OCEAN TOWNSHIP — Despite being rejected last year, Ocean and Tinton Falls are expected to submit a joint application to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) Trust Fund for road improvements on Green Grove and Hope Road.
Green Grove runs in Ocean Township and then turns into Hope Road, which is located in Tinton Falls.
Ocean Township Manager Andrew Brannen suggested during the Oct. 22 workshop meeting that the township try again for the grant for the roadwork, even after they were unsuccessful in the prior year.
According to Brannen, the other option for the application would be for road improvements on Sunset Avenue.
“The question is, do we go back with that one again or do we go with Sunset Avenue, west of the highway?” he said. “It is shot, there is no two ways about it.”
However, Brannen said ideally he’d like to see Sunset Avenue reconfigured, which would delay any grant application.
“The problem with the Sunset one is the entrance into the Wegman’s plaza is not ideal for anyone who uses it,” he said.” It really needs some sort of reconfiguration and what that is I don’t know.
“Maybe until we get that figured out we are better off going back to what we tried last year, modifying it based on the feedback we got back from DOT. I think we really should look at something more comprehensive.”
Brannen said municipalities generally receive between $250,000 and $300,000 in trust fund grant funding.
Ocean Township Mayor Christopher Sicilliano said he will reach out to Tinton Falls Mayor Gerald Turning Sr., but the borough mayor already indicated that he is interested in pursuing the joint application.