NJDOT
announces $5.2 million in grants to New Jersey municipalities
Safe
Streets to Schools aid will fund 60 pedestrian safety projects
(Trenton)
Commissioner Jack Lettiere today announced that the New Jersey
Department of Transportation (NJDOT) will award $5.2 million to
fund pedestrian safety projects in 60
New Jersey towns. This year's Safe Streets to Schools
funding package contains an increase of $1.2 million in aid since
the Fiscal Year 2004 package.
“The
Safe Streets to Schools program reflects the State of New Jersey's
commitment to improve pedestrian safety and enhance the quality
of life in our communities,” said Lettiere. “These grants
will make schoolchildren safer, pay for needed sidewalks and crosswalks,
and decrease roadway congestion by encouraging residents to travel
on foot or bicycle.”
The
Safe Streets to Schools grants provide direct property tax relief
for municipalities that would otherwise be forced to pay for these
improvements using local taxes. NJDOT each spring encourages municipalities
to apply for Safe Streets to School funding through its Local
Aid Division.
Municipal
projects supporting the safety of school-age children are eligible
for Safe Streets to Schools funding. This year's grants will fund
a variety of pedestrian safety projects, including the installation
and improvement of sidewalks, pedestrian bridges and walkways,
school zone speed signals, traffic calming projects, traffic signals
and warning devices.
"The
DOT Safe Streets to Schools Grant funding does two things: it
keeps our children safe and it keeps municipal tax rates low,"
said Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski (D-Sayreville), Chairman of
the Assembly Transportation Committee. "Keeping our children
safe is one of my top priorities. If we can do that with state
funding, our local taxpayers will not have to worry about paying
for this work."
NJDOT's
Safe Streets to Schools grant program is popular and competitive.
Of 255 grant applications received, the NJDOT is able to
fund 60 – or 24% - requests. Funding for this popular program
also is limited; NJDOT received over $46 million in requests and
awarded $5.2 million.
See
List of Recipients (Doc 38.0 KB)
