TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy and Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez Scaccetti today announced $3.8 million in FY 2022 Transit Village grants to help municipalities advance transit-oriented development projects that reduce reliance on vehicles and encourage usage of mass transportation. This year’s grants represent the largest amount of funds provided in a single year for the Transit Village Program. Grants were awarded to 14 municipalities in nine counties.

“Our administration is committed to reducing the effects of climate change, and one of the best ways to do that is improving public transportation to reduce our reliance on cars,” said Governor Murphy. “This year we dedicated substantially more funding to the Transit Village program to redevelop areas around our transit facilities by providing housing and business options within walking distance.”

“The increase in Transit Village grants means more communities will be able to fund projects that promote economic growth near rail and bus stations,” said NJDOT Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti. “Initiatives like the Transit Village program ensures our entire transportation system is modern, accessible, and equitable, benefitting all New Jersey residents and visitors.” 

The Transit Village program is a multi-agency smart growth initiative, in which municipalities that have transit facilities within their borders can seek to be designated as a Transit Village by developing plans for dense, mixed-use redevelopment that includes housing near their transit facility. The facility can service commuter rail, bus, ferry, or light rail.  The initiative creates incentives to revitalize areas around transit stations to create attractive, vibrant, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods where people can live, shop, work and play without relying on automobiles.

Traditionally, there is $1 million available each year for Transit Village grants. This year, an additional $13.5 million was appropriated for Grants-in-Aid programs, specifically for the Transit Village Program, the Safe Streets to Transit Program, and for Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities/Accommodations. Of the $13.5 million, $2.82 million was provided for the Transit Village Program. 

There are 33 municipalities in the transit village program. Among the benefits of the transit village designation are coordination among the state agencies that make up the Transit Village Task Force, priority funding and technical assistance from some state agencies, and enhanced eligibility for grants. 

Each municipality with a Transit Village designation may submit one application for funding. Applications must be for projects located within one-half mile of the transit facility and the projects are awarded on a competitive basis taking into consideration proximity to a transit facility, walkability, bicycling, project need and applicant’s past performance using other Local Aid funds. Click here to see a list of the 14 municipalities receiving FY 2022 Transit Village grants totaling $3.8 million.

The Transit Village Program, as well as other Local Aid state-funded grant programs, benefit residents by enabling local governments to significantly reduce or eliminate reliance on local property tax dollars to support their projects. 

For a list of grant recipients, please click here.