Farmingdale, Freehold Township, Howell, Manalapan, Marlboro, Millstone Township and Jackson are the local municipalities that will receive state funding to assist in the completion of road improvement projects.
On Feb. 21, Gov. Phil Murphy announced the largest amount of Municipal Aid grant awards in New Jersey Department of Transportation history, crediting the recent gas tax increase with more than doubling the amount of funds for local road and bridge safety improvement projects, according to a press release.
More than $161 million is being awarded in Fiscal Year 2018 to 505 communities. In 2017, $78.75 million in Municipal Aid grants was distributed to 364 municipalities.
The grants will enable the majority of towns across the state to advance road, bridge, safety and quality of life improvements without relying on local property taxes to complete the work, according to the press release.
Towns receiving grants include:
• Farmingdale: Main Street improvements, Phase IV, $300,000
• Freehold Township: Double Creek Parkway, Phase II, $350,000
• Howell: Cranberry Road, $350,000
• Manalapan: Resurface Gordons Corner Road, $350,000
• Marlboro: Marlboro road program, $350,000
• Millstone Township: Red Valley Road improvements, $250,000
• Jackson: New Central Avenue improvements, $400,000
• Jackson: Woodlane Road improvements, $375,000.
“The renewal of the Transportation Trust Fund made it possible to more than double the size of the grant program from $78.75 million in 2017 to $161.25 million in 2018,” Murphy said.
“These funds are instrumental in allowing each municipality to maintain its local roads and bridges in a state of good repair. Providing Municipal Aid grants to nearly 90 percent of our towns and cities is truly historic and demonstrates our commitment to relieve pressure on local property taxpayers,” he said.
Of the 565 municipalities in New Jersey, 532 submitted grant applications and 505 municipalities received an award. There were 33 municipalities that did not submit a grant application. Municipalities that did not receive an award may be considered for other opportunities to make transportation improvements in their communities, according to the press release.
