Corzine To Help Us Cross The Street
Economic crisis. Billion dollar budget gaps. The looming specter of budget cuts, state worker layoffs draconian tax increases. Yet, Governor Corzine finds $6M to make sure we, and our children, can safely cross the street. After all, without his help we couldn’t possibly do that all on our own.
Gov. Jon Corzine today announced the New Jersey Department of Transportation will award $4 million in Safe Routes to School grants and $2 million in Safe Streets to Transit grants.
“These programs are critical components of New Jersey’s 5-year pedestrian safety program,” Corzine said. “Providing kids and commuters with safe facilities to walk and ride their bikes can encourage mass transit use, improve quality of life and prevent childhood obesity.”
NJDOT’s 2008 Safe Routes to School initiative will provide grants of $8,000 to $300,000 for projects in 33 municipalities. The grants will be used for local projects to encourage children to walk and bike to school, including the creation of safer walkways, bikeways and street crossings near schools.
The Safe Streets to Transit program helps counties and municipalities improve access to transit facilities and all modes of public transportation. The initiative will provide grants to 15 municipalities statewide that will help install and upgrade sidewalks, pedestrian barriers and improve lighting and drainage on roadways upon which transit facilities are located.
