Governer Murphy announced $161 million in municipal aid grants for NJ communities, more than doubling last year’s total.
Governor Phil Murphy recently announced the largest amount of Municipal Aid grant awards in New Jersey Department of Transportation history, crediting the recent gas tax increase with more than doubling the amount of funds for local road and bridge safety improvement projects.
More than $161 million is being awarded in Fiscal Year 2018 to 505 New Jersey communities. Last year, only $78.75 million in Municipal Aid grants was distributed to 364 municipalities. These grants will enable the majority of towns across the state to advance road, bridge, safety, and quality-of-life improvements without relying on local property taxes to complete the work.
Monroe Township will be awarded a $275,000 grant to be used for Forest Drive roadway improvements, along with $64,150 in urban allotment — a total award of $339,150.
“The renewal of the Transportation Trust Fund made it possible to more than double the size of the grant program from $78.75 million in 2017 to $161.25 million in 2018,” Governor Murphy said. “These funds are instrumental in allowing each municipality to maintain its local roads and bridges in a state of good repair. Providing Municipal Aid grants to nearly 90 percent of our towns and cities is truly historic and demonstrates our commitment to relieve pressure on local property taxpayers.”
Out of the 565 municipalities in New Jersey, 532 submitted grant applications with 505 receiving an award. There were 33 municipalities that did not submit a grant application. Those municipalities that did not receive an award may be considered for other opportunities to make transportation improvements in their communities.
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.
The full list of towns and awards can be found at www.state.nj.us/transportation/about/press/2018/pdf/2018MuniAid.pdf.
