North Jersey communities receive funds for road repairs

Trenton — State Sen. Steven Oroho and Assemblyman Parker Space (both R-Sussex, Warren, Morris) announced that municipalities in the 24th Legislative District have been granted more than $2.3 million by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) for repairs to local roads in the FY ’17 Budget, representing direct property tax relief for residents. This funding is in addition to the supplemental aid that was awarded last month to five projects in the district.
“Every transportation grant dollar we secure from the State is a dollar less that local property taxpayers will have to pay for critical improvements to the roads in our communities,” said Oroho. “These grant awards would not be possible without a viable Transportation Trust Fund.”
Space highlighted the savings to property taxpayers that will result from the NJDOT’s approval of funding to help pay for seventeen road repair projects in the 24th District.
“As a result of these grants, residents will receive the dual benefit of saving $2.3 million on their tax bills and having important local projects completed,” added Space. “Any time we can produce this kind of savings for property taxpayers, it’s a win.”
Oroho pointed out that one of the key components of the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) reauthorization is the doubling of local transportation aid to counties and municipalities to help ease the property tax burden. The additional funding will start next year in FY ’18 and is expected to total well over $5 million for municipalities in the 24th District. Including county aid totals, the number will represent over $15 million for the district.
“By increasing the share of the TTF that is dedicated to Local Transportation Aid, from 10 percent to 20 percent of the pie each year, we are enabling localities to provide for more of their own roads and bridges without having local property taxpayers bear the full cost,” said Oroho.
Among the Sussex County grants are:
$155,000 for improvements to Lake Iliff Road in Andover Township;
$168,000 for improvements to Amity Road in Byram;
$146,255 for the Fredon-Springdale Road in Fredon;
$180,000 for Sparta Road improvement in Stanhope; and
$135,000 for Ridge Road improvements in Stillwater.