Barnegat Rail Trail Meeting Set For Next Week

BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, NJ - Local and state officials want to know where you think bicycle and walking connections should be for the next phase of the Barnegat Branch Rail Trail.

You can come and speak your piece from 5:30 to 8 p.m on Sept. 26 at the Berkeley Township branch of the Ocean County Library located at 30 Station Road in Bayville.

“Public feedback on potential trail connections has been important in guiding this study and producing recommendations that are most likely to improve safety and accessibility,” said Freeholder Director Gerry P. Little. “Connections should accommodate safe, healthy, and efficient means of travel to schools, parks, libraries, historical sites, and other destinations near the trail.”

The goal of the two-year study by Michael Baker International is to provide safe, healthy travel alternatives, encourage walking and biking, and prompt economic growth in an environmentally friendly way.

The Barnegat Branch trail follows the existing right of way of the former Barnegat Branch division of the Central Railroad of New Jersey.

The Ocean County Board of Freeholders purchased 8.8 miles of the old railroad property in three towns – Berkeley, Ocean and Barnegat townships, back in 2002. Lacey Township granted an easement to Ocean County over its 4.8-mile trail segment in 2004.

The completed trail will span about 16 miles from Barnegat Township to Toms River Township. That includes the existing bike path in Beachwood and the planned trail along the historic railroad property parallel to Route 166 in South Toms River,

“The design of the Barnegat Branch Trail is sensitive to the changing landscape of central Ocean County,” Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr. has said. Bartlett serves as liaison to the county Department of Parks and Recreation. “Trail visitors experience wooded areas in Barnegat and Waretown’s southern reach before transitioning into an active-use corridor that parallels Route 9 north of Waretown.”

Ocean County has completed six phases of the trail, which includes seven contiguous miles from Burr Street in Barnegat Township to Lacey Road in Lacey Township. In addition, almost 2.8 miles from Dudley Park at the Cedar Creek in Lacey Township to Hickory Lane in Berkeley Township have been completed.

“As the Barnegat Branch Trail continues to grow in popularity with visitors and residents, this study will help make sure that they have input in trail connections,” Little said. “We encourage those who have suggestions to attend the public meeting and help us in the study to use the trail to its full potential.”

For more information regarding the study and the meeting, visit https://bbtconnections.com/.

Photo: Patricia A. Miller