation as a commuter state, we have to provide for
an ever-improving roadway infrastructure to serve the people,"
said Senator Nicholas J. Sacco, D-Hudson, Chairman of the Senate
Transportation Committee. "These grants will go a long ways
towards keeping our local roads and highways in top form, and ensuring
a safe trip for New Jersey 's drivers."
" New Jersey
commuters deserve a transportation system that meets the needs of
tomorrow, not one that struggles to keep up with yesterday's demands,"
said Assembly Speaker Albio Sires (D-Hudson). "Improvement
of our road networks and bridges is essential to improving economic
growth and the quality of life for New Jersey residents."
"These
investments will promote safety, economic growth, environmental
protection, and a better quality of life," said Assembly Majority
Leader Joseph J. Roberts Jr. (D-Camden). "These projects are
great examples of how the state is partnering with local government
to improve roadways and whole communities. These investments will
pay dividends for generations of motorists."
NJDOT's Municipal
Aid grant program is very popular and extremely competitive. Of
829 grant applications received, the NJDOT is able to fund 408 -
or 49% - of requests. Funding for this popular program is also limited;
NJDOT received over $198 million in requests.
In addition
to Fiscal Year 2005 Municipal Aid funding, the NJDOT has also announced
funding for towns for various Local Aid programs including: $4 million
in grants for the Bikeways program, $4 million for the Safe Streets
to Schools Program, $3 million for the Centers of Place program,
and $10 million for the federally-funded Transportation Enhancements
program.
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