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def # 21 02/09/11

COUNTY SUPPORTS EFFORTS FOR PARK-N-RIDE

TOMS RIVER - The Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders is giving its support to the state’s 9th Legislative District leaders and the efforts of Little Egg Harbor Township to bring a park and ride facility to Interchange 58 in Little Egg Harbor Township.

"This is a facility that would come with a number of benefits for the residents and commuters of southern Ocean County," said Freeholder John P. Kelly, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Department of Engineering. "Southern Ocean County is a growth area and a park and ride facility would help promote ride sharing and could help in reducing congestion on the Garden State Parkway."

Kelly, Ocean County Director of Law and Pubic Safety, along with the 9th District legislators and Little Egg Harbor Township Mayor Ray Gormley, have met with Executive Director Veronique Hakim and other officials from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to discuss the prospect of building a park-n-ride off of Garden State Parkway Exit 58 for commuters as well as plans for infrastructure improvements at the exit to address existing traffic problems.

"Our delegation continues to work with the Turnpike Authority to have a park-n-ride constructed at Exit 58 in order to provide an appropriate, convenient and safe site at which commuters can leave their vehicles. In the absence of any other alternative, commuters have over the years been forced to leave their vehicles in a poorly lit dirt lot with pot holes located off Route 539," stated the legislators.

Kelly noted that since the widening of the Garden State Parkway from Interchange 30 to 63 is currently in its preliminary design stages, this would be an appropriate time for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to consider incorporating a park-n-ride at the interchange in Little Egg Harbor as part of the widening project.

"This is an important regional transportation concept that we are urging the New Jersey Turnpike Authority include in its widening plans," said Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari.

A resolution from the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders in support of the park-n-ride effort will be sent to the 9th District legislators, Little Egg Harbor Township and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.