Hopewell Township, Mercer County, NJ — Hopewell Township has been awarded $994,000 in grant funding from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) through the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program to construct the Cleveland Road segment of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail (LHT).
The funding aligns with NJDOT’s Commitment to Communities Initiative, which supports local governments in successfully delivering critical transportation projects that enhance quality of life and connectivity. The grant was awarded after being recommended by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, the regional planning organization for Mercer and eight other counties in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program provides federal funding for community-based, “non-traditional” transportation projects that strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of the nation’s intermodal transportation system. Due to its popularity and limited funding availability, the program is highly competitive.
“This nearly $1 million investment from NJDOT is a tremendous win for Hopewell Township and our residents,” said Mayor David Chait. “Completing the Cleveland Road segment of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail will enhance safety, connectivity, and quality of life, while advancing our commitment to sustainable transportation and recreation.”
This year, NJDOT received 67 applications totaling more than $93 million in requested funding. Of those submissions, just 43 projects were selected for funding statewide, making Hopewell Township’s award a significant achievement.
“This is a major step forward in the history of the LHT”, said David Sandahl, Chair of the nonprofit Lawrence Hopewell Trail Corporation. “We’ve worked very closely with the Township, the landowner, and other stakeholders to develop the project design, facilitate the permitting process, and secure this construction funding”.
“The Lawrence Hopewell Trail is a cherished regional asset, and this funding brings us one step closer to completing a critical segment of the trail,” said Deputy Mayor Uma Purandare. “We are grateful to NJDOT for recognizing the value of projects that strengthen our community and connect people to the places they live, work, and enjoy.”
The Cleveland Road segment is one of four remaining incomplete segments of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail, three of them in Hopewell Township. With projects advancing on all four, public officials and the LHTC are aiming to complete the 20-mile LHT loop in the next few years.