New Jersey's Pedestrian Safety Funding Cuts Spark Outrage

Strategic Insights -

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has proposed a 2026 fiscal year budget that reduces funding for local pedestrian safety projects, despite emphasizing road and pedestrian safety in his State of the State address earlier this year. The decision comes amid a record number of pedestrian deaths in the state, with 227 fatalities in 2024, the highest number since 1986. The Murphy administration has made "record investments" in road safety, but critics argue that the cuts send a message that these projects are not a priority.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Murphy administration has proposed reducing funding for local pedestrian safety projects from $58 million in fiscal year 2025 to $27 million in fiscal year 2026.
  • The cuts will reduce funding for the Transit Villages, Safe Streets to Transit, and Bikeways grant programs from $16 million to $8 million.
  • The Murphy administration has made "record investments" in road safety, with $408.6 million allocated for pedestrian and cyclist programs from fiscal years 2019-2026, compared to $23.5 million during the eight years of the Christie administration.
  • New Jersey has the most dangerous roads for pedestrians in the country, according to a 2023 study.
  • The federal infrastructure funding that goes toward "green" projects, including pedestrian and cyclist safety, has been frozen by the Trump administration.
  • Critics argue that the cuts will delay and defer projects to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety, and that uncertainty is not good for municipal budgeting.

Statistics:

  • 227 pedestrian deaths in New Jersey in 2024, the highest number since 1986.
  • 22 cyclist deaths in 2024, the third-highest number in the last 25 years.
  • $408.6 million allocated for pedestrian and cyclist programs from fiscal years 2019-2026.
  • $23.5 million allocated for pedestrian and cyclist programs during the eight years of the Christie administration.
  • 5% reduction in state department budgets, including certain grant programs like those that fund local road safety projects.

Sources:

  • NorthJersey.com
  • Sangeeta and Sunil Badlani, parents of Nikhil Badlani, who died in a car crash in 2008.
  • Francis O'Connor, commissioner of the state Department of Transportation.
  • Natalie Hamilton, spokesman for the governor.
  • Natalie Hamilton, spokesman for the governor.
  • Gov. Phil Murphy, State of the State address.
  • Corey Hannigan, active transportation program manager at the Tri-State Transportation Campaign.
  • Paul Penna, director of government affairs for the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.