NJ Bike-Ped Funds Still Fall Short of Growing
Demand
Janine Bauer, Tri-State Campaign director, presented the data on NJ
DOT Local Aid funding represented below to the bicycle and pedestrian advocates
assembled at last week's TransAction conference. She urged that advocates
demand more state and federal funding. The chart does not include
federal "Enhancements" funds, which do not significantly change the overall
picture. Other speakers indicated that local funds were a less complicated
and perhaps more fruitful source of funding, especially for planing, in
the first instance. Many local officials still exhibit confusion about
whether new bike lanes and paths have to comply with NJ environmental review
procedures, or are exempt, as they are from federal laws. In fact, they
are exempt. The Campaign will try to get this word out to county planners
and regional DOT managers.
