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ENGINEERING AND LEGAL FEES SPENT BY LACEY TOWNSHIP APPROXIMATE $1 MILLION August 26, 2010 The LRTEC is revealing to our site visitors a small sampling of bills paid by Lacey Township to T&M Associates for engineering fees for the Railroad Avenue project. Also a small sampling of the paid bills from Gilmore & Monahan, our township attorney for time spent on the Railroad Avenue project. Between engineering and legal fees the Township has spent approximately $1 million to date. See these bills here Please send your comments to the DEP by downloading, printing and mailing this sample letter here by November 8. Mr. Charles Welch, Supervisor Commisioner Bob Martin PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release October 25, 2010 Contact: Donna Bahrle – 609-969-7437 Helen Henderson – 732-575-5701 Alison Lemke – 609-290-1867 LACEY TOWNSHIP’S 24 MILLION DOLLAR FOLLY Lacey Township, Ocean County: The Lacey Rail-Trail Environmental Committee (LRTEC) has released an independent professional cost analysis that determines the price tag to build the Township’s proposed 2.2-mile roadway (Railroad Avenue) on the abandoned Central Jersey Railroad Right-of-Way from Lacey Road to Bay Way. The analysis estimated the costs could range up to a whopping $24 million. The cost analysis was performed by Sabra Wang & Associates, Inc. (SWA) , Baltimore, MD, an engineering firm specializing in traffic engineering, transportation planning, civil and highway engineering, municipal infrastructure & utilities engineering, structural engineering and construction management. Their analysis was based on plans submitted as part of a township CAFRA application to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for the Railroad Avenue Extension project, dated September 12, 2008, prepared by T&M Associates. The cost analysis was divided into 5 areas: direct roadway costs, utility relocation, traffic signals, signing & pavement markings, right of way acquisition, and normal preliminary construction items. See the construction cost estimate here: Donna Bahrle, LRTEC, stated, “Lacey Township Committee members have been asked numerous times by residents what the roadway would cost to build, yet the Committee has never been forthright with information.” Sabra Wang indicated that the Township’s engineering firm, T&M Associates, submitted plans to the State that failed to include many pertinent details essential to the actual construction of the roadway. “In such tough financial times detailed plans and the actual cost of this roadway should be a Township priority. To not have this information is reckless leadership” said Helen Henderson, Chair of the LRTEC. “Our organization has provided alternative traffic improvements for Route 9 that are much less costly and a greater benefit to the environment”. “Once again the Township has done an injustice to the people of Lacey Township by pushing forward with this roadway application without fully knowing what the true cost impact of this project would be to the taxpayers.” added Bahrle. “They pulled a similar stunt when they placed the non-binding referendum question on the general election ballot in 2006 asking the voters to decide whether to build a road but without telling the voters what the cost would be to build it.” “Aside from the monumental costs to build the roadway, there will be lighting and general road maintenance outlay that will have to be added each year to the Township’s already overburdened budget.” said Helen Henderson, LRTEC Chair. Alison Lemke, Vice Chair of the LRTEC, added “Not only has the roadway plan failed to demonstrate any value towards traffic relief, it may not be safe when considering the unknowns of the 20” pressured natural gas transmission line that is below the surface of the right-of-way. There is no way to put a price tag on public safety and welfare.” Lacey Township has furloughed Township employees and cut many programs because of extreme budget shortfalls but when Committeemen were questioned about the roadway expenditures at recent committee meetings they indicated that $3.2 million has been bonded so far for the project. Bahrle continued, “In this time of economic insecurity, if there is no guaranteed return on the investment, there is no investment. This
roadway project is nothing more than a money pit for the taxpayers of Lacey Township.” MOVING ALONG WITHOUT A NEW ROAD July 20, 2010 LaceyTownship, OceanCounty: The Lacey Rail-Trail Environmental Committee (LRTEC) is releasing details from a technical report commissioned by their organization which outlines traffic improvements for over 2 miles on State Highway Route 9 in LaceyTownship. The report “US Route 9 Signal Timing Evaluation” evaluates the current and projected traffic conditions and benefits from South Street in LanokaHarbor to Lakeside Drive South in ForkedRiver with signal timing adjustments at 7 intersections and a major intersection improvement in the Township of Lacey. The report was conducted with the assistance of the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The report is the latest from the non-profit environmental and pedestrian safety organization that highlights the potential for highway corridor improvements versus building an expensive, environmentally damaging and dangerous road on a 2+-mile portion of the township-owned Central Jersey Railroad Right-of-Way. For a decade the LRTEC has been at odds with local elected officials that want to build a road along the existing natural corridor. The organization is committed to preserving the sandy, tree-lined area as part of Ocean County’s Barnegat Branch Trail that will traverse 5 municipalities from Barnegat to South Toms River as a safe, non-motorized transportation corridor. The LRTEC has been successful in securing 2 CAFRA permit application denials from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) that were necessary for the Township to construct the road project. The most recent denial in March of 2009 was appealed by the Township. Helen Henderson, chair of the LRTEC says the report could not be timelier. “We know the Township is negotiating a politically motivated settlement with the current NJDEP administration to overturn the second CAFRA permit denial to build the road and we know that they insist the road is necessary to improve traffic conditions” she stated. “We also know the denial was based partially on regulations which require that improvements are to be made to the existing roadway infrastructure first. This report proves that additional upgrades on Route 9 are cost efficient, environmentally friendly and safer”. She also added, “The improvements also serve the greater good of the corridor, unlike the road proposal “. The LRTEC is concerned that Township officials are using their influence with the current Christie administration to reverse the previous permit decision that denied the Township’s road application. The organization says it was a solid denial based on the governing rules and regulations. “The permit denial cited at least a dozen regulatory non-compliances, some of which could not be overcome, such as the protection of public open space”, said Henderson. The new report concludes that “signal optimization would not only reduce travel time, but also reduce emissions” the study also found “significant travel time reductions traveling southbound on US 9 with the construction of the intersection improvements at Lacey Road.” Donna Bahrle, founder and board secretary of the organization has been the leading advocate on the intersection improvements and said the LRTEC was responsible for first initiating the Lacey Road and Route 9 intersection improvement project via a formal ‘problem statement’ submitted to the NJDOT in 2001. Bahrle says that this report provides the data necessary to prove their assertions that corridor and intersection improvements are optimal for traffic relief and a road on the railroad corridor is not required. “Even during peak summer travel times, signal timing improvements alone will reduce travel delays both north and southbound. In addition, all arterial sections will be performing at acceptable Levels of Service (LOS) using the signal timing optimization methods. ” she said. Henderson added “In addition, the report shows the greatest improvement for the Sunrise Boulevard intersection area will come from the Lacey Road and Route 9 intersection improvement which results in a decrease of delay time by over a minute traveling northbound and a significant decrease in delay time by over 2 1//2 minutes traveling southbound. These findings along with the signal timing changes are huge improvements for drivers on Route 9 in LaceyTownship”, she said. Donna Bahrle summed it up by saying, “Using cost effective and well-planned solutions to the traffic concerns in LaceyTownship by far outweigh the need to build an ill-conceived and expensive road project on the railroad right-of-way.” Sabra, Wang & Associates recommends optimizing traffic signal timing plans, the construction of the planned Lacey Road intersection
improvements as well as increasing the scope of the project to provide a continuous two-lane section between Sunrise Boulevard and Lacey Road. Published by Sabra, Wang & Associates, Inc.
SECRET TALKS BRING FEAR OF POLITICAL DEAL - Press release and
Download the following press release here for off-line viewing: May 12, 2010. Contact: Helen Henderson 732.575.5701 LaceyTownship, OceanCounty: The Lacey Rail-Trail Environmental Committee (LRTEC) has released documents indicating that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has entered into settlement negotiations aimed at invalidating a 2009 CAFRA permit denial to construct a controversial 2- mile roadway on the Central Jersey Railroad Right-of-Way. The non-profit organization said they became aware of the discussions via a routine Open Public Records Act request and were surprised to learn of such details. An attendance sheet from an April 6, 2010 meeting detailed numerous Township officials, legal counsel (including Ocean County
Republican Chairman George Gilmore) and consultants met with various NJDEP staff and Deputy Attorney General, Kristen Heinzerling. Upon learning of this meeting, LRTEC's legal counsel, Bradley M. Campbell contacted DAG Heinzerling, questioning the appropriateness of
the meeting in light of his client's motion to intervene in the appeal. (April 26th letter to DAG Heinzerling from Campbell) When the Attorney General responded and confirmed that as a result of the April 6th meeting "The parties are in settlement discussions"
(April 28th letter to Brad M. Campbell, Esq. from Heinzerling), Mr. Campbell then sent appropriate correspondence to the Administrative Law Judge objecting to any attempt at settlement. (April 28th letter to Honorable Judge Futey from Campbell).
Helen Henderson, Chair of the LRTEC said her organization is fearful of the nature of this meeting and potential outcomes of such settlement discussions. "Ten years of advocacy that has protected the trail; two State CAFRA permit denials that found the road project failed to meet over a dozen regulatory requirements; a pending appeal in the Office of Administrative Law; and we now learn, by accident, that the DEP is in these discussions with the Township" she said. Henderson added: "Considering the circumstances, it is hard not to be wary of political interference. But despite what could be political pressure, two DEP commissioners did the right thing in denying the permit and we have no reason to expect that Commissioner Martin will not do the same". The LRTEC motion to intervene in the Township's lawsuit against NJDEP includes at least 12 adjacent property owners who would lose the use of some or all of their property should the road be built. One resident on the lawsuit would lose her entire home via eminent domain instituted by LaceyTownship. The LRTEC supports the Department's CAFRA permit decision and believes the court and NJDEP should uphold the denial. After 10 years of grassroots advocacy to preserve the Central Jersey Railroad Right-of-Way as the Ocean County Barnegat Branch Trail, a safe pedestrian recreation and non-motorized alternate transportation corridor, the LRTEC says they do not expect that New Jersey politics should overrun honesty and integrity on an issue that is right for today and would prove to benefit future generations.
LACEY ROAD A WASTEFUL BOONDOGGLE
May 4, 2010. Read the Asbury Park Press published opinion of Bradley Campell, former commissioner of the state DEP from 2002 to 2006. he is the attorney for the Lacey Rail Trail Environmental Committee and 12 homeowners affected by the road project. Download the link here:
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For more information about Lacey Rail Trail activities:
Email: hhlaceyrailtrail@msn.com
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