Politics & Government

State Poised to Approve Permits for Railroad Ave. Extension

Debate over roadway extension has lingered for 14 years

The state Department of Environmental Protection has said it intends to issue a permit that would allow a 1.9 mile extension of Railroad Avenue to be built following two previous denials and 14 years of debate.

The road, the subject of past litigation between the township and those who oppose its construction, would serve as an approximately 1.9 mile-long connector road and bike path within the former Barnegat Branch railroad right-of-way.

Mayor David Most said Monday that the right-of-way is owned by the township. The road would connect Lacey Road with South Street, providing a north-south alternative to Route 9.

"It was based on a master plan that was developed around its construction," said Most, pointing to traffic congestion from nearby churches, schools and – most notably – shopping centers that have increased traffic on Route 9.

The surrounding area was developed with the road's construction in mind, though opposition has centered around a debate over whether the road's construction would harm the environment and take away the opportunity for the trail to become a recreational site for local residents.

"It boggles my mind to think that they're still spending time and money on this ridiculous project," said Helen Henderson, policy advocate for the American Littoral Society and the former chairwoman of the Lacey Rail-Trail Committee, a group that has opposed the construction of the road for years.

Henderson said building the road would add approximately five acres of impervious coverage to the township, and runoff from the road would likely end up in Cedar Creek, increasing pollution in the waterway. Additionally, she said, the area of the trail itself includes breeding grounds for frogs and other amphibians which would be destroyed and paved over.

A state memo issued in mid-August said the project proposal has changed from previous iterations. The latest version eliminates the section of the road above South Street, the part that would run closest to Cedar Creek.

"Environmentally, all of the issues, pretty much, still stand," however, said Henderson.

A public comment period on the potential issuance of the Coastal Area Facilities Review Act permit – the permit needed in order for the project to go forward – ended Aug. 24.

Most maintains hope that the issue will soon be settled.

A "small minority of people" oppose the project, he said.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here