The City of Linden will receive more than half a million dollars for road improvements as part of the state's Municipal Aid grant awards, totaling $161.25 million.
Governor Phil Murphy and state Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti announced in April, that 537 cities and towns across the state would share grant awards totaling $161.25 million.
After paperwork was filed and all the documents had been signed, Mayor Derek Armstead reported that at least five major projects in Linden would be funded by the state.
Among the roads to get improvements are Summit Terrace, from West St. Georges to Edgewood; North Park Avenue, from East Elizabeth to Alberta; Marion Avenue, from West Elizabeth to West Blancke; Pennsylvania Avenue, from Grant to Garfield; and West Twentieth Street, from South Wood to South Stiles.
"These grants will pay to advance road, bridge, safety, and quality-of-life improvements with an investment in transportation that will keep our community moving forward," said Armstead, who credited the City Council, members of his administration and Murphy for helping secure the money.
“Supporting New Jersey’s communities through funding for infrastructure maintenance and renewal is a core component of good government, and stands at the top of this Administration’s priorities,” said the Governor. “Alongside Commissioner Scaccetti, I’m proud to stand with our state’s municipalities to help them deliver projects to their residents that improve their mobility and their quality of life.”
The competitive municipal aid grant program attracted 681 applications, which were evaluated on their merits by an independent panel of New Jersey municipal engineers with the support of NJDOT.
Within the program there are seven project categories eligible for funding: Roadway Preservation, Roadway Safety, Quality of Life, Mobility, Bikeway, Pedestrian Safety, and Bridge Preservation.
The 2016 Transportation Trust Fund renewal has made it possible to continue to award more than double the dollar value for the second straight year ($78.75 million to $161.25) and increase the number of recipients, according to Murphy.
When evaluating applications, NJDOT also verified if the municipality has adopted Complete Streets policies. Complete Streets policies establishes guidelines that require consideration be given to pedestrians and bicyclists when local transportation projects are being planned, designed, and built.