You are viewing 9 posts in the category South Jersey
Philly Mag Shares Some of the Region’s Best Running Trails, Including Many on the Circuit
With the iconic Broad Street Run just a few weeks away, Philly Mag shared some of the best running trails and parks in the Philadelphia area and beyond, and several Circuit trails made the recommended list! Trails with spectacular views included the Ben Franklin Bridge, Boxers’ Trail, Cobbs Creek Trail, Cynwyd Heritage Trail, Wissahickon Trail, Tyler State Park, Valley Forge Historic National Park, Schuylkill River Trail, and Cooper River Park. Go to Philly Mag to see the full list of trails and parks to take advantage of while the weather is warming up!
NJ TAP 2014 Deadline is Extended
NJDOT's "Local Aid" office recently posted an announcement extending the deadline for submitting TAP and SRTS applications to June 30th, 2014
Applications are now being accepted for the 2014 Safe Routes to School (SRTS) and the Transportation Alternatives Programs (TAP).
- Safe Routes to School Solicitation Letter (pdf 115k)
- Transportation Alternative Solicitation Letter (pdf 111k)
- Contact Information (pdf 19k)
For Transportation Alternatives Program, it is recommended that projects have a requested funding amount of at least $150,000 and a soft cap of $1 million. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Selection Committee.
The deadline for submitting applications for the 2014 Safe Routes to School and the Transportation Alternatives Programs has been extended to Monday, June 30th 2014.
The Safe Routes to School Application Guidance has been updated to provide additional clarifications regarding the resolution requirements.
NJ DOT Announces New Round of Transportation Alternatives and Safe Routes to School Funds
Applications are now being accepted for the 2014 Safe Routes to School (SRTS) and Transportation Alternatives (TAP) Programs. The solicitation for these federally funded programs is being administered by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), in partnership with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), and the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO).
For more information about the SRTS grant, see the solicitation letter here
For more information about the TAP grant, see the solicitation letter here
NJDOT’s application guidance document for the SRTS program containing the necessary information for completing an application and answering questions regarding eligibility and program requirements can be viewed here. The application guidance document for TAP can be viewed here
Applications for both SRTS and TAP are available through NJDOT’s online grant management system, SAGE (System for Administering Grants Electronically). The application deadline is May 15, 2014.
Visit NJDOT’s Local Aid and Economic Development website to learn more about both the SRTS and TAP grants.
Some key things to remember before applying -
NJDOT has heard concerns about Technical Assistance and will be providing more technical support this year. Look for an upcoming webinar, local training/workshops and a tip sheet to improve you application. NJ Safe Routes to School already has developed a TIP sheet for SRTS.
Program managers like to emphasize that both programs distribute funds for reimbursement.
DVRPC has control of about half of the TAP money allocated to the South Jersey counties in its jurisdiction and will be prioritizing these three categories:
- Provisions of facilities for bicycles and pedestrians
- Conversion of abandoned railway corridors to trails
- Stormwater management projects
Take Action - Please help New Jersey keep its federal Recreational Trails Program
Improvements to the Gloucester Township Bike Path, part of the Gloucester-Mt. Ephraim Trail is awaiting funding from the 2013 round of the Rec Trails Program.
Can New Jersey Plug Into “The Circuit” Trails? (NJ Bike and Walk Coalition)
PA and NJ Trail Caucus Meetings Coming In June
On behalf of The Circuit Coalition, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia invites you to the launch of the Circuit Commitment Campaign.
We are bringing together trail enthusiasts and supporters like you for two informational sessions in June (one for PA, one for NJ). These caucus meetings are the kickoff to the Circuit Commitment Campaign.
The Circuit Commitment Campaign's goal is to replenish the DVRPC (Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission)'s Regional Trail Fund, which is a competitive grant program established by the William Penn Foundation in 2010. The fund is distributing nearly $10 million in our nine-county region, and is helping plan, design and build nearly 40 miles of trail.
This grant program, if continued, could have a major impact on our trails! So we need people like you, who want to see The Circuit's unfinished trails built, to encourage County Commissioners (in Pennsylvania) & Freeholders (in New Jersey) to allocate a second $10 million for the years 2014-2016. This money will continue the momentum of that first grant cycle, moving us closer to realizing the vision of a region connected by a world-class network of bike-ped trails: The Circuit.
Get involved in creating new trails for your community by attending your state's trail caucus!
The Pennsylvania Caucus
June 17th, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Haverford Community, Recreation & Environmental Center
Register to attend here
New Jersey Caucus
June 19th, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Camden County Boathouse
Register to attend here
The Pennsylvania Caucus meeting will provide an overview of the next set of Circuit trails currently under development in Delaware, Chester, Montgomery, Bucks and Philadelphia Counties.
The New Jersey Caucus meeting will provide an overview of the next set of Circuit trails currently under development in Mercer, Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties.
At each meeting, we will also discuss the campaign goal and how you can help get this trail funding secured.
Comment On The 2014 NJ TIP
The TIP or Transportation Improvement Program is a regional priority list of federally funded transportation projects that are in the development pipeline. Metropolitan Planning Organizations are required to compile the TIP by law and must allow the public to comment.
The Delaware Valley Planning Commission has opened open up its Draft 2014 NJ Transportation Improvement Program for public comment. Concurrently DVRPC is accepting comments for the NJDOT 2014 State Transportation Improvement Program(STIP) which is more commonly known at the Capital Program.
A public meeting and information session will be held: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
Cherry Hill Free Public Library
1100 Kings Highway North
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-1970
In addtion to the commenting via the mapping tool, DVRPC encourages the public to submit comments on the Draft TIP by email to ; After consideration of the public comments, the DVRPC Board may adopt the Draft TIP with any recommended changes at the July 25, 2013 Board meeting.
The TIP is an excellent opportunity to ask DVRPC, the NJ Counties and NJDOT to replenish the Regional Trails Fund. When you explore the map you may notice that there is only one Circuit project on the TIP (in Gloucester County). Finally NJDOT is still trying to figure out what to do with a $40 million of unobligated Transportation Enhancements funds, encourage them to spend it on trail projects before the Feds take it all back.
On the positive side NJ DOT saved the Safe Routes to Schools programs by using Highway Safety Funds to pay for the program (Congress took away the money in MAP-21). If you do send comments don't forget to thank them for that important accomplishment.
NJDEP Accepting Recreational Trails Grant Applications
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is accepting applications for Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grants. The deadline for applying is February 15th, 2013
These grants are relatively small, the maximum allowable award is $25,000. But these grants can be combined with other funding sources and on their own can fund signage, trail maintenance/rehabilitiation or complete small sections of pathway in parks. RTP grants cannot pay for feasibility studies or land aquisition for non-motorized trails.
For details on the State Rec Trails Program go to http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/natural/trail_grants.htm.
