Furthering the Christie Administration’s commitment to assisting local government with important local transportation infrastructure projects, Acting Governor Kim Guadagno today visited Hillsdale Borough, a recipient of recently announced Local Aid Infrastructure Fund grants from the Department of Transportation.

Hillsdale is to receive a $193,885 grant for improvements to sections of Central Avenue between Hillsdale Avenue and Knickerbocker Avenue and Cross Street between Broadway to Magnolia Avenue.

Improvements include milling and resurfacing, marking the roadways and replacing curbs. Safety improvements will also be made to Central Avenue and Cross Street thanks to this grant, including a road surface treatment to make crosswalks at intersections more visible.

“Poor drainage and the need to dig up the road surface to access underground utilities have made structural improvements necessary. The safety improvements are especially important because children use these streets to ride bicycles or walk to nearby George White Middle School,” said Acting Governor Guadagno. “The Christie Administration is determined to help local governments make necessary improvements, like this one here on Shiloh Road, without placing a heavy burden on local taxpayers.”

The grant is among 25 grants totaling $11.4 million that will enable 14 municipalities, eight freight railroads and three airports to advance infrastructure improvement projects.  Among the grants are 13 Local Aid Infrastructure Fund grants totaling $2.75 million, eight Rail Freight Assistance Program grants for $6.6 million and four State Airport Improvement Program grants totaling $2 million.

“The range of these grants illustrate how diverse modes of travel give shape to New Jersey’s robust transportation network,” said NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson.  “These grants promote air, rail and vehicular transportation, each of which plays a role in driving our economy.  The Local Aid Infrastructure Fund grants allow municipalities and counties to make vital improvements to streets without burdening local property taxpayers.”

The Local Aid Infrastructure Fund grants, ranging from $37,000 to $430,000, have been awarded to municipalities in 13 different counties. Twelve of the grants go to individual towns, with one grant being awarded to Cumberland County, which is taking the lead on a project that falls within Hopewell and Upper Deerfield townships. Grants will fund a variety of projects, including repairs to streets, drainage systems, a railroad crossing and a boardwalk. A complete list of the LAIF grant recipients and amounts is available here.

The eight freight railroad grants, ranging from $202,000 to $1.6 million, support track rehabilitation and construction projects in Sussex, Passaic, Morris, Hudson, Hunterdon, Salem, Gloucester, Cumberland and Atlantic counties. The grants will fund work to remove and replace railroad ties, strengthen rail bridges and install new track and switches.

Three general aviation airports are receiving four grants, with Trenton-Mercer Airport (Mercer County) receiving nearly $1.4 million to support an airport security fence project.  Sky Manor Airport (Hunterdon County) is receiving $147,250 for an aircraft apron and Central Jersey Airport (Somerset County) is receiving two grants $212,000 for a General Aviation fuel tank and self-service system and for security fencing.