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Politics & Government

Funding for Berkeley Link in Rail Trail Sought

Freeholders hoping state DOT will foot the bill

Another Berkeley Township link in the Ocean County rail trail along the right of way of the old Barnegat Branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey will be the subject of an application for $321,865 in state Department of Transportation Funds.

Freeholder James F. Lacey said that sum is needed to build the trail from Maryland Avenue to Hickory Lane, about three quarters of a mile.

The freeholders are expected to apply for the state funds when they meet at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

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If the grant is approved, Lacey said work on improving the right of way could start next summer. It will link up with two miles of the trail already built in Berkeley.

Ground will be broken soon for a 1.5-mile section of the rail trail stretching from Wells Mills Road to Oyster Creek in Ocean Township. When that is done bikers and walkers will be able to use 5 miles of the trail from Burr Street in Barnegat to Oyster Creek. A $447,0444 contract has been awarded for the 1.5-mile section of the trail there.

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The county has also received a $350,000 state grant to extend the trail north from Oyster Creek to Lacey Road in Lacey, a distance of 2.4 miles.

There the trail meets a political impasse, with Lacey officials split on whether the old railroad right of way should be used only for the rail trail, or part of it for a road parallel to busy Route 9. Lacey voters have gone both ways on that issue at local referenda.

The goal is to have the rail trail run from Burr Street in Barnegat to Toms River, about 15.6 miles.

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