Office of the Governor
$79 Million Awarded to Municipalities
in FY 2001 Transportation Grants for Local
Road Repairs, Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects
Governor Christie Whitman and Transportation Commissioner James Weinstein today announced the award of more than $65 million to municipalities across the state for local street repair and resurfacing projects, as well as $9 million for local bicycle projects and $5 million for local pedestrian projects. This amount represents a portion of the $150 million available for such projects through the New Jersey Department of Transportation's (NJDOT) FY2001 Local Aid program.
"The NJDOT's Local Aid program is one of the best examples of taxpayer dollars being directed right back to the municipalities. Funds from this program are spent on fixing those local roads that the majority of people use day in and day out," Governor Whitman said. "Also, we continue to take positive steps toward improving the quality of our communities and environment by providing funds for bikeways and pedestrian safety projects. The investments we make today will pay off for not only us, but for our children, grandchildren and generations of New Jerseyans that will follow."
"The highly developed transportation system that we have in New Jersey begins right at home. Local roads are the core of the state"s roadway network. The Local Aid program funds the basic resurfacing and reconstruction projects. This type of work also keeps the economy strong by generating the greatest numbers of construction and related jobs. We estimate that every $100 million invested in road projects results in 3,800 construction jobs," Commissioner Weinstein said. "And in a state that is as heavily traveled as New Jersey, we as responsible policymakers need to do all we can to promote alternative forms of transportation.
The Local Aid Program is supported by the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund. Under legislation signed into law by Governor Whitman in 1995, the Transportation Trust Fund was renewed and local aid funding was increased from $100 million to $130 million per year. This current fiscal year, the Legislature appropriated an additional $20 million.
Whitman and Weinstein also noted that, in conjunction with the 1995 reauthorization of the Trust Fund, municipalities are able to receive 75 percent of the grant once a construction contract is awarded. The remaining 25 percent is released upon completion of the project. In prior years, a municipality had to pay for the construction up front, then seek reimbursement from the state.
"This affords municipalities the ability to have the money in hand to begin the project, rather than having to go out and borrow and pay those associated costs. It"s another way to help municipalities meet their road construction needs while at the same time helping them meet their budget planning timeframes," the Governor said.
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