At Monroe’s Request, the NJTPA and Middlesex County to Fund $500,000 Study of Truck Traffic in Southern Middlesex County
Monroe Mayor Stephen Dalina Leads Effort; Says Truck Traffic is a Major Public Safety Concern
MONROE TOWNSHIP– October 20, 2021 – Following the steady urging of Monroe Mayor Stephen Dalina, the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) and Middlesex County have committed $500,000 in federal and county transportation funds for a comprehensive regional study of ongoing truck traffic. The study is primarily funded by a $400,000 grant from the NJTPA, with the County providing staff and resources.
“The state is taking this very seriously and agreed a detailed study of the regional freight corridors is the next, logical step in our efforts to finally relieve truck traffic in our residential neighborhoods,” Mayor Dalina said. “This study will provide the necessary information for state and county leaders to devise the right solution on the roadways they operate and maintain in Monroe Township. Public safety is paramount; and we need these trucks off our residential streets.”
Mayor Dalina said he is taking over the effort from the late former mayor, Gerald W. Tamburro, who last year pushed for the State Department of Transportation and Middlesex County to ban heavy tractor trailers from local roads, as many of the large warehouses in Cranbury rely on access via Monroe roadways.
“We know that the only way to solve this issue is to work closely with our partners at all levels of government,” Mayor Dalina said. “That is why I requested this study. The NJTPA and County also recognize this problem, investing $500,000 to identify the main issues and recommend solutions that are needed to give residents the relief they need. These tractor trailers should not be on residential roads.”
At Monroe’s urging, the study takes a regional approach, analyzing traffic effects in Cranbury, South Brunswick, and Jamesburg.
“We are not interested in just passing this nuisance traffic onto a neighboring town,” Mayor Dalina said. “We need to work together on a regional solution, in which all of our neighboring municipalities are working collaboratively on a fair and equitable solution. In Monroe, we have made our priority crystal clear: Removing these trucks from our residential neighborhoods.”
As part of the study, Mayor Dalina said it is critical that Monroe residents play a key role in the public engagement phase, noting the township will have representatives on a Technical Advisory Committee.
“I want to see stakeholder meetings in Monroe, with educational materials translated into the languages our residents speak,” Mayor Dalina said. “I want to see regional partnerships that address Monroe’s concerns. Monroe will have a key seat at the table as decisions are made and will be a full partner in every facet of this study, reviewing preliminary data at each step and ensuring the final results address the very legitimate, ongoing concerns of this community.”
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All media inquiries may be directed to Monroe Township Public Information Officer Stacey Kennedy at 732-521-4400 or