LITTLE EGG HARBOR – The Southern Ocean County Park-n-Ride at Interchange 58 is now open and ready for commuters and motorists to use.
“This new facility provides a designated paved and illuminated parking area bringing major improvements for safety and convenience for commuters in the southern area of the County especially Little Egg Harbor Township and around the Route 539 corridor,” Ocean County Freeholder Deputy Director John P. Kelly, Director of Law and Public Safety, said.
The need for the new facility was evident for years, both Kelly Freeholder Director Virginia E. Haines said.
“Commuters have been parking on any available cleared roadside area near the interchange,” Haines said. “They will no longer have to do that since we are now providing them with a new Park-N-Ride facility. …The completion of this project will benefit a lot of people.”
There are 49 paved parking stalls and an internal bus loading and unloading area in anticipation of future bus service. Its stormwater upgrades and lighting system make the facility nearly maintenance-free.
“Ocean County is a commuter county,” Kelly said. “The County has been working in partnership with the state’s 9th Legislative District leaders and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to advance this project. We are very pleased it is now done and open to the public.”
The county appropriated $400,000 for the facility, but anticipates being reimbursed for the cost of designing the facility, securing all the permits and ultimately constructing it under a proposal with the Turnpike Authority.
“I have been working with state Sen. Chris Connors, Assemblyman Brian Rumpf, Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove, Little Egg Harbor Township officials and the Turnpike Authority in order to create this park-n-ride facility at Interchange 58 in Little Egg Harbor Township,” Kelly said. “In addition to enhancing safety in the area, I expect this will promote carpooling.”
