Mercer Towns Receive State Grants for Safe Cooridor, Bikeway Programs

The Christie Administration today awarded $3 million in grants to 59 municipalities to promote safety along designated “safe corridor” highway segments and to advance local projects that promote safety for bicyclists.

Fifty-three municipalities will share $2 million in fiscal year 2012 safe corridors grants, and six municipalities will share $1 million in fiscal year 2012 bikeway grants.  The grants are administered by the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Division of Local Aid and Economic Development.

Among the grants are three safe corridor grants totaling $99,756 shared by Lawrence, Trenton and West Windsor, and a bikeway grant for $100,000 to East Windsor.

“Safety is the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s top priority, and these grants support safety through local enforcement and capital improvement projects,” NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson said.  “The funding helps local governments achieve their objectives without burdening local property taxpayers.”

The Safe Corridor grant program dates to 2003 and targets resources to 14 ten-mile segments of several highways that have a history of high crash rates.  Grants are supported by fines, which are doubled in designated safe corridors for a variety of violations, including speeding. Fiscal year 2012 safe corridors funding is being allocated based on crash data, with higher amounts of funding going to areas demonstrating the greatest need for enhanced enforcement measures. Grants can be used by municipalities to purchase enforcement equipment including police vehicles, radar equipment, computer hardware and software and salaries.

The local aid bikeway program supports the construction of bike paths in parks and other settings, as well as bike lanes along roadways, especially those that are designed to be physically separated from motor vehicle traffic  by open space or a barrier.  The paths and lanes promote healthful exercise, an alternative mode of transportation that benefits the environment and reduces roadway congestion, and they promote safety for bicyclists.