Hudson receives vital transportation funding for countywide infrastructure improvements

Funds that provide valuable community property tax relief, create jobs

(HOBOKEN)— State Transportation Commissioner Jack Lettiere this week presented Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise and State Senator Bernard Kenny with a check for more than $3.1 million to fund county transportation projects through the fiscal year 2004 County Aid Program.

Statewide, the Commissioner has awarded a total of $67.5 million through the NJDOT’s County Aid Program. The funds are used for infrastructure improvements while also providing property tax relief, new job opportunities and a better quality of life for New Jersey residents.

“Whether its creating new jobs, stopping sprawl or fixing our roads, we are making sure that New Jerseyans have the quality of life they deserve,” said Lettiere. “The $1.3 million grant will go a long way in helping County Executive DeGise maintain and repair local roads and bridges. At the same time, this money provides Hudson County families with property tax relief, and makes roads safer for their children.”

Each year, New Jersey’s 21 counties are awarded transportation grants through the NJDOT Local Aid Division. County Aid funds are appropriated by the Legislature annually for the improvement of public roads and bridges under county jurisdiction. Public transportation and other transportation projects are also included. Each county must develop an Annual Transportation Program (ATP) that indicates each project to be undertaken and the estimated cost of each.
County programs cover a variety of project types including road resurfacing, rehabilitation or reconstruction and signalization. The selected projects are funded from the $67.5 million in county aid distributed by formula.
“Improving the quality of life for residents starts here in Hudson County,” said DeGise “With these funds we can make the noticeable improvements that enhance our downtowns, strengthen our infrastructure and make our locals roads safe for everyone.”

“This money will create a safer, smoother ride through our neighborhoods and downtowns and bring financial relief to our communities,” said Kenny. “This check clearly demonstrates how valuable the Transportation Trust Fund is not only to our state highways and bridges, but to the local transportation infrastructure that our friends and families depend upon every day.”

In addition to fiscal year 2004 County Aid funding, Governor McGreevey has announced nearly $80 million in funding for communities in the last fiscal year through various NJDOT Local Aid programs including Safe Streets to Schools, Bikeways, and Municipal Aid.