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Press Release: Group Says Rail-Trail is Cool Idea - Celebrates National Trails Day
LaceyTownship, Ocean County, June 2008: Members of a non-profit environmental group say there are still more reasons to preserve an abandoned rail corridor as a greenway: Skyrocketing
gas prices and global warming.
On Friday, June 6th and Saturday, June 7th, the Lacey Rail-Trail Environmental Committee (LRTEC) celebrated "National Trails Day" with two events highlighting their ongoing efforts to
preserve the Central Jersey Railroad right-of-way as a contiguous, non-vehicular CountyPark for hiking and biking.
 On Friday the 6th, the group hosted an "Antiques NO Road Show" from 6:00 p.m. to
10:00 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall on East Lacey Road in ForkedRiver. The event turned out to be a huge success, with about 90 supporters in attendance, and
included antique appraisals by Verde Antiques of Manahawkin and Waretown Coin & Stamp. The event was catered by the German Butcher of Forked River and prize
giveaways were donated by local businesses, including Bicycles Unlimited, Lanoka Harbor Farms, A's Garden Center, Bagel Biz, and Shoprite.
Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club was a guest speaker. Mr. Tittel spoke about greenways and global warming and the connection to a recent report commissioned
by the LRTEC on the benefits of trail preservation verses roadway construction in LaceyTownship. The report "Barnegat Branch Bike Path in Lacey Township, NJ Tree
Inventory and Benefits" reviews the benefits of preserving the natural corridor.
Mr. Tittel also spoke about the importance of grassroots organizations as the foundation for so many open space victories. "From the
GreatSwamp, to the Pinelands, to the Railroad Right-of-Way..." He thanked the supporters of the trail and commended LRTEC Chairwoman
Helen Henderson for her outstanding work on environmental issues inTrenton. "These types of local groups and issues are what make the Sierra
Club work. I appreciate all the time that Helen has given to CAFRA and coastal issues and it's my privilege to support this cause here tonight".
 The event was a perfect platform for the group to highlight the recent study commissioned
by the LRTEC entitled "Barnegat Branch Bike Path in Lacey Township, NJ Tree Inventory & Benefits", which quantifies the benefits of the trees in the "at risk" portion of the length of
the right-of-way that the township would remove should a roadway be approved for construction.
An estimated 5000+ healthy, mature trees consisting of 30% evergreens and 70% deciduous with a circumference up to 61” at 4.5 feet above ground would be cut down should the road be built and
the replacement value of just 20% of those trees would be in excess of $550,200. As quoted from the study "over a 50-year lifetime, one
tree generates $31,250 worth of oxygen, provides $62,000 worth of air pollution control, recycles $37,500 worth of water, and controls $31,250 worth of soil erosion."
Donna Bahrle, founder and current board secretary of the LRTEC stated "The tree study
gives a real dollars and cents perspective and outlines the financial importance of these trees to the residents of LaceyTownship. Not only does the
township want our already overburdened taxpayers to fund the road construction at an estimated $4 million plus, the township committee can now add the financial loss of the trees to that huge bill."
Alison Lemke, Vice Chair of the group stated "Trees naturally clean and cool the atmosphere, and our study shows their removal will only add to the earth's alarming warming trend and CO2 rise".
"This is the most important place in New Jersey to celebrate National Trails Day to show how important the protection of trails are to the
Communities they are in and to the entire Country as a whole", stated Jeff Tittel Director NJ Sierra Club. "Every step you take on a trail is a step
for the environment, for your health and for our future"
 Helen Henderson, Chair of the LRTEC contends that not only will thousands of trees be
removed to construct the road in LaceyTownship but also that the road creates an unsafe situation for trail users by creating dangerous 4-way intersections. Additionally, the
roadway promotes automobile use in a time when biking or walking to run local errands is more desirable, environmentally friendly, and very economical during these difficult financial times.
"When you consider our efforts on a global scale you can easily see why preserving the trail in its natural state is a must. It's hard to argue against the obvious environmental, health,
fiscal, and social benefits of trail preservation", she said.
On Saturday the 7th, the group coordinated an awareness event on the completed portion of the County Park, the Barnegat Branch Bike Path. Supporters of the rail-trail and the
public met at Burr Street in Barnegat to walk or bike the 2+ mile completed portion on the trail from Barnegat to Waretown.
The event took place in spite of soaring temperatures and hikers and bikers came out to celebrate the first completed 2-mile section of the
Barnegat Branch Bike Path. Beginning at Burr Street in Barnegat and heading north for 2 miles to Greenbriar OceanAire in Waretown, some 40
people praised the newest addition to the Ocean County Parks Department. The walkers, hikers, and bikers included senior citizens, children,
bike enthusiasts represented by Beachwood Bicycles, and an organized senior hiking group from the Mirage in Barnegat.
The Lacey Rail-Trail Environmental Committee made some new friends and supporters for their efforts to preserve the Lacey portion exclusively for the county park.
 "For us there was never any option but to support complete preservation of the trail. Once
you experience a trail like this, you can't help but fight LaceyTownship's proposal to build a road. The people here today experiencing this wonderful County park are 100% behind
us", said Henderson. "This is something we always believed in and dream of for our residents too. Now, having this first portion of the trail completed makes our will to protect
our portion of the park even stronger This is an honor to celebrate this magnificent CountyPark on National Trails Day."
Bahrle added, "All the more reason now than ever to preserve this trail in its entirety, gas is over $4 a gallon and every person is feeling the pain. The consideration to walk or bike to
run local errands or travel to work is a very authentic reality and LaceyTownship should join the townships to our north and south and provide the same, safe car-free alternative to their
residents by preserving the trail."
see also: www.americanhiking.org for more information on National Trails Day
Former DEP commissioner doubts road will receive CAFRA permit
By BOB VOSSELLER Staff Writer June 26, 2008
LACEY While supporters of a bypass road designed to reduce traffic congestion on Route 9 in the township expressed confidence that a revised
project will move forward, a former Department of Environmental Protection commissioner expressed doubt that it will receive a required state permit.
Around 100 residents attended a special informational forum on June 11, which aimed to familiarize people with the proposed project that seeks to
convert a 1.9-mile section of the former Barnegat/Toms River branch of the Central Jersey Railroad right of way into a shared roadway and pedestrian/bicycle path. Most in attendance endorsed the project.
A pre-Coastal Area Facilities Review Act meeting was held in Trenton in March, which Committeeman Gary Quinn, Deputy Mayor John C.
Parker and Township Attorney George Gilmore attended. The purpose of that meeting was to layout the overall plan to the state, according to Committeeman Gary Quinn.
This marks the second time the governing body has sought to build the bypass road. The last time the township applied for the required CAFRA permit, in 2006, the permit was turned down.
"This time the road has been extended from South Street to Bay Way. It is going from South Street and north on Railroad Avenue and going all the
way through town. The new road is strictly to move traffic off of Route 9," Quinn said.
Former DEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell was familiar with the last road proposal the township submitted. It was during his watch that the
permit was turned down and he is not optimistic concerning the township's chances of getting its CAFRA permit this time.
Campbell said the first permit was denied because the proposal required the destruction of open space that parallels the trail.
"The township now proposes to destroy even more open space," Campbell said. He called the new effort "misguided."
"It will sacrifice open space. The township's theory is that by destroying more open space it will demonstrate more traffic relief but the level of
traffic congestion will also have to be increased," he said.
At a time when most local governments are protecting open space, Campbell said it is bizarre to see Lacey destroy more.
"They seem to be unwilling to let the facts get in their way," Campbell said.
The issue of building a road parallel to the railroad right of way has been a sticking point between members of the Lacey Rail-Trail Environmental
Committee, the governing body and residents for about a decade. The subject has often created angry exchanges between speakers at Township Committee meetings and members of the governing body.
Group Chairwoman Helen Henderson said the group's efforts have been steadfast and have gained the support of the 9th District delegation to
move the intersection improvement steadily through the state Department of Transportation.
Construction plans for the project show the roadway will consist of two 12-foot lanes, partially curbed with a posted speed limit of 30 miles per hour and will be restricted to cars and school buses only.
The project may also extend an additional .3 miles parallel to Cedar Creek in order to connect with Bay Way Avenue, for an overall length of 2.2
miles. Access would be provided for St. Pius X Church and ForkedRiverElementary School.
The roadway would be separated from the nearby bicycle/pedestrian path by a vegetated buffer with a split rail fence and landscaping.
Quinn said during a June 12 Township Committee meeting that the June 11 information forum "had a good turnout. I was puzzled that there were
no comments from those who have not supported the road project in the past. My hope is that they have changed their opinion on this. The forum
was designed to get input from both sides. I don't want to see this issue divide the town again. It has taken us 18 months to get where we are now."
The Lacey Rail-Trail Environmental Committee has stated that the group would hold its own public information session.
"We will also conduct a public information session where citizens will be able to find out information on alternatives to constructing this haphazard
road along a CountyPark route. Our experts continue to find that the intersection improvement to Lacey Road and Route 9 is vital to the traffic flow in our community," Henderson said.
During the June 11 information meeting, Lacey Environmental Commission member Mary Jensen said it appeared only scrub brush and not hard
wood trees would have to be removed. The township's environmental commission supported the project during the session.
"I think it was a good meeting and the road is important for the community," Quinn said. "We need additional roadways. The other night I was
leaving TomsRiver around 7:30 or 8 and Route 9 was closed. The new road is being designed to get traffic off Route 9. Truly this will provide
more safety to residents of the town. We don't want to go into any litigation and we are happy to talk to anybody," Quinn said.
Quinn added that if anyone wanted to meet with a public official or had questions that they didn't want to bring up during the forum to contact the Township Municipal complex.
"When people have all of the facts, only then are they able to make a truly educated decision. We will continue to provide this service to the
community," Henderson said. Henderson and Bahrle said they will make their consultants available to the residents as well.
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