$21.1 Million in Federal Grants for NJ Safe Routes to School Program

Funding to Enhance Pedestrian Safety Across New Jersey Municipalities

NEW JERSEY – The Murphy Administration has announced the allocation of $21.1 million in federal grants under the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. This initiative aims to enhance pedestrian safety through infrastructure improvements across various municipalities.

“The Murphy Administration is committed improving safety by providing resources to improve sidewalks and bike paths near schools,” NJDOT Commissioner Fran O’Connor said. “The Safe Routes to School program encourages children to stay active by walking and biking to school, and is a great example of how NJDOT, working with the state’s three regional planning authorities, helps utilize federal funding to support communities through local transportation projects.”

The SRTS program, funded federally and administered by the NJDOT in collaboration with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), and the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO), focuses on increasing pedestrian safety for motorists and schoolchildren. The program's primary goal is to encourage children to walk and bike to school by making these activities safer and more appealing, thereby promoting a healthy, active lifestyle from an early age.

Infrastructure improvements funded through the SRTS program include sidewalk enhancements, pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements, and on-street bicycle facilities. These projects are designed to improve safety, reduce traffic congestion, lower fuel consumption, and decrease air pollution near schools.

The grants will benefit a total of 23 municipalities, with significant allocations to different regions:

• NJTPA Region: 16 grants totaling $14.0 million will be distributed among Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties.
• DVRPC Region: Four grants amounting to $5 million will be awarded to Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Mercer counties.
• SJTPO Region: Three grants totaling $2.1 million will go to Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties.

Special consideration was given to applications that addressed equity, providing benefits to underserved communities, low-income residents, minorities, those with limited English proficiency, persons with disabilities, children, and older adults.

Each municipality is responsible for implementing its respective SRTS projects. For more information on specific projects, please contact the relevant municipality. Additional details about Local Aid programs are available at www.njdotlocalaidrc.com, by emailing DOTLocalAID.ResourceCenter@dot.nj.gov, or calling 609.649.9395.