Authored By: The Circuit Trails | November 3, 2025

Trail development is having a moment in New Jersey. Long-envisioned connections in the Circuit Trails network are advancing, major funding is in place, and communities across southern New Jersey are seeing tangible progress toward a safer, more connected system of off-street trails, shared-use paths, and greenways for walking and biking.

The Circuit Trails, a network of multiuse trails across southern New Jersey and the Greater Philadelphia region, encompasses more than 420 completed miles of trails, connecting urban, suburban, and rural areas with safe, accessible routes for commuting, exercising, recreating, relaxing, and more. It’s one of the largest regional trail systems in the country, and its growth in New Jersey is gaining serious momentum.

That momentum just reached a milestone. Recent action by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) through the New Jersey Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) has positioned the state for historic trail expansion. Nearly $91 million has been approved to advance key Circuit Trails projects, including the Rancocas Creek Greenway, Glassboro–Elk Trail, Camden County LINK Trail, and the Johnson Trolley Trail—together representing more than 40 miles of future trail connections.

“These investments show what’s possible when we work together across county lines,” said Justin Dennis, New Jersey Chair of the Circuit Trails Coalition and Program Director at Trust for Public Land. “We’re not just talking about trails anymore, we’re moving them forward—these projects are being designed, funded, and built to connect communities, improve safety, and strengthen quality of life.”

Trail Momentum Across the State

Earlier this spring, DVRPC’s Transportation and Community Development Initiative (TCDI) awarded funding to evaluate alignments for more than 16 miles of the Delaware River Heritage Trail, a corridor that will one day link Trenton and Camden along the riverfront.

The Regional Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) funding continues to drive progress at the local level. In the most recent cycle, DVRPC awarded $12.25 million to five New Jersey projects, a major boost for the Circuit Trails network. With another round of TASA funding approaching, the opportunity to push further progress across southern New Jersey is wide open.

Across the region, Circuit Trails Coalition partners are expanding community grant programs with new philanthropic and federal support, helping residents feel safe, welcome, and connected on the trails that run through their neighborhoods.

Safer Streets, Stronger Communities

New Jersey’s Target Zero Commission, established earlier this year, aims to eliminate roadway fatalities by 2040. For the Circuit Trails Coalition, that goal aligns directly with the mission of creating safe, off-street pathways for walking, biking, and rolling.

With surging pedestrian and bicycle fatalities and serious injuries in New Jersey, off-street trails, shared-use paths, and greenways offer a safer alternative to mixing with high-speed cars and trucks, which kill 600 New Jerseyans and severely injure 3,000 every year. 

“When someone can walk, ride, or roll without worrying about traffic, that’s real progress,” said Dennis. “Every trail we build makes our communities safer and more connected.”

Keeping the Momentum Going

As New Jersey prepares for a change in state leadership, the Circuit Trails Coalition is calling for continued prioritization of trails and active transportation. Sustained investment in federal and local programs is critical to maintain the momentum now underway.

The projects listed in the current TIP—and the nearly $91 million in Circuit Trails funding—represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity to connect communities across southern New Jersey. Continued coordination among local, county, and state leaders will determine how far and how fast that vision becomes reality.

“The Circuit Trails are helping redefine what it means to commute, travel, play, and connect in New Jersey,” said Dennis. “This moment is about more than one project or one county—it’s about building a legacy of safe, sustainable, and accessible connections for everyone.”