In Lakewood, complaints about traffic projects usually come too late — after the plans are finalized, the roads are torn up, and construction is underway. But if you want a real say in shaping major traffic improvements for Kennedy Boulevard and County Line Road, now is your chance. Ocean County and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) are inviting the public to a critical meeting where residents can review proposed plans and voice their opinions before the final designs are locked in.
Using federal funds, Ocean County and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) have been undertaking a comprehensive study to bring long-term major traffic improvements to address congestion and safety along portions of Kennedy Boulevard and County Line Road in Lakewood.
County and NJTPA officials are now set to hold a key public information meeting regarding the project - and your input is welcome.
According to 2020 traffic counts, Kennedy Boulevard carries 18,816 vehicles daily, and County Line Road carries 18,774 vehicles daily. Peak traffic hours are 7:00-9:00am and 4:00pm-6:00pm, with 2,827 vehicles traveling Kennedy Boulevard during the peak afternoon hours.
Between September 2018 and September 2021 there were 30 crashes, including 4 crashes with injuries, at County Line Road and Forest Avenue. Several more intersections along these roads have had over 20 crashes over a 3 year period.
Noting that "the heavy volumes of vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic creates unsafe conditions along these corridors," county officials have been planning on some major congestion improvements along these corridors.
In June 2021, the Ocean County Board of Commissioners formally committed $1.6 Million for the reconstruction and widening of Kennedy Boulevard between Squankum Road and Route 9. Plans for that project continues.
County officials deemed this project to be "shorter term improvements," and they commenced on obtaining federal grants for a more major improvements project for this corridor.
The first big step to bringing this project to fruition occurred in March 2022 when the NJTPA formally awarded Ocean County $1 million in Federal funding to fund a Local Concept Development to study Kennedy Boulevard and East County Line Road between Squankum Road and Laurelwood Avenue "to address congestion and safety in the project area."
Subsequently, in May 2023, the NJTPA awarded a $1,875,000 contract to Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. for the Kennedy Boulevard and East County Line Road study as well as a study on another project in Monmouth County. The Lakewood portion of the study will cost just under the $1 million the County was previously awarded.
The NJTPA Local Concept Development process involves reviewing the project area and identifying preferred alternatives. At the completion of the LCD process, the county gets to determine the Preliminary Preferred Alternative - these are the improvements which will be recommended to advance to preliminary design.
(In simple terms, the federal government gives money for major road improvements. However, you can't simply tell them what you want to do and then ask for a blank check. Rather, you need to first go through the process of doing comprehensive studies which includes studying various "planning alternatives" (i.e. different road improvements or configurations) and then you can get funding for the exact project that you already knew from the beginning that you wanted to do).
Data collection for the study began last spring. At this point, officials have selected their Preliminary Preferred Alternative and will be hosting a Public Information Center meeting to inform local residents, officials, businesses and the general public of the study status, and solicit input and comment on the conceptual alternatives and the Preferred Preliminary Alternative for this corridor project.
I.e. At this meeting, County officials will explain what their Preferred Preliminary Alternative is, their reasons, and ask the public to provide input.
This is your big chance to learn their big plans and let your voice be heard!
The meeting and project implementation are in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority and is being conducted in conformance with Federal and State regulations. All members of the public are invited and encouraged to comment on the study.
Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Time: 6:00-8:00 PM (Presentation to be made at 7:00 PM)
Location: Lakewood Municipal Courthouse, 231 3rd St., Lakewood NJ 08701
Following this meeting, the materials presented will be available at www.CountyLineandKennedy.com for review and public comment for 30 days. Written comments will be accepted through June 6, 2025.
Comments may be mailed to the Community Involvement Facilitator, Anthony Sytko, Stokes Creative Group, 3223 Rt. 38, Suite 201, Mount Laurel NJ 08054. You may also email them to CountyLineandKennedy@gmail.com or fax them to 732-506-5182.
If you have questions regarding the project, please contact:
Mark Jehnke, P.E., County Engineer 732-929-2130
The project section of Kennedy Blvd currently has 2 travel lanes, each 12 feet wide, plus a shoulder of variable width, 0-14 feet. The project section of County Line Road currently has 3 travel lanes, each 12 feet wide, plus a shoulder of variable width, 0-6 feet.
This section of Kennedy Blvd was last repaved in 2008. Portions of County Line Road were last repaved in 2012 and 2008.
Don’t miss this important opportunity — get out to the meeting, review the plans, and make sure your voice is heard!
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1 comment:
How and what can we do to have Kennedy opened through squankum, villas and Brookhill. That eould be s real gsmechanger and alleviate much traffic on Countyline. That is what the towns plan was before they gave away property to a board member for his store.
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