TRENTON—Gov. Phil Murphy has announced $150 million in Fiscal Year 2026 Municipal Aid grants, with 537 municipalities statewide receiving funding for road, bridge, safety, and quality-of-life improvements. Every municipality that applied this cycle received an award, including all Pascack Valley and Northern Valley towns.
The competitive program, administered through the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Division of Local Aid and Economic Development, drew 591 applications requesting a total of $363 million. Projects were evaluated by NJDOT staff and reviewed by an independent panel of municipal engineers.
“Having a safe and efficient transportation system throughout the state means investing in local roads and bridges, as well as State highways,” Murphy said in the announcement. “Municipal Aid provides the funds for infrastructure projects in our towns and cities that significantly improve the quality of life for New Jersey residents.”
NJDOT Commissioner Fran O’Connor said the administration’s continued investment is “making New Jersey’s roads and bridges safer for all users whether you are driving, walking, or cycling.”
This year, nearly 43 percent of funding—$64.3 million—is going to 179 municipalities with Complete Streets policies. Another $22.4 million is directed to 52 communities whose projects meet equity criteria for low-income or minority neighborhoods. The Municipal Aid program includes eight eligible project categories, from roadway and pavement preservation to pedestrian safety, mobility, and bridge work.
Pascack Valley Awards
Eight Pascack Valley municipalities received a combined $1.5 million in FY 2026 funding, primarily for roadway preservation:
- Emerson: Improvements to South Dorchester and Dorchester Avenue — $129,561
- Hillsdale: Ralph Avenue & Legion Place resurfacing — $194,341
- Montvale: Memorial Drive improvements — $237,528
- Park Ridge: Morningside Avenue roadway improvements — $194,341
- River Vale: Reconstruction of Baylor Avenue and Bernita Drive — $107,967
- Township of Washington: Ridgewood Boulevard North roadway project — $237,528
- Westwood: Irvington Street (Section 2) and Fourth Avenue improvements — $237,528
- Woodcliff Lake: Overlook Drive improvements — $172,747
Northern Valley Awards
Northern Valley municipalities received more than $2.8 million combined, including a pedestrian-safety award in Haworth:
- Alpine: Buckingham Drive improvements — $151,154
- Closter: Walker Avenue improvements — $250,000
- Cresskill: Ridge Road, Carlton Terrace & Burton Place improvements — $194,341
- Demarest: Donnybrook Drive and Prospect Street improvements — $107,967
- Dumont: Dumont Avenue improvements — $129,561
- Englewood: Broad Avenue sidewalk completion — $129,561
- Englewood Cliffs: Laurie Drive to Roberts Road repaving, Phase One — $107,967
- Harrington Park: Parkway roadway improvements — $194,341
- Haworth: Valley Road sidewalk improvements (Pedestrian Safety) — $259,121
- Northvale: Willow, White & Firenze Avenue improvements — $194,341
- Norwood: Summit Street Phase II improvements — $215,934
- Oradell: Oradell Avenue & Veldran Avenue roadway improvements — $237,528
- Rockleigh: Volvo Drive roadway improvements — $129,561
- Teaneck: Garrison Avenue resurfacing — $194,341
- Tenafly: Old Smith Road resurfacing — $129,561
NJDOT encourages municipalities to fund projects that support walking, biking, and street-safety improvements. Six percent of awarded projects statewide fall into these non-traditional categories.
Under program rules, municipalities receive 75 percent of their funding upon awarding a project contract and the remaining 25 percent when work is complete. Counties receive allocations based on population and centerline roadway mileage.
More information about Local Aid programs is available at njdotlocalaidrc.com.