What is the Division of Local Aid and Economic Development?

 

The New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Division of Local Aid and Economic Development (Local Aid) administers state and federal aid programs that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the state’s transportation system. The division manages 24 programs that award approximately $300 million annually in state- and federal-funded grants to counties and municipalities for transportation-related projects. The projects can range from small non-infrastructure educational projects to large scale infrastructure bridge and road projects. Working with county and municipal officials, the division staff serves NJDOT’s mission of advancing projects that enhance safety, renew the aging infrastructure and support new transportation opportunities.

 

The relationship between the Division of Local Aid and SRTS applicants and grantees

 

Congress authorized the federal Safe Routes to School program to allocate federal aid over five fiscal years (FY2005 - FY2009) to all state transportation agencies for projects that enable and encourage children to safely walk and bicycle to school. Funds are available for a variety of infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects that benefit school children in

grades K-8 for both public and private

schools.

 

In New Jersey, the Division of Local Aid manages SRTS funding from start to finish. In addition to the main NJDOT office in Ewing, Local Aid has four district offices located to accommodate the needs of specific regional groups of counties.  Division staff recommend that applicants from across the state reach out to their respective district office for assistance throughout the process. For contact information, visit
http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/
business/localaid/office.shtm

 

SRTS applicants in 2008 were required to submit their applications using SAGE (System for Administering Grants Electronically), NJDOT’s new online grant management system. SAGE users can submit grant applications, communicate with grant program staff, request changes, and manage grants.

 

Local Aid is also involved in selecting grant recipients. Staff in the district offices conduct background research on each application. The award of SRTS grants involves a team of reviewers that can include civic, environmental, and transportation safety professionals, along with other public agencies such as the state's three Metropolitan Planning Organizations.