South Brunswick's Freedom Trail Gets $680K For Bike Improvements

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — Good news for everyone who enjoys the outdoors in South Brunswick. The Township recently received a $680,000 grant to help make improvements to Freedom Trail Bikeway.

The funds come from the state’s Bikeway Grants which looks to help advance local Bikeway projects in nine counties. A total of $5.9 million was given to 11 Townships in nine counties.

In Middlesex County, South Brunswick and Milltown were the recipients of the grant. The Freedom Trail Bikeway is an ongoing open space and park development project. The goal of the Township is to link all open space areas in town by creating a bikeway system.

“Investing in bikeways helps promote alternate forms of transportation and reduces our reliance on cars,” Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement. “Increased biking and walking are tangible steps we can take to achieve our climate change goals, while encouraging residents to live a healthy lifestyle.”

Traditionally, the Bikeway Grant Program provides $1 million in grants yearly to promote bikeways as an alternate mode of transportation. This year however, 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, $4.9 million was provided for the Bikeway Grant Program. “Projects funded by the Bikeway Grant Program provide safe transportation alternatives that benefit cyclists and pedestrians and improve the of quality-of-life in New Jersey,” NJDOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti said in a statement.

Each municipality and county may submit one application. Projects are awarded on a competitive basis taking into consideration new bike miles created, safety, connectivity, service to the public, Complete Streets Policy and an applicant’s past performance using other Local Aid funds.

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