Municipal Aid Grants Awarded To Hopatcong, Sparta For Road Projects

HOPATCONG, NJ — Hopatcong and Sparta were two of 541 municipalities statewide receiving 546 awards in the total amount of $161.25 million, through the Municipal Aid grant program.

The grants earmarked for municipalities to use in fiscal year 2022 from the Transportation Trust Fund are intended to help them make “quality-of-life improvements,” that include upgrades to roads, bridges and safety, according to a news release from Gov. Phil Murphy’s office.

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Initially, there were 547 towns throughout New Jersey that submitted 625 total applications, seeking $363 million in grant monies.

From the more than $3.5 million awarded throughout Sussex County, Hopatcong was earmarked $203,200 for the Hopatchung Road and Bell Avenue resurfacing project; and Sparta, $153,000 for the Houses Corner Road Improvement Project.

New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti said nearly each of the state’s 565 towns received at least one.

The program allocates grant monies per county “based on population and the number of local centerline miles,” Murphy’s office reported, with municipalities vying for their share of what comes to their county.

After a town secures an awarded contract, 75 percent of the grant monies are distributed, with the 25 percent giving out after project completion.

There is $10 million set aside to municipalities that receive “Urban Aid,” through New Jersey’s Department of Community Affairs.

The project categories that are qualified for funding include:

• Roadway Preservation
• Roadway Safety
• Quality of Life
• Mobility
• Bikeway
• Pedestrian Safety
• Bridge Preservation

For the full list statewide of Municipal Aid grants for projects, click here.

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