Gov. Phil Murphy and Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti announced $3.8 million in Fiscal Year 2022 Transit Village grants to help municipalities advance transit-oriented development projects that reduce reliance on vehicles and encourage usage of mass transportation.
This year’s grants represent the largest amount of funds provided in a single year for the Transit Village program. Grants were awarded to 14 municipalities in nine counties. (See list below.)
“Our administration is committed to reducing the effects of climate change, and one of the best ways to do that is improving public transportation to reduce our reliance on cars,” Murphy said. “This year, we dedicated substantially more funding to the Transit Village program to redevelop areas around our transit facilities by providing housing and business options within walking distance.”
“The increase in Transit Village grants means more communities will be able to fund projects that promote economic growth near rail and bus stations,” Gutierrez-Scaccetti, who is also the New Jersey Transit chair, said. “Initiatives like the Transit Village program ensures our entire transportation system is modern, accessible and equitable, benefiting all New Jersey residents and visitors.”
The Transit Village program is a multi-agency smart growth initiative, in which municipalities that have transit facilities within their borders can seek to be designated as a Transit Village by developing plans for dense, mixed-use redevelopment that includes housing near their transit facility.
Transit Village designation provides three things:
- State of New Jersey commitment to the municipality’s redevelopment vision;
- Coordination and technical assistance among state agencies that comprise the Transit Village Task Force;
- Priority consideration for certain funding opportunities.
Traditionally, there is $1 million available each year for Transit Village grants. This year, an additional $13.5 million was appropriated for Grants-in-Aid programs, specifically for the Transit Village program, the Safe Streets to Transit program and for Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities/Accommodations. Of the $13.5 million, $2.82 million was provided for the Transit Village program.
The following is the list of grant recipients for 2022:
- Atlantic County, Pleasantville, $500,000;
- Burlington County, Burlington, $250,000;
- Burlington County, Riverside Township, $100,000;
- Camden County, Collingswood, $190,000;
- Essex County, Orange, $100,000;
- Hudson County, Jersey City, $175,000;
- Mercer County, West Windsor Township, $82,000;
- Middlesex County, Dunellen, $255,000;
- Middlesex County, Metuchen, $16,000;
- Middlesex County, South Amboy, $180,000;
- Monmouth County, Long Branch, $530,000;
- Union County, Elizabeth, $450,000;
- Union County, Linden, $340,000;
- Union County, Summit, $650,000.
