Inclusive Healthy Communities

In 2021, the New Jersey Department of Human Services Division of Disability Services awarded the Township of Hanover a $100,000 capacity-building grant to help the community promote the inclusivity, health, and well-being of individuals with disabilities as a part of the Inclusive Healthy Communities (IHC) Grant Program. 

The Inclusive Healthy Communities (IHC) Grant Program is an initiative designed to provide funding opportunities to communities and organizations in New Jersey to promote inclusive practices that support the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities in the communities where they live.

Hanover Township’s goals with the grant program were to create opportunities for greater mobility in the community and make it a truly inclusive place to work, live and play. 

Prior to applying, the Township interviewed individuals with disabilities and various local organizations, advocates, political leaders, educators, and businesses to learn of either barriers they face or opportunities that exist to allow them to fully participate in the community. The findings from these interviews guided Hanover’s proposal for the development of a mobility plan and to allow for transportation service and infrastructure upgrades to better assist these residents in need. 

Inclusive Healthy Communities Mobility Plan

The Township of Hanover is proud to release the Inclusive Healthy Communities Mobility Plan, a long-range vision for the future of mobility in Hanover. The plan offers guidance to maximize the efficiency of the Township's existing transportation network and infrastructure by developing strategies for long-term transportation upgrades that are inclusive of people with disabilities and will advance sustainable practices, systems, and environmental changes. This result is the culmination of 15 months of collecting public opinions, analyzing township infrastructure, and researching mobility options available to Hanover residents.

The Mobility Plan serves as a guide for infrastructure investment to improve mobility and economic growth with a focus on pedestrian safety and improved public transportation options. Immediate improvements residents will be able to see this year are re-painted, high-visibility pedestrian crosswalks and sidewalks throughout the municipality. Additionally, four push-button flashing pedestrian beacons will be placed at two intersections on Ridgedale Avenue which were key locations explicitly mentioned by participants in the outreach conducted for the development of this plan.

The ambitious plan also includes recommendations for improving access to transportation services and working with other organizations to do so. These recommendations will be explored in the future through potential partnerships with Morris County and NJTIP @ Rutgers. A Local Public Transportation Guide was released earlier this year in conjunction with this project. 

The Hanover Township Inclusive Healthy Communities Mobility Plan can be read below or at this link - The Hanover Township Inclusive Healthy Communities Mobility Plan (PDF)

Hanover Township Public Transportation Guide

The Township of Hanover is proud to debut the Public Transportation Guide for seniors and persons with disabilities!  At the start of the Township’s grant project, outreach was done to learn how the Township can help to improve mobility and transportation for people within the municipality. Many residents expressed that they did not know what options existed for them regarding public transportation services in town. This guide includes information about and applications for the Township’s Dial-A-Ride service, the Morris Area Paratransit Service (MAPS), NJ Transit Access Link service, and some NJ Transit discounted fare programs.  

The free guides are available to the public in the lobby of Town Hall and the Community Center, while supplies last, on a first-come, first-served basis. 

If you cannot make it to Town Hall, you can request that a Public Transportation Guide be mailed to your residence by filling out this form or you can view it online here - Hanover Township Public Transportation Guide (PDF).

Outreach & Survey Raffle

In November 2021, the Township of Hanover notified and awarded the winners of the Township of Hanover’s Inclusive Healthy Communities Mobility Plan survey raffle. The winners were: Anthony Grabas and Dianne Jones. Using a random number generator, each survey respondent who opted into the raffle was assigned a number. A member of Hanover’s Inclusive Healthy Communities advisory team, Daniel Berek, of the DAWN Center for Independent Living, selected the two winning numbers. The winners each received a $100 VISA gift card and commemorative certificate for their participation in the project. 

Raffle winner, Anthony Grabas, poses with his certificate

Raffle winner Anthony Grabas posing with his certificate.

The survey was advertised in local media, on the Township website, and in public spaces (the local libraries, Starbucks, Panera Bread, etc.), and ran from June 1, 2021, until August 31, 2021. Respondents were asked about the transportation methods they use and how they move around within the Township of Hanover. 

The data collected from the survey along with feedback from focus groups conducted with partner organizations ARC Morris, Employment Horizons, Independence 360, and Hanover Dial-A-Ride, by the Township’s consultant, Feeley Consulting, was factored into the creation of the Township of Hanover Inclusive Healthy Communities Mobility Plan. 


This project was funded by an Inclusive Healthy Communities Grant from the Division of Disability Services, New Jersey Department of Human Services.

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