Click for Original Story (Jersey Shore Online)

LACEY – Lacey Township recently received $395,000 in grants to improve local roadways.

The NJ Department of Transportation Infrastructure and Municipal Aid grants will fund the roadway overlay work performed for Nautilus Boulevard from Shadybrook Lane to Capstan Drive, according to township officials.

Mayor Timothy McDonald noted that the township is always happy to receive help, especially when budgets are tight.

“Our goal is to leverage grant dollars to help improve our infrastructure and cover the funding gap and focus on the urgent need for repaving,” said McDonald.

The Municipal Aid Program is quite competitive, receiving a whopping 681 applications for funds this year. These 681 applications requested more than $377.9 million in assistance, however there is only $161.25 million available in funds from the Transportation Trust Fund supported by the gas tax, officials said.

Lacey has been a recipient of the NJ DOT Municipal Aid Grants before. Over the past five years the township has been granted $1.8 million for roadway improvements on Lakeside Drive, East Lacey Road, Lakeside Drive East, Laurel and Nautilus.