Several towns in Morris, Sussex counties receive funding under $47.4M transportation grant program
TRENTON, N.J. — Several towns in Morris and Sussex counties will receive funding for pedestrian, bicycle and quality-of-life improvements under a statewide $47.4 million transportation grant program announced by the Murphy administration.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation, in partnership with regional planning organizations, awarded 43 grants through the Fiscal Year 2025 Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program. The competitive federal program supports local, nontraditional transportation projects designed to improve safety, mobility and community infrastructure.
“The New Jersey Department of Transportation is committed to advancing Governor Murphy’s vision of a safe transportation system that accommodates all users,” NJDOT Commissioner Fran O’Connor said. “We are doing that by working with the three regional planning authorities to provide federal funding to counties and municipalities for local projects that improve safety and strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of our transportation system.”
In Morris County, Denville Township will receive $715,000 for Phase IV of its Downtown Denville Streetscape Project focused on pedestrian safety. The Town of Dover was awarded $1.4 million for pedestrian safety improvements in the Dover Train Station area, while Wharton Borough will receive $1.331 million to preserve the Morris Canal towpath.
In Sussex County, Hopatcong Borough was awarded $1.204 million for Phase II of the River Styx Road Streetscape Improvement Project, and Vernon Township will receive $599,000 for the Connecting the Trail Dots bikeway project.
Statewide, $29.4 million was awarded to 29 projects in the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority region, which includes Morris and Sussex counties. Additional funding was distributed through the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization regions.
The Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program provides federal funding every two years for projects related to surface transportation, including pedestrian and bicycle facilities, safe routes to schools, environmental mitigation, historic transportation preservation and trail projects serving transportation purposes.
Projects were reviewed by a selection committee made up of representatives from NJDOT and the state’s three metropolitan planning organizations. Each municipality will be responsible for implementing its approved project, officials said.
A complete list of funded projects is available online.
