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On April 27, 2022, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) announced $30.1 million in Local Freight Impact Fund grants that help counties and municipalities provide for the safe movement of large truck traffic.
Locally, the Borough of Bellmawr received $500,000 for improvements to Heller Place for pavement preservation. The total estimated cost is $603,455.00.
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Camden County received $3,000,000 for the Camden City Port Access Truck Route Project for pavement preservation. The total estimated cost is $25,506,087.00.
In Gloucester County, West Deptford received $750,000 for improvements to Forest Parkway for pavement preservation. The total estimated cost is $943,343.59
The Local Freight Impact Fund is a competitive program that was created as part of the Transportation Trust Fund reauthorization in October 2016.
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This is the fifth year that grants have been made under this program.
“Funding the preservation and expansion of our freight transportation infrastructure is key to supporting the success of New Jersey’s role in our national supply chain,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “These grants represent my administration’s ongoing investment in our infrastructure to promote a robust economy and ensure safer, more efficient transportation throughout our state.”
“The New Jersey Department of Transportation is committed to ensuring the safety of our commercial truck routes to and from the State’s seaports, airports, warehouses, and rail yards, so that goods can move efficiently,” NJDOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti said. “Local Freight Impact Fund grants are an important investment in New Jersey’s truck routes, helping provide the infrastructure necessary for a strong state and regional economy for years to come.”
NJDOT received 59 applications requesting more than $85 million for the FY2022 Local Freight Impact Fund Program.
Of the applications received, there are 25 grants being awarded.
Those grants are being distributed to 21 municipalities and three counties, with Cumberland County receiving two grants.
The funding provided by the State for these projects, along with an additional $75.2 million from local governments will bring the total investment in these 25 projects to $105.3 million.
Of the 25 projects, one is for the construction of a new road, and the other 24 are pavement preservation projects.
To view the full list of project awards, click here.
The program helps New Jersey’s counties and municipalities fund projects that emphasize and enhance the safe movement of large truck traffic, renew aging structures that carry large truck traffic, promote economic development, and support new transportation opportunities without the need for additional property taxes.
Under the program, projects that fall into four categories are eligible for funding: bridge preservation, new construction, pavement preservation, and truck safety and mobility.
The grants are administered by the NJDOT Division of Local Aid and Economic Development. NJDOT staff evaluate projects using a variety of criteria including existing conditions, overall traffic volume, percentage of large truck traffic, crash frequency, and connectivity to freight nodes, among others.