Politics
Camden Council Approves $52 Million Infrastructure Bond for Roads, Transit
The July 7 vote allocates $52 million to upgrades that the council resolution states will support construction employment and improved bus routes for Camden residents.
How we reported this
Camden City Council members voted 7-2 on July 7 to authorize a $52 million general obligation bond for road resurfacing, bridge repairs and expanded transit stops under the 2026 Capital Improvement Program.
The measure addresses deferred maintenance listed in the city's 2025 infrastructure assessment, which identified 38 miles of streets rated poor or failing and 14 bus shelters overdue for replacement.
Local Employment and Service Changes
Under the bond terms, at least 40 percent of project labor hours must go to Camden residents through partnerships with local workforce centers, according to the adopted resolution. Road crews are projected to begin work on Federal Street and Broadway by October, with the city clerk's office stating that contracts will require contractors to post hiring notices at the Camden One-Stop Career Center.
Transit upgrades include adding real-time arrival signs at 22 stops along the 405 and 406 bus lines and extending two routes by 1.2 miles each into the Cramer Hill neighborhood. The resolution projects these changes will shorten average commute times by 12 minutes for riders who use NJ Transit services daily.
The city's 2025 budget report recorded $18.4 million spent on prior pavement projects that employed 187 local workers, providing a baseline the council used when setting the new bond's workforce targets.
Implementation Timeline
Bond proceeds will be issued in two tranches, with the first $28 million available after the September bond sale. City engineers must submit quarterly progress reports to the council's public works committee, beginning in December 2026. The full program is scheduled for completion by December 2028.