County receives $4.4 million for LINK Trail Projects

(Cherry Hill, NJ) – The Camden County Board of Commissioners and Office of Environmental Affairs have been awarded funding by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) for several LINK Trail projects in recent months, totaling approximately $4.4 million.

Throughout the month of May, the DVRPC designated three funding awards for the county as part of various programs. The county was awarded:

• $1 million to construct a bike/pedestrian bridge over Cooper River parallel to Admiral Wilson Boulevard in Camden (via the Transportation Alternatives Set-Asides Program)
• $300,000 to design a bike/pedestrian bridge over Route 130 between the Camden County Golf Academy and Cooper River Park (via the DVRPC Regional Trails Program and funded by the William Penn Foundation)
• $3.2 million to construct the bike/pedestrian bridge over Route 130 between the Camden County Golf Academy and Cooper River Park (via the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ))

“The Route 130 bridge is a critical component of the LINK Trail project, providing a safe crossing at what is otherwise one of the most dangerous road crossings along the entire 34-mile trail,” said County Commissioner Jeff Nash. “The bridge will also allow for greater access to Cooper River Park for Camden residents, especially those in the Parkside neighborhood. The entire LINK Trail will provide new opportunities for members of the Camden County community to traverse our region, stimulating economic activity and improving public health throughout the surrounding areas.”

The Transportation Alternative Set-Asides program is a competitive grant program which provides funds to build pedestrian and bicycle facilities, improve access to transportation, create safe routes to schools, preserve historic transportation structures, provide environmental mitigation, and create trail projects that serve a transportation purpose while promoting safety and mobility. The program is administered by NJDOT in partnership with DVRPC, North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, and the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization.

DVRPC’s Competitive Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) seeks to fund transportation projects that will improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion in the DVRPC Region. CMAQ eligible projects will demonstrably reduce air pollution emissions and help the DVRPC region meet the federal health-based air quality standards. The program reimburses awardees for project costs after funding authorization and a notice to proceed.

The Camden County LINK Trail, traveling through 17 Camden County municipalities from the Ben Franklin Bridge to Winslow Township, was formerly known as the Cross Camden County Trail. At its completion, the trail will travel through urban, suburban, and rural communities in 17 different Camden County municipalities. The 12-foot wide multi-use path will drive tourism and economic activity along the route, while also generating incredible benefits to both public and environmental health in our region.

More information related to the Trail, including drone videos for segments covering the entire length of the LINK Trail, is available at camdencounty.com/trails.