CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — The state announced figures for County Aid to fund infrastructure projects July 31 and Cape May County received the least, just $3,435,310.
Neighboring Atlantic County is set to get more than twice as much, $6,970,928, and Cumberland County $7,950,506, while Bergen County tops the list at $14,040,563 and Ocean County is second at $13,135,227. Just $4,953,889 is earmarked for Salem County.
Last year the county received $3,123,000, still half of what Atlantic County and about a quarter of what Bergen County received.
Neither state Sen. Michael Testa, R-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, nor Len Desiderio, director of the Cape May County Board of Commissioners, responded to requests for comment.
County Aid funds are apportioned based on population and road mileage, so do not take into account the overwhelming demand on infrastructure caused by tourists, especially in the busy summer months.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s administration announced the release of $165 million in Fiscal Year 2027 County Aid to fund infrastructure improvements on the local level. The program is funded through the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund (TTF). Last year, the Fiscal Year 2026 County Aid was $150 million altogether.
“Every New Jerseyan deserves safe roads, reliable bridges and modern infrastructure,” said Sherrill, who visited the area May 20 when she announced that the New Jersey Department of Transportation would use a new, expedited method to replace the Route 50 bridge over Cedar Swamp Creek in Upper Township. The $48 million project is expected to take about 30 months; work is expected to begin this fall.
During the news conference on the bridge, Sherill said the project would be the first being built under the innovative Design-Build delivery method.
“When I took office, I made clear that we were going to do things differently and deliver for the people of New Jersey. That means taking more efficient, innovative approaches to modernizing our aging infrastructure. The Route 50 bridge project reflects that, by replacing this critical connection to Cape May County and key coastal evacuation route through New Jersey’s first-ever Design-Build approach. By combining design and construction into one streamlined process, we’re cutting delays, lowering costs and delivering this long-overdue upgrade faster for New Jerseyans.”
Regarding the county aid, Sherrill said the “investment gives counties the resources they need to repair the transportation networks that families, commuters and businesses rely on every day. We are partnering with county leaders to deliver reliable travel, support economic growth and keep New Jersey moving forward.”
“Gov. Sherrill and the New Jersey Department of Transportation are committed to ensuring New Jersey’s entire transportation network is safe, reliable and modern, whether you are on a state highway or on county or municipal roads and bridges,” NJDOT Commissioner Priya Jain said. “County aid provides millions of dollars to ensure our local infrastructure is maintained in a state of good repair without burdening local taxes.”
The state’s 21 counties will share a total of $165 million through the County Aid program that helps maintain roads and bridges under county jurisdiction in a state of good repair for the thousands of motorists that count on them each day.
County Aid was increased by $15 million in Fiscal Year 2027. On March 26, 2024, legislation was signed to renew the state’s Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) for five years. With the renewal of the TTF, the funding for Local Aid programs to counties and municipalities will increase by $15 million for the County Aid program for this fiscal year.
Each county selects the projects that receive funding. Counties are required to submit eligible projects, identified in the county’s annual Transportation Program to NJDOT for approval prior to Dec. 1, 2026.
Projects may be improvements to public roads and bridges under county jurisdiction, or other transportation-related work. State law requires counties must be informed of their allotments for the current fiscal year by July 31 to help them better plan future projects.
–By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
