Did you know that a fuel tax you pay at the pump is largely responsible for funding a well-functioning transportation system that gets you to where you need to go, delivers packages to your door, and keeps groceries on the shelves? But as vehicles go farther on less fuel and some stop using any fuel at all, it becomes harder to maintain our aging transportation system.

The Eastern Transportation Coalition, a partnership of 17 states and Washington D.C., needs your help to explore an alternative approach, called a Mileage-Based User Fee (MBUF), which means each driver pays for the miles they drive instead of the fuel they buy.

Join a Pilot Program in New Jersey to help determine how an MBUF program could work. It is free to participate, and there are strict privacy protection measures to safeguard your data.

Your voice is important, so visit NewJerseyMBUFpilot.com to learn more and enroll. Participants who qualify can receive up to $100. Have questions? Contact a Pilot team member at 609-293-7800 or NewJersey@MBUFpilot.org.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is accepting applications for the 2022 Transportation Alternatives (TA) Set-Aside Grant Program. The TA Set-Aside Program provides federal funds for community-based “non-traditional” surface transportation-related projects designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of the nation’s surface transportation intermodal system.

In collaboration with the New Jersey Safe Routes Resource Center, the NJDOT Office of Local Aid is conducting a series of free webinars to assist communities who are interested in applying for a TA Set-Aside Grant. The 90-minute webinars will include:

• An overview of Federal Aid programs and the TA Set-Aside Program
• A detailed review of the TA Set-Aside application
• Information on the grant application process
• Details on grant resources, tips, and strategies
• A question-and-answer session with NJDOT Local Aid staff

Registration is necessary to attend the 90-minute webinars. Below are the dates and registration links.

• Thursday, July 21, 2022, from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM – Register Here
• Thursday, September 15, 2022, from noon to 1:30 PM – Register Here

For this TA Set-Aside grant solicitation, the NJDOT Division of Local Aid and Economic Development is requiring pre-application meetings. Prospective applicants can discuss their project concept and get guidance on whether the proposed project is a good fit for the program. Prior to the meeting, applicants must submit a project map (see the map maker tool), a brief description of the project, and a cost estimate.

Applicants in the SJTPO region can schedule their meetings using this calendar. An automatic invitation will be sent to the scheduler and can then be forwarded to the other team members/invitees as needed. Pre-application meetings will be held from April 11th through September 30th. For more information, please visit the TA Set-Aside website or contact Alan Huff, at ahuff@sjtpo.org or 856-794-1941.

Grant applications are due on November 3, 2022 at 11:59 PM.