Gov. Jon S. Corzine has announced the award of $78.75 million in New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) municipal aid grants to fund street improvement, rehabilitation and safety projects in 372 New Jersey towns.
Corzine said the move will create jobs and help keep property taxes in check statewide.
“Rebuilding the state’s infrastructure, from roads to bridges to mass transit, is going to be central to both getting us out of the recession and positioning New Jersey to take advantage when the economy recovers,” Corzine said.
“This year’s municipal aid program will provide road improvements, property tax relief, and economic growth – three elements that are key to New Jersey’s turnaround and success,” he said.
According to a press release from the governor’s office, municipal aid grants provide funding to municipalities that would otherwise devote local tax revenue to road improvement projects. Municipal governments maintain more than 25,000 miles, or approximately 70 percent, of New Jersey’s 36,000 miles of roads. Local property taxes seldom provide sufficient funds for proper road repair and maintenance, according to the press release.
DOT invites municipalities to apply for municipal aid funding. The grant program covers a variety of projects, including road resurfacing, rehabilitation, reconstruction and signalization. Municipalities are encouraged to apply for funding for projects that support walking and biking as part of Corzine’s pedestrian safety initiative.
DOT allots each county a specific funding amount based on its population and road mileage and distributes funds to towns based on field investigations and engineering evaluations of proposed projects.
DOT provides 75 percent of the grant amount when it awards a contract and the remaining 25 percent upon completion of the project.
Fiscal Year 2009 Municipal Aid has been awarded to:
• Farmingdale, Railroad Avenue, $165,000.
• Freehold Township, East Freehold Road, $175,000.
• Howell, West Farms Road, $200,000.
• Manalapan, Pension Road rehabilitation, $200,000.
• Marlboro, improvements to Union Hill Road $200,000.