Galloway Township Receives $200,000 in State Aid for Great Creek Road Project

Galloway Township was one of 15 Atlantic County towns to share in more than $3 million in New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) in local aid grants to advance street improvement, rehabilitation and safety projects without burdening local property taxpayers, the NJDOT announced last week.

Galloway will receive $200,000 to be put toward the Great Creek Road Reconstruction Project, Phase 2, according to NJDOT.

Throughout the state, 374 grants totaling $76,126,200 were awarded to municipalities under the NJDOT Local Aid program.

“The Christie Administration strongly supports funding for Local Aid because it understands how important it is for government at all levels to provide safe streets and roads for motorists and pedestrians alike,” NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson said in a release.  “These grants advance local projects without placing a burden on local property taxpayers.”

According to NJDOT, Pleasantville received the most aid of any town in the county, with $251,300. Buena received $250,000, Somers Point received $225,000 and Northfield received $220,000. Like Galloway, Atlantic City and Linwood also received $200,000.

According to NJDOT, Municipal governments maintain 29,408 centerline miles of streets and roads, or 74 percent of the statewide total. The Municipal Aid grant program covers a variety of projects, including road resurfacing and reconstruction projects, according to NJDOT.

“New Jersey’s Local Aid program provides significant support to municipalities throughout the state,” New Jersey League of Municipalities Executive Director William G. Dressel Jr., said. “Now more than ever, alternate revenues other than property taxes are needed and appreciated by mayors and residents alike.”

Under the Municipal Aid grant program, each county is apportioned a share of the total funding based on population, the number of local centerline miles and other factors, and municipalities compete for portions of their county’s share, NJDOT said. NJDOT provides 75 percent of the grant amount when a town awards a contract and the remaining 25 percent upon completion of the project, according to NJDOT.