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The Commissioner's Report
(archived)
NJDOT
gives communities funds to
upgrade
town centers, improve safety,
enhance quality of life
When
people think about the New Jersey Department of Transportation
(NJDOT), they usually think about roads, bridges and
mass transit. While these are all critical to the economy,
direct investments in communities are equally important.
The
best way to invest in communities is to provide a direct
infusion of funds for local projects that spur economic
growth, enhance quality of life and also preserve a
community's character.
NJDOT awards significant grant money to local communities
for such projects as revitalizing downtown areas, improving
pedestrian safety by enhancing crosswalks, building
sidewalks near schools, constructing hiking trails,
creating bikeways and restoring historic structures.
In
FY2002, the Department's Local Aid program has distributed
roughly $313 million. This amount includes over $67
million for Municipal Aid, over $67 million for County
Aid and $14 million for Transportation Enhancements.
This
funding has meant tangible results for New Jersey communities.
For example, $145,000 was granted to restore Brown Street
in Flemington; $300,000 to overhaul the Main Street
Pedestrian Crosswalk in Freehold and $500,000 for the
Downtown Transit & Historic Center in Paterson.
These are just a sampling of the variety of local projects
funded by NJDOT across the state.
In
addition to revitalizing downtown centers, the Local
Aid program places a premium on enhancing the quality
of life in communities through the creation of hiking
trails and bikeways in natural and scenic areas. For
example, the federally funded Transportation Enhancement
Program recently awarded $500,000 for recreational hiking
trails in Sussex County.
The
Enhancement Grant program allows NJDOT to fund non-traditional
transportation projects that add to the quality of life
for New Jersey residents. It is important that communities
capitalize on the federal transportation funds available
for projects of this nature. |
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