34-Mile Bike Trail Project Awarded $19M In Camden County

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — A 34-mile bike trail planned for South Jersey has received some significant federal funding. The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the county $19 million to develop key portions of the Camden County LINK.

Once completed, the LINK will span from the Ben Franklin Bridge in Camden to the Pinelands National Reserve in Winslow Township. The grant will fund the development of the pedestrian/biking trail's most complex portions in Camden and Pennsauken Township. See Camden County's portion of the planned trail here.

The LINK will be part of Circuit Trails — a network of multi-use trails around Greater Philadelphia. Circuit Trails currently includes more than 370 miles of multi-use pathways. The coalition set goals to reach 500 miles by 2025 and more than 800 miles of interconnected trails by 2040 across nine counties in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

"This is a transformative project that will enhance the lives of our residents and visitors even further," said Camden County Commissioner Jeff Nash. "We see the importance in investing in accessible, top quality outdoor spaces and we are thrilled that the Department of Transportation feels the same way. Paired with our ongoing $100 million parks revitalization initiative, Camden County is on track to becoming a top outdoor activities destination on the East Coast."

The federal grant comes from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program, which supports transportation capital projects.

Construction will include a new shared-use path, three pedestrian bridges, retrofitting one existing roadway bridge, crosswalk enhancements and on-street protected bicycle lanes, according to Circuit Trails. The new segments will contribute to the completion of the LINK Trail that will connect Camden, Pennsauken and Cherry Hill.

The funding will help Camden residents access safe routes to enjoy nearby parks, trails and business districts, according to Justin Dennis, New Jersey vice chair of the Circuit Trails Coalition.

"This is a great example of how more New Jersey counties can tap into available federal dollars to connect their communities to active transportation networks and the Circuit Trails," Dennis said.