$800K In Bikeway Safety Grants Slated For Lawrence Township: Officials

MERCER COUNTY - Lawrence Township recently announced over $800,000 in award funding as part of a $24 million bikeway, transit and pedestrian safety improvement project grant package from the New Jersey Department of Transportation, officials said.

Lawrence Township's $802,000 comes as part of the package's Local Bikeway Program, which is set to provide $8.4 million to 17 municipalities to promote bicycling as an alternative mode of transportation, the township said in a statement Monday.

“In order to maximize the impact of our considerable public transportation upgrades, we must ensure that our transit facilities are linked not just to economically thriving neighborhoods, but to streets that bring our community members to their destination reliably and efficiently,” Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement announcing the funding. “For many New Jerseyans, commutes or daily travels do not begin and end at the train station. That’s why my Administration is doubling down on its efforts to promote active transportation alternatives and ensure that – whether you’re a pedestrian or cyclist – you can safely and affordably access our nation-leading public transportation network.”

Other programs in the grant package include the Transit Village Program, which will provide $2.9 million toward the revitalization and redevelopment of areas around transit facilities into mixed-use neighborhoods, as well as the $13.4 million Safe Streets to Transit Program aimed at bolstering access to public transportation, according to a press release.

The announcement comes as funding for the Local Aid and Economic Development Grants line-item increased by nearly 50% over the last fiscal year.

“The Department of Transportation is proud to support Governor Murphy’s vision to make New Jersey more fair, equitable, and environmentally friendly. We appreciate the Governor and the Legislature providing an additional $20 million this year for Bikeways, Safe Streets to Transit and Transit Village grants,” New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti said in a statement. “The increased funding means a record number of towns, including Dover, are receiving grants to create safer, more walkable and bikeable communities, and promote the use of public transportation.”

The following municipalities were awarded Safe Streets to Transit grants:

1. Absecon City ($619,000)
2. Belleville Township ($446,000)
3. Berkeley Heights Township ($639,000)
4. Bernardsville Borough ($250,000)
5. Bordentown Township ($152,000)
6. Burlington City ($158,000)
7. Cherry Hill Township ($683,000)
8. Clementon Borough ($416,000)
9. Dover Town ($778,000)
10. Egg Harbor City ($330,000)
11. Elizabeth City ($465,000)
12. Evesham Township ($409,000)
13. Hamilton Township ($341,000)
14. Hammonton Town ($325,000)
15. Harrison Township ($175,000)
16. Haworth Borough ($429,000)
17. Long Branch City ($774,000)
18. Margate City ($162,000)
19. Middletown Township ($997,000)
20. Passaic City ($510,000)
21. Perth Amboy City ($610,000)
22. Pleasantville City ($263,000)
23. Princeton ($636,000)
24. Red Bank Borough ($243,000)
25. Somers Point City ($861,000)
26. Somerville Borough ($299,000)
27. Summit City ($484,000)
28. Voorhees Township ($756,000)
29. West Windsor Township ($222,000)

The following counties and municipalities were awarded Local Bikeway Program grants:

1. Berkeley Heights Township ($286,000)
2. Delran Township ($700,000)
3. Folsom Borough ($331,000)
4. Galloway Township ($250,000)
5. Gibbsboro Borough ($541,000)
6. Hudson County ($637,000)
7. Jersey City ($670,000)
8. Lawrence Township ($802,000)
9. Maurice River Township ($1,000,000)
10. Newark City ($379,000)
11. Passaic County ($250,000)
12. Princeton ($750,000)
13. River Vale Township ($447,000)
14. Summit City ($500,000)
15. Voorhees Township ($251,000)
16. West Windsor Township ($377,000)
17. Woolwich Township ($251,000)

The following municipalities were awarded Transit Village Program grants:

1. Asbury Park ($55,000)
2. Burlington City ($327,000)
3. Cranford Township ($191,000)
4. Dunellen Borough ($226,000)
5. Morristown Town ($86,000)
6. Netcong Borough ($800,000)
7. Newark City ($470,000)
8. Park Ridge Borough ($147,000)
9. Pleasantville City ($555,000)

West Windsor Township ($89,000)