November 6, 2006
Assemblyman Sean T. Kean/732-974-0400
11th District - Monmouth County

Assemblyman Sean T. Kean (R-11) does not want another Park & Ride facility to be constructed in Wall Township. In a recent letter to New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri, Assemblyman Kean urged the Commissioner to reconsider the proposal to construct a Park & Ride facility on Route 18 at Route 138 in Wall Township.

Wall Township is already home to two other Park & Ride sites and Kean believes that this community has done their share to support mass transportation measures.

Kean stated in his letter, “As the home to two Park & Ride facilities, Wall Township already shoulders more than its fair share of the state’s transportation burden. Forcing them to host another such site is irresponsible and unfair to the residents of this community.”

In addition, the Assemblyman is also concerned that if this facility is constructed it could add to the high volume of traffic that this community already experiences.

“Constructing a third such facility would make this location a destination for more commuters, thus increasing traffic in an already congested area.” Kean continued in this letter, “Further, the heavy congestion at this site, which is located adjacent to Wall High School and Wall Intermediate School is likely to increase in the near future with the expected expanded use of nearby Camp Evans, where a Brookdale Community College campus is located.”

In the letter Assemblyman Kean also questioned the environmental impact of this proposal.

“The proposed Park & Ride site contains wetlands and is home to a variety of wildlife. Paving over this land for use by commuters would certainly have a deleterious effect on the delicate ecosystem of the region,” wrote Kean.

Assemblyman Kean hopes that the DOT will abandon plans to construct this facility in Wall Township and search for a more suitable location in another town.

Letter Attached

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November 6, 2006

Mr. Kris Kolluri, Commissioner
New Jersey Department of Transportation
PO Box 600
Trenton, NJ 08608-0600

Dear Commissioner Kolluri:

It has recently come to my attention that the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) intends to construct a Park & Ride on Route 18 at Route 138 in Wall Township. Locating this facility at this site would seriously impact on the environment and quality of life of this community and thus, I urge you to reconsider this proposal.

While I recognize the need to construct these facilities to alleviate north bound traffic congestion, Wall Township is already home to two Park & Ride sites. Constructing a third such facility would make this location a destination for more commuters, thus increasing traffic in an already congested area of Monmouth County.

Further, the heavy congestion at this site, which is located adjacent to Wall High School and Wall Intermediate School, is likely to increase in the near future with the expected expanded use of nearby Camp Evans, where a Brookdale Community College campus is located. Adding a Park & Ride will only exacerbate this situation.

In addition, Route 34, the Garden State Parkway and Route 35 all intersect in the general vicinity of the proposed site. Placement of a Park & Ride will attract traffic off of established arteries and onto local roads as commuters attempt to take advantage of the facility.

I also have serious concerns about the environmental impact of this proposal. As you may be aware, the proposed Park & Ride site contains wetlands and is home to a variety of wildlife. Paving over this land for use by commuters would certainly have a deleterious effect on the delicate ecosystem of the region.

As the home to two Park & Ride facilities, Wall Township already shoulders more than its fair share of the state=s transportation burden. Forcing them to host another such site is irresponsible and unfair to the residents of this community.

Therefore, I urge the DOT to discontinue plans to construct this facility in Wall Township and search for a more suitable location in another town.

Thank you for your attention to this correspondence and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding this or any other matter.

Sincerely,

Sean T. Kean
Assemblyman, 11th District

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