Freehold Boro, Twp Get Municipal Grants For Road Improvements

FREEHOLD, NJ — Freehold Borough and Freehold Township were awarded $291,500 and $232,600 respectively for roadway projects by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT).

A total of $161.25 million in municipal aid grants were announced this week. They will help 541 cities and towns across the state with projects to advance road, bridge, safety, and quality-of-life improvements.

Here is a breakdown of how the money will be spent:

• Freehold Borough - Ford Avenue Roadway Improvements
• Freehold Township - Stonehurst Boulevard - Phase II

The state received 625 applications from 547 different municipalities with a total of $363 million requested.

Under the Municipal Aid grant program, each county is apportioned a share of the total funding based on population and the number of local centerline miles. Municipalities then compete for portions of their county's share.

Project applications were evaluated and rated on their merits by NJDOT staff and reviewed by an independent panel of New Jersey municipal engineers

"These funds are crucial to municipalities for the completion of projects that improve quality of life and safety for New Jersey residents," said Governor Murphy. "I congratulate all municipalities that have received grants and look forward to them putting these dollars to use."

There are seven project categories within the Municipal Aid grant program eligible for funding: roadway preservation, roadway safety, quality of life, mobility, bikeway, pedestrian safety, and bridge preservation.

NJDOT provides 75 percent of the grant amount when a town awards a contract and the remaining 25 percent upon completion of the project. Of the $161.25 million, $10 million is allotted for municipalities qualifying for Urban Aid as defined under state law, with the amounts determined by the Department of Community Affairs.

The 2016 Transportation Trust Fund renewal has made it possible to continue to award $161.25 million annually – more than double the $78.75 million that was available before the TTF renewal. In addition, the extra funds have allowed the department to increase the number of municipalities receiving grants from about 370 to 541 municipalities this year.