Politics & Government

Work on Bikeway from Dayton to Kingston to Begin in Spring

DOT grant will allow for completion of 10-mile long bikeway from Dayton to Kingston.

Thanks to a recent $260,000 grant from the Department of Transportation, residents will soon be able to bike from Dayton to Kingston.  The 10-mile long Freedom Trail, which runs from Ridge Road to Raymond Road, is set to undergo renovations beginning in the spring, with hopes the project will see a significant portion completed by the end of the year.

"This will offer pedestrians a bike path that goes through natural areas that are undeveloped and will serve as a recreation tool," said Public Affairs Coordinator Ron Schmalz.  "With this grant and the last grant we received, we should be able to complete the project."

The total cost of the Freedom Trail project is estimated at about $5 million.  The project will include the clearing away of shrubbery and overgrown vegetation, installation of asphalt and signage, as well as posts to keep motor vehicles from entering the path.

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South Brunswick was among 33 municipalities or counties statewide to share in the $7.6 million in grants awarded under four state-funded local aid programs– Transit Village, Centers of Place, Bikeways and Safe Streets to Transit – run by the DOT.

“These grants will support a variety of safety and quality-of-life projects at the local level without burdening local property taxpayers,” said NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson via release.  “The level of competition demonstrates how valuable these grants are to local officials who make difficult spending decisions each year.”

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The Bikeways program provides funds to counties and municipalities to promote the safe use of bicycles as an alternate mode of transportation, according to the DOT.  75 percent of the grant is given when the recipient awards a contract and the remaining 25 percent is awarded upon completion of the project.

"This is going to be a nice blacktop trail for bikes and pedestrians to use and we'll have some safety features put in as well," Schmalz said.  "This is going to be great for our residents."


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