Published in the Asbury Park Press 2/27/03
By ERIK LARSEN
MANAHAWKIN BUREAU

LACEY -- When Ocean County Freeholder Director John C. Bartlett Jr. and Freeholder James F. Lacey come to the Township Committee meeting tonight to discuss the proposal for a 14-mile rail trail from Barnegat to South Toms River, their efforts will be part salesmanship, part politics.

Bartlett emphasized that the freeholders are not coming to the meeting to dictate a course of action.
"The railroad right of way is owned by Lacey Township," Bartlett said. "And what they do with it is their business. The county would like them to dedicate a portion of it, or the entire -- we would be happy with the entire trail. But it is not our business to tell them what to do. That is a local decision." About 3 miles of the right of way is in the township.

In a roller coaster ride of a meeting on Feb. 13, the committee voted three times on what to do with the sandy, wooded path that was the Central Railroad of New Jersey line in the 19th century. The rail line hasn't been used in more than 50 years. The committee's final decision at the Feb. 13th meeting was to keep all options on the table.

The freeholders were invited to appear before the governing body two weeks ago. The committee also voted that night to keep its options open, including the possibility of negotiating the sale of the right of way or a portion of it.

Mayor Brian A. Reid and Committeeman John C. Parker want to build a road on the right of way to relieve traffic congestion on Route 9 and open another area of town to commercial growth.   Township Committee members Robert G. Bischoff and Helen Dela Cruz want to preserve the rail bed for the county's trail and stop commercial growth.

Township Committeeman Louis A. Amato supports the trail, but has been less vocal than other advocates.
"As freeholder director and deputy director, it will be our pleasure to answer any and all questions we can to set the record straight," Bartlett said yesterday. "There have been many claims made about what the county would like to do, intends to do, etc. So now they can directly hear from us."

But Amato indicated at the last meeting that he would support negotiations with the county to sell rail bed.
"On that, I would just say that this is an issue that has not been addressed to the Board of Freeholders," Bartlett said.

Bartlett said the freeholders will seek to determine how the rail trail would round the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant, given the National Guard's roving patrols on the portion of the trail that runs in front of the plant. Those post-Sept. 11 security concerns have forced county rail-trail planners to adjust the path to cross Route 9 and run parallel to the highway until it reaches Waretown.

"We're going to show them three alternatives we're working on," Bartlett said. "Of course, our planning is only preliminary. We don't have any agreement with Lacey Township with what they'll make available to us. We're not going to spend any more money until we know what Lacey is going to do, which will then move the plan along."

Lacey Rail-Trail Committee Chairwoman Donna A. Bahrle said she's excited about the freeholders' appearance at tonight's meeting.  "We're certainly here to support their efforts as best we can," Bahrle said. "We're here to act as an advocate for the trail. We always have been, so this is definitely a good thing."

Erik Larsen: (609) 978-4582, or at elarsen@app.com