Monroe Receives $609K in State Grants for Upgrades on Two Major Township Roads
MONROE TOWNSHIP – February 17, 2021 – Monroe Township is getting a $609,250 boost in municipal aid to support roadway improvements on N. State Home, Lower Matchaponix, and a section of Spotswood Gravel Hill Road adjacent to the project.
These well-used municipal roads need to be repaved. With the grant support, Monroe officials will begin the design process. It is expected that Monroe will have to contribute about $425,000 for the total project.
Monroe Mayor Stephen Dalina and Township Council said the township has been very successful in securing state funding for its infrastructure work, based on a strong working relationship with the state Department of Transportation (DOT) and state legislators representing the township. The Mayor thanked the 14th Legislative District for their ongoing support of the Township’s roadway maintenance and repair needs.
“We are proud to report that the Township has secured $3 million since 2016 in state money to upgrade our roadway system,” Mayor Dalina said. “This is work that needed to be done, and the Council and I can move forward with limited impact on our taxpayers. We attribute the progress to our ongoing ability to reach out for support and effectively advocate for what our community needs.”
Mayor Dalina noted the state has more than doubled its municipal local aid to Monroe since 2016.
Monroe recently received grants for upgrades to Spotswood and Ellingham Avenues, a major section of Monmouth Road, Daniel Road and 10th street, and School House Road. Two other projects with state support are being designed: The Camelot neighborhood off School House Road and Costco Drive.
The DOT’s municipal aid program is very competitive, Mayor Dalina said, adding the department received 635 applications from 549 municipalities, requesting more than $342 million. There was $161.25 million available, supported by the state’s gas tax.
“This grant program is a shining example of what can happen when we invest in our transportation system,” said Assemblyman Daniel Benson, chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee, who represents Monroe. “By renewing the Transportation Trust Fund four years ago, we created a path to provide towns with resources to make improvements to local roads and bridges with the goal to increase safety and provide a better quality of life.
“While upgrades to major highways are always important, it’s road projects at the local level that impact drivers on a daily basis,” he added. “These state grants help ease the burden on Monroe’s property taxpayers while investing in the road infrastructure we use every day.”