Money awarded to make walking, biking to school safer

TRENTON — A state program to encourage children to walk or bike to schools in safety is sending almost $3.5 million to communities in Burlington and Camden counties.

The state Department of Transportation on Wednesday disclosed the recipients of almost $21.1 million in Safe Routes to School Program grants. The money is spread among 23 communities around the state.

The projects funded include sidewalk improvements; pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements; and on-street bicycle facilities.

3 Burlington, Camden towns land grants

• Medford, Burlington County: $1.2 million, Medford Village Safe Routes to School.
• Medford Lakes, Burlington County: $1.5 million,, Pedestrian improvements.
• Lindenwold, Camden County: $725,000, Carleton Street pedestrian improvements.

The grant program, which taps federal funds, is administered jointly by the state agency, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization, and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority.

Burlington and Camden counties fall under the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s oversight along with Gloucester and Mercer counties and five counties in Pennsylvania. The commission also awarded $1.5 million to Hopewell in Mercer County.

The SJTPO awarded three grants totaling about $2 million to Linwood and Somers Point in Atlantic County and Upper Township in Cape May County.

Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.

Have a tip? Support journalism with a subscription.