New Jersey Transportation Alternatives Program Profile
New Jersey’s Columbia Trail | Photo by Anthony Le
State DOT Program Staff
State DOT TA Coordinator
Deval Desai
Division of Local Aid and Economic Development
New Jersey Department of Transportation
1035 Parkway Avenue
Trenton, NJ 08625
Tel: 609-963-2012
Email: deval.desai@dot.nj.gov
FHWA Division TA Coordinator
Sutapa Bandyopadhyay, AICP, Ph.D.
FHWA – NJ Division Office
840 Bear Tavern Road Suite 202
West Trenton, NJ 08628-1019
Tel: 609-637-4203
Email: sutapa.bandyopadhyay@dot.gov
State DOT Website: NJ DOT
TA Program Structure, Policies, and Procedures
- Application timeline: A pre-application meeting is required. Applications open annually. Pre-application meetings were held from January 6th to April 11th, 2025. Please see website for more information.
- TA program structure: This program is being administered by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), in partnership with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) and the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO).
- Application Tips: Projects are reviewed by the Selection Committee to establish technical feasibility (the timeframe, design standards, permits needed, potential for environmental constraints on construction, etc.), to determine the accuracy of project costs and to ensure that the recommended group of projects meets the program goals. The recommended project shortlist is developed with consideration given to geographic distribution.
- Who is eligible to apply: Local government, regional transportation authorities, transit agencies, natural resource or public land agencies, school districts, and tribal governments
- Application components: Project sponsor, ability to provide match, TA project eligibility, inclusion in transportation improvement plan, project description and implementation plan, cost estimate, project status (permits, environmental clearance, etc.), right of way, indication of public involvement, project maintenance plan, design specifications, equity considerations
- Selection criteria: Public support, completeness of application, project impact on mode choice, community benefit, safety and public health benefits, inclusion into larger plans, project readiness, cost estimate, environmental impact, ROW, matching funds
- Is there an advisory committee?: Yes
- Advisory committee members: Comprises of representatives from the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, New Jersey Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration and others
- Project award minimum: None
- Project award maximum: None
- Typical local match: While there is no requirement for matching funds, the availability of other funds is viewed as an indication, or measure, of the projects potential to succeed.
- Match requirement: None
More information on the NJDOT Transportation Alternatives program is available here.
