PLUMSTED — An online petition to have the Union Transportation Trail in Upper Freehold Township, Monmouth County, extended into Plumsted Township, Ocean County, is gaining traction among residents as one man continues to tout the plan’s potential benefits to the community.
The Union Transportation Trail, operated by the Monmouth County Park System, is available to equestrians, hikers, walkers, joggers and bicyclists. Parking lots are available at 114 Jonathan Holmes Road, Upper Freehold, and 8 Millstream Road, Upper Freehold.
When completed, the trail will measure 8.6 miles in length. The trail was once the Pemberton & Hightstown Railroad, according to the park system website.
“I started this petition because I wanted a place that is local for my daughter and her friends to use, and to feel safe while riding or walking,” Plumsted resident Christopher Fowler said.
Fowler recently created the petition on Change.org in a bid to convince the Ocean County Freeholders, the Plumsted Township Committee and other local officials that the trail would be a welcome addition to the municipality.
According to Fowler, the trail in Plumsted would run through downtown New Egypt and connect North Hanover in Burlington County and Upper Freehold Township in Monmouth County.
“In today’s society, we are rushed; we do not take the time to better ourselves physically. With the trail being centrally located with access points at four different locations, no matter where you reside, you should be able to access the trail and use it to your benefit,” Fowler said.
The impetus behind the petition is nothing new for Plumsted.
In March 2009, Ocean County was awarded a $120,000 grant through the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority’s Sub-Regional Study Program to study the habits of pedestrians and bicyclists in the county.
According to Fowler, the intent at the time was to eventually expand available areas where bicyclists, pedestrians and equestrians could enjoy their hobbies in a nature-friendly and safe environment.
Ultimately, Toms River and Plumsted were awarded grant money by the county.
According to the study, the plan was to create a path along “an existing railroad right-of-way” dating back to the turn of the 20th century in New Egypt.
According to Fowler and the study, Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) acquired the right-of-way in 1998.
Fowler said JCP&L’s ownership of the property is something the township and county would have to address.
“The Monmouth County Park System obtained a permanent easement from JCP&L for trail use, so we would also have to come to an agreement with JCP&L in obtaining a permanent easement,” he said.
The path would run through a wooded area between Jacobstown Road and Evergreen Road, near the Plumsted municipal building, with two road crossings, according to the study.
In Monmouth County, the Union Transportation Trail has had its first two phases already completed, with the third phase currently under construction in Upper Freehold.
During the Aug. 6 Township Committee meeting, Plumsted officials expressed their enthusiasm for the project and said they hope the recent groundswell of support will be enough to see the plan through to completion.
“We encourage [residents] to get more names [on the petition],” Business Administrator Ron Dancer said. “The more signatures [on the petition], that will be a help to us to submit to the county to show there is an interest … and the local support, along with the committee’s support.”
The Crosswicks-Doctors Creek Watershed Association has expressed its interest and support for the path.
“The association is in full support with this project and the petition,” Chairman Marc Covitz said. “We have been interested in the trail in New Egypt since the original feasibility study was conducted in February 2010.”
According to Covitz, the Crosswicks- Doctors Creek Watershed Association is a local organization that aims to “preserve historic sites, maintain scenic vistas and promote trails [in the area].”
“While Plumsted has a wealth of preserved open space, the town does not have any open space areas available for passive recreation and/or hiking and biking,” Covitz said. “This trail would provide Plumsted with an off-road resource that will keep kids and adults safe from competing with traffic on high-speed roads.”
Fowler said the presence of a trail in Plumsted could be a boost to businesses in downtown New Egypt.
“We already see groups of bicyclists that ride through town who stop and shop. When the trail merges with the Monmouth County section, this will bring in more people who trail-ride,” he said.
New Egypt resident Beth Kimmick wrote: “This is a great opportunity to link our town to a great project already in progress. This would be great for our town and bring yet another positive project to our downtown area.”
For more information, visit the website http://tinyurl.com/UTTpetition.
Contact Andrew Martins at [email protected].