By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
Cranbury and Jamesburg are each getting $300,000 in state grant money for local transportation projects.
The state announced Monday some $86 million in Department of Transportation grants going out to some 361 municipalities for local projects.
Cranbury will get $300,000 for its downtown beautification project and Jamesburg will also get $300,000 to fix Buckelew Avenue, according to the DOT.
A total of 391 Local Aid grants adding up to $81.6 million will be given out to help municipalities advance a variety of transportation projects without burdening local property taxpayers, according to a press release from the state.
According to the release, a total of 377 municipalities successfully competed for $78.6 million in Municipal Aid grants, while 14 other grants totaling $3 million were announced under the Transit Village, Local Bikeway, and Safe Streets to Transit programs.
All of the grants are being funded through the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund, according to the state.
”These grants promote motorist, pedestrian and bicyclist safety, mobility and quality-of-life projects,” said NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson in the release. “Most of the Municipal Aid grants will support street paving or preservation projects, and will arrive in time for towns to make much needed repairs after a brutal winter.”
According to the release, the competitive Municipal Aid grant program attracted 653 applications worth $255 million in work.
A total of six percent of the 377 successful applicants, including Cranbury and Jamesburg, were awarded grants for non-traditional projects involving pedestrian safety, bikeways and streetscape projects.
Under the Municipal Aid grant program, each county is apportioned a share of the total funding based on population and the number of local centerline miles.
Municipalities compete for portions of their county’s share. Past performance in connection with timely award of projects and construction closeout factor into the evaluation of the Municipal Aid grant proposals, according to the state.
When evaluating municipal aid grant applications, NJDOT gives an additional point to municipalities that have adopted Complete Streets policies, the release stated.
Sixty-seven municipalities had done so at the time municipal aid applications were due, and all but two submitted applications. Of them, 56 were recommended for grants totaling $15 million, according to the state.
A total of 90 municipalities and six counties now have adopted Complete Streets policies, which establish guidelines that require consideration be given to pedestrians and bicyclists when local transportation projects are being planned, designed and built. NJDOT adopted its award-winning policy in December, 2009.
According to the state, NJDOT provides 75 percent of a municipal aid grant when a town awards a contract and the remaining 25 percent upon completion of the project.
