In 2006, NJ pedestrians got a $74 million boost from Governor Corzine’s five-year statewide pedestrian safety initiative. Pedestrians in 15 communities will see some of the first improvements funded through the Safe Streets to Transit component of the program with the recent announcement of 2008-2009 grants for sidewalks, traffic calming, and other pedestrian improvements.

The announcement is welcome news as approximately 30% of NJ residents live within a half-mile of a train station, and NJ Transit use remains near record highs despite the economy. Safe pedestrian access to transit will not only encourage ridership, but will help alleviate the need for station parking and be a boon for businesses around station areas as downtown walk-by traffic increases.

The communities that will receive grants are Absecon, Camden, Clifton, Edgewater, Egg Harbor, Elizabeth, Florence, Hoboken, Lyndhurst, New Brunswick, New Providence, Ocean City, Plainsboro, Voorhees and Woodlynne. The grants will pay for projects like adding sidewalks and curbs to the Delawanna Ave. rail station in Clifton and improving pedestrian access on Market Street in Camden.