The NJTPA is working with its federal partners, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), subregions and other state and local agencies to make travel safer and more reliable for all who use our region’s transportation system. To support these efforts, the NJTPA will solicit candidate projects for implementation under two safety funding programs for federal fiscal year 2010, which begins October 1, 2009. Check back in late fall 2008/early winter 2009 for more information on the FY 2010 solicitation process..
The federally funded Local Safety Program advances safety initiatives on county and local roadway facilities in the NJTPA region. Projects on state, U.S. and Interstate highways are not eligible for funding under this program. The Local Safety Program is a component of wider safety planning at the NJTPA, supporting construction of quick-fix, high-impact safety improvements on county and local roadways. The “Program Guidelines” and Application provide details on eligibility and the application process. The proposed FY 2010 Local Safety Program is funded in the current Transportation Improvement Program at $2 million per year.
In addition, SAFETEA-LU, the federal transportation funding legislation, has specifically set-aside safety funds to address travel safety needs in rural areas. For the first time in FY 2009, the NJTPA solicited project proposals for the High Risk Rural Roads Program (HRRRP). This program provides federal funds for construction improvements to address safety problems and opportunities ONLY on roadways that are functionally classified as a rural major or minor collector or as a rural local road and have a crash rate that exceeds the statewide average for those functional classes of roadways. (See Attachment G)
As part of the Local Safety Program application process, eligible sponsors will have the opportunity to also be considered under the HRRRP if the proposed project is located along an eligible road segment. See the “Program Guidelines” for details. The HRRRP is funded at $1 million per year in the TIP.
Examples of eligible projects for these programs include, but are not limited to:
- New or upgraded pavement markings;
- Traffic signals and traffic signal upgrades;
- Traffic calming measures;
- Crosswalks or other pedestrian safety measures;
- Conversion of medians into turning lanes;
- Reflective pole markers;
- Removal of fixed object hazards (not including trees)
All proposed projects must document safety concerns and beneficial countermeasures at specific locations in order to be considered eligible. Places with significant safety issues have been identified through regional planning efforts, including NJTPA's Development of Regional Safety Priorities Study and the NJDOT derived identification of crash prone locations. These may form the basis for Local Safety Program proposals, and will receive funding priority. Project proposals at other locations will be considered if unsafe conditions are documented and appropriate eligible solutions are proposed.
Funding for both programs is limited only to the construction phase of work, and therefore planning, design and right-of-way acquisition are the responsibility of the sponsor.
Once projects are approved for funding by the NJTPA Board of Trustees, grantees will work directly with the NJDOT Division of Local Aid and Economic Development to fulfill federal project requirements. Successful project sponsors must be aware that although these are reimbursement programs, NO CONSTRUCTION OR ADVERTISING OF THE PROJECT CAN OCCUR UNTIL A FEDERAL AUTHORIZATION IS RECEIVED.
Applicants should be aware that there are additional administrative requirements that accompany the use of federal funds. For more details on the federal aid process, see the NJDOT web page on Federal Aid .
TO APPLY: Submit Six (6) hard copies of both the completed application form, and any supplementary materials to the mailing address below, plus an electronic copy of the application to the email address below or on CD-ROM with the hard copies.
Check back in late fall 2008/early winter 2009 for more information on the FY 2010 solicitation process.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Josh Schneider
Principal Planner, Corridor Studies
973-639-8420
jschneider@njtpa.org