Westwood Received $219K In Municipal Aid Grants

WESTWOOD, NJ — Governor Phil Murphy announced $161.25 million in Municipal Aid grants, with 543 cities and towns across the state receiving funds to advance road, bridge, safety, and quality-of-life improvements.

Westwood received $219,000 for a roadway preservation project on section two of Fairview Avenue, according to Department of Transportation numbers.

The Municipal Aid grant program received 635 applications from 549 different municipalities with a total of $342 million requested, according to the Governor’s Office.

Project applications were evaluated and rated on their merits by NJDOT staff, and reviewed by an independent panel of New Jersey municipal engineers. The process resulted in 548 awards to 543 municipalities, totaling $161.25 million.

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, according to the Governor’s Office.

The program also increased the number of municipalities receiving grants from about 370 a year prior to the TTF renewal, to 543 municipalities this year, according to a news release.

“These grants are further demonstration of the partnership between my Administration and our communities to build a stronger, safer, and more modern transportation network,” said Murphy. “In a state as densely populated as New Jersey, where our interconnectedness is a strength, these vital investments will increase safety, foster mobility, and improve the quality-of-life for New Jerseyans statewide.”

Counties are given a share of the total funding based on population and the “number of local centerline miles.”

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. This year, Cliffside Park in Bergen County and Harrison in Hudson County were added to the list of Urban Aid recipients.

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. Past performance in connection with timely award of projects and construction close-out factors were part of the evaluation of the proposals.