Under New Jersey DOT's proposed 2003 capital program, local aid projects for road preservation and bicycle and pedestrian projects will again be funded well below demonstrated levels of need. Trust Fund dollars for local roads are consistently in high demand. Requested amounts for bicycle and pedestrian projects have also risen steadily - by last year nearly $60 million in projects went unfunded.

For each of the past four years, demand for aid to municipalities has outstripped available funds by over $100 million. This is true even though DOT began devoting $9 million more for aid to municipalities in FY2001. Last year, for example, DOT received 931 applications totaling $182 million. With the $67.5 million budgeted for municipalities to fix roads, only 424 projects were funded. Under DOT's capital investment strategy, municipalities would continue to receive the same $67.5 million from 2003 to 2005. At the same time, DOT is reserving big portions of its capital budget for unidentified projects it will fund at its discretion (MTR #360). 

Demand for bicycle and pedestrian improvements have risen sharply in the last four years - the amount requested is up 35% from 1999-2001. Although Trust Fund spending for bicycle and pedestrian projects stays at the same low level of $11 million, a $4.25 million infusion federal CMAQ funds freed from the state's failed vehicle inspection program will make up some of the shortfall. $3 million in additional state funds will also go to specific state pedestrian projects at Bridgewater Mall and along Route 130. Despite these gains, even if demand for bicycle and pedestrian projects stays level, next year's shortfall is likely to be near $50 million. 
 
 

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