NJ to receive $25 million for mass transit use, safe pedestrian travel

DOVER — New Jersey will receive nearly $25 million in grant funding as part of an ongoing initiative to incentivize mass transit use, Gov. Phil Murphy announced in a visit to Dover on Monday morning.

The state is awarding 56 grants to 45 municipalities via the Safe Streets to Transit program, the Transit Village Initiative and the Bikeway Grant Program. Dover will receive $778,000 from Safe Streets to Transit this year and has earned $1.4 million over the past two years, said Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, commissioner of the state Department of Transportation.

"Behind each and every one of the dollars we're announcing today is a New Jersey resident who will benefit," Murphy said from the Dover Fire Department Antique Club building. "Standing at the forefront of these investments are strong communities like Dover, with whom we are so proud to partner to create a better future."

The Safe Streets to Transit program provides funds to improve accessibility for mass transit users, encourages riders to walk to stations and facilitates initiatives to enhance safety measures near transit facilities. The Transit Village Initiative, part of a joint partnership between the Transportation Department and NJ Transit, offers incentives for municipalities to redevelop areas around transit stations into "pedestrian-friendly" neighborhoods for residents. The Bikeway Grant Program "focuses on making it safer to choose commuting on two wheels instead of on four," Murphy said.

"The Department of Transportation is proud to support Governor Murphy's vision to make our neighborhoods and our communities safer, fairer, certainly more environmentally friendly for all who choose to live and work in New Jersey," Gutierrez-Scaccetti said.

Aside from Dover, Netcong will receive $800,000 and Morristown $86,000, as the other two Morris County municipalities to receive grants.

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The funding comes as accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists continue to plague New Jersey. Over the past three years, 612 people, equaling one-third of roadway fatalities, were victims traveling on foot or by bike, said Debra Kagan, executive director of the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition.

"That is why now, more than ever, it is essential to ensure safe access to public transit, and that's what these grants are going to do and create more walkable and bikeable roads," Kagan said.

One in every 10 New Jersey residents uses mass transit to get to work, Kagan said. She added that 75% of residents live less than 5 miles from a transit station, and 30% are within walking distance of one.

Rep. Mikie Sherrill, whose 11th District includes Dover, noted that many of the towns she represents were built along rail lines. But the state has often "fallen short" in providing paths for residents to commute safely, she said, a deficiency that officials are seeking to address with the new funding.

"These are the investments that our state is making now to make living in New Jersey even better than it already is," Sherrill said.

Gutierrez-Scaccetti is hoping the state will see fewer vehicles on roadways, which would mean less road maintenance, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and allow commercial traffic to travel more efficiently. She and other speakers said they are optimistic the grant programs will further strengthen the state's mass transit system.

"Today we can say we have taken a great step in the right direction," Kagan said. "We will continue to keep pressing for more opportunities like these to fund much-much-needed active transportation projects across the state until we can guarantee safe and equitable streets for everyone."

Safe Streets to Transit grants recipients

• Absecon City ($619,000)

• Belleville Township ($446,000)

• Berkeley Heights Township ($639,000)

• Bernardsville Borough ($250,000)

• Bordentown Township ($152,000)

• Burlington City ($158,000)

• Cherry Hill Township ($683,000)

• Clementon Borough ($416,000)

• Dover Town ($778,000)

• Egg Harbor City ($330,000)

• Elizabeth City ($465,000)

• Evesham Township ($409,000)

• Hamilton Township ($341,000)

• Hammonton Town ($325,000)

• Harrison Township ($175,000)

• Haworth Borough ($429,000)

• Long Branch City ($774,000)

• Margate City ($162,000)

• Middletown Township ($997,000)

• Passaic City ($510,000)

• Perth Amboy City ($610,000)

• Pleasantville City ($263,000)

• Princeton ($636,000)

• Red Bank Borough ($243,000)

• Somers Point City ($861,000)

• Somerville Borough ($299,000)

• Summit City ($484,000)

• Voorhees Township ($756,000)

• West Windsor Township ($222,000)

Local Bikeway Program grants recipients

• Berkeley Heights Township ($286,000)

• Delran Township ($700,000)

• Folsom Borough ($331,000)

• Galloway Township ($250,000)

• Gibbsboro Borough ($541,000)

• Hudson County ($637,000)

• Jersey City ($670,000)

• Lawrence Township ($802,000)

• Maurice River Township ($1,000,000)

• Newark City ($379,000)

• Passaic County ($250,000)

• Princeton ($750,000)

• River Vale Township ($447,000)

• Summit City ($500,000)

• Voorhees Township ($251,000)

• West Windsor Township ($377,000)

• Woolwich Township ($251,000)

Transit Village Program grants recipients

• Asbury Park ($55,000)

• Burlington City ($327,000)

• Cranford Township ($191,000)

• Dunellen Borough ($226,000)

• Morristown Town ($86,000)

• Netcong Borough ($800,000)

• Newark City ($470,000)

• Park Ridge Borough ($147,000)

• Pleasantville City ($555,000)

• West Windsor Township ($89,000)

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: NJ receiving $25M for mass transit use, safe pedestrian travel