Local Freight Impact Fund applications being accepted for $28 million in FY27 grants

Funding is used to improve local roads and bridges with heavy truck traffic

(Trenton) – The Sherrill Administration today announced the grant solicitation period for the Fiscal Year 2027 Local Freight Impact Fund program is open, with applications being accepted through December 18, 2026.

“The Local Freight Impact Fund provides funding to counties and municipalities for critical improvements to truck routes that are essential in supporting a strong state and regional economy,” NJDOT Commissioner Priya Jain said. “The Sherrill Administration is committed to investing in local roads and bridges carrying commercial truck traffic to ensure they are safe, efficient, and strong enough to handle the weight.”

The Local Freight Impact Fund (LFIF) is a competitive $28 million program that helps New Jersey’s counties and municipalities fund projects that emphasize and enhance the safe movement of large truck traffic, renew aging structures that carry large truck traffic, promote economic development, and support new transportation opportunities.

Under the program, projects that fall into six categories are eligible for funding:

• Roadway Preservation – to improve pavement conditions in support of freight travel on municipal/county transportation infrastructure.
• Truck Safety and Mobility – to improve large truck access, routing and mobility along the municipal/county roadway system.
• Bridge Preservation – to improve bridge ratings/conditions in support of freight travel on municipal/county transportation infrastructure.
• New Construction – to promote new construction in support of freight travel on municipal/county transportation infrastructure.
• Pedestrian Safety – to improve pedestrian access to freight networks, address pedestrian safety, and promote equity for those without the option to drive on municipal/county transportation infrastructure.
• Pavement Preservation – to renew the road surface and correct irregularities while
  preserving and protecting the underlying pavement structure on municipal/county
  transportation infrastructure.

This is a competitive grant program. Projects submitted for consideration must meet the following
eligibility criteria:

• Projects must be within the jurisdiction of the applicant’s municipality and/or county unless
  filed jointly with an adjacent municipality and/or county.
• Applicants must demonstrate that the project will provide access to a port, warehouse distribution center or any other freight node by providing a narrative and a map supporting their request.
• Projects must have a minimum 10 percent large truck volume within the project limits. A traffic study must be submitted to support this information.

The grants are administered by the NJDOT Division of Local Aid and Economic Development. NJDOT
staff evaluate projects using a variety of criteria including: existing conditions, overall traffic
volume, percentage of large truck traffic, crash frequency, connectivity to freight nodes, among
others. Beginning this year, the program will include a new additional safety rating criterion for
projects located on the High Injury Network (HIN) in support of the Target Zero Commission Law
to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on New Jersey’s roads.

For more information about the Local Freight Impact Fund program or other Local Aid programs go
to https://njdotlocalhub.nj.gov/; email DOT-LocalAID.ResourceCenter@dot.nj.gov or call
609.649.9395. For NJDOT news follow us on X (Twitter) @NewJerseyDOT, on the NJDOT Facebook
page, or Instagram @NewJersey.DOT.