Six New Jersey municipalities will receive fiscal year 2026 funds from the state to help advance transit-oriented development projects across five counties.

Gov. Phil Murphy announced the Transit Village Program grants in December. The awards will reach Atlantic, Burlington, Essex, Hunterdon and Monmouth counties.

Involving multiple state agencies, the initiative allows locales with transit facilities within their borders to earn Transit Village designation. To be eligible, theses municipalities must develop plans for dense, mixed-use redevelopment that includes housing near rail, bus, ferry or light rail depots. The effort aims to revitalize these areas into walkable “live-shop-work” locations.

FY 2026 Transit Village grants will go to:

Pleasantville, Atlantic County  | $330,000

• Old Turnpike Improvement Program

Burlington City, Burlington County | $275,000

• Pearl Street and St. Mary Street intersection improvement

East Orange, Essex County | $120,000

• East Orange Transit Digital Wayfinding Enhancement Project

South Orange Village Township, Essex County | $279,000

• Train Station/Sloan Street Streetscape and Sidewalk Improvements

High Bridge Borough, Hunterdon County | $430,000

• Commons Park Pedestrian Improvements

Long Branch, Monmouth County | $273,000

• Westwood Avenue Improvements

The Transit Village program includes 37 municipalities. The state started the year with 35 designees, since adding a location each in Hunterdon and Somerset counties.

This year marks an increase in funding for the program.

According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, available Transit Village grants traditionally total $1 million. This year, an additional $8 million came from appropriations for Grants-in-Aid programs (specifically this one as well as Safe Streets to Transit Program, and for Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities/Accommodations). The Transit Village program receive $707,000.

“The New Jersey Department of Transportation and NJ Transit are committed to developing public transportation that enhances our communities for decades to come,” NJDOT Commissioner and NJ Transit Chair Fran O’Connor said. “Under Gov. Murphy and the Legislature’s leadership, the extra funds allocated to the Transit Village program will help redevelop pedestrian-friendly infrastructure near our transit facilities to make them more accessible and safer for everyone.”

According to NJDOT, each Transit Village municipality may submit one application for funding. Projects must be within one-half mile of the transit facility.

Projects are awarded on a competitive basis. NJDOT said contributing factors include proximity to the depot, walkability, bicycling, project need and equity criteria to benefit low-income and minority populations.