State Awards $7.5 Million for Pedestrian Safety Near Transit

Camden County Leads FY26 Grant Allocations; Morristown not among the 12 municipalities receiving funds in latest Safe Streets to Transit round.

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy has announced the awarding of nearly $7.5 million in Safe Streets to Transit (SSTT) grants for Fiscal Year 2026, funding 12 municipal projects across seven counties aimed at improving pedestrian safety near transit hubs. The program, administered by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), supports infrastructure projects within a one-mile radius of transit facilities, focusing on safer walking conditions for commuters.

The FY26 SSTT funding represents a significant increase over the program’s usual $1 million annual allocation. The expanded funding includes $5.01 million from appropriated Grants-in-Aid, $1.44 million from Pedestrian Safety Grants, and the program’s typical $1 million in baseline funding, totaling $7.45 million for the fiscal year.

Four Camden County municipalities—Camden, Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, and Pennsauken—together received over $3.1 million, the largest share of the funding. Essex County’s Newark received the highest single grant at $820,000 for improvements around Branch Brook Park Station.

The full list of FY26 SSTT recipients includes:

Absecon City (Atlantic County) – $663,000 for Highland Boulevard pedestrian improvements
Atlantic City (Atlantic County) – $116,000 for intersection upgrades at Ohio and Arctic Avenues
Egg Harbor City (Atlantic County) – $511,000 for various sidewalk improvements
Garfield (Bergen County) – $642,000 for crosswalk improvements on Jewell Street and other locations
Camden (Camden County) – $800,000 for sidewalk reconstruction on North 24th Street
Cherry Hill (Camden County) – $800,000 for pedestrian improvements on Brace/Kresson Road
Haddonfield (Camden County) – $800,000 for Phase II of Kings Highway pedestrian improvements
Pennsauken (Camden County) – $736,000 for pedestrian safety upgrades on Derousse Avenue
Woodbine (Cape May County) – $225,000 for transit accessibility enhancements
Newark (Essex County) – $820,000 for safety improvements near Branch Brook Park Station
North Bergen (Hudson County) – $507,000 for traffic calming and pedestrian safety
Lakewood (Ocean County) – $834,000 for Central Avenue pedestrian improvements

In contrast, the previous fiscal year (FY25) saw 21 communities awarded a total of $11.7 million in SSTT funding, with support reaching additional municipalities across 10 counties.

The SSTT program awards grants on a competitive basis, considering factors such as proximity to transit, demonstrated safety needs, accessibility, and equity impacts for low-income and minority populations. Local Aid grants, such as SSTT, are designed to help municipalities complete vital safety projects without shifting the financial burden to local taxpayers.

As of the FY26 announcement, Morristown has not been awarded SSTT funding in either FY25 or FY26. Interested municipalities may apply during future grant cycles through NJDOT's Local Aid portal.