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Local Freight Impact Fund applications being accepted for $28 million in FY26 grants
October 8, 2025
by Local Aid Economic Development

Local Freight Impact Fund applications being accepted for $28 million in FY26 grants

(Trenton) – The Murphy Administration today announced the grant solicitation period for the Fiscal Year 2026 Local Freight Impact Fund program is open, with applications being accepted through December 17, 2025.

“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 Fran O’Connor said. “The Murphy 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 municipalities and counties 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. Project eligibility has been expanded this year to include pavement preservation projects.

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.
  • Pavement Preservation – to renew the road surface and correct irregularities while preserving and protecting the underlying pavement structure.

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. Starting in FY25 the Local Freight Impact Fund has included safety rating criterion based on an applicant’s implementation of one or more proven safety countermeasures identified by FHWA as part of their projects’ proposed improvements.

For more information about the Local Freight Impact Fund program or other Local Aid programs go to Local Aid & Economic Development; 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.

Safety is everyone’s responsibility. Watch NJDOT Commissioner Fran O’Connor’s message about making roadway safety a way of life.