Three Monmouth County communities get solid recommendations to enhance the transportation corridor that connects them, as part of the "Connecting Community Corridors" Local Demonstration Project.

Project team looks at redevelopment sites along the corridor
Project team looks at redevelopment sites along the corridor (Together North Jersey)
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A final report released Monday by Together North Jersey lists recommendations for improving the aesthetics, business offerings, ecology, public transportation, pedestrian safety and economic development of the corridor that runs through Asbury Park, Bradley Beach and Neptune Township.

"The idea was to recognize important local attractions and characteristics of the three communities and try to really connect the activities in the three communities together, to create a destination that people would really want to come to," said Jon Carnegie, executive director of the Rutgers Voorhees Transportation Center and project director for Together North Jersey.

The recommendations were gathered from representatives of Together North Jersey, New Jersey Transit, Monmouth County, Asbury Park, Bradley Beach, Neptune Township and Interfaith Neighbors during a number of workshops, Carnegie said.

Residents in Monmouth County participate in a workshop for Connecting Community Corridors
Residents in Monmouth County participate in a workshop for Connecting Community Corridors (Together North Jersey)
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Aesthetic recommendations call for renovating at least two of the train stations with front doors, and improving public green space, parking and bus shelters. Other suggestions include increasing local mobility by using a shuttle service, and making enhancements to improve bike and pedestrian safety.

Monmouth County is one of the first three Local Demonstration Projects completed and released through out the state. The other two were along corridors in Somerset and Hunterdon counties, according to Carnegie. He said there are 18 other Local Demonstration Projects that are in various stages of completion.

However, the improvements don't stop with these recommendations. Carnegie said each of the projects has a planning and implementation agenda attached.

"That agenda sets some target dates for when activities might be undertaken, (to) assign some possible responsibilities and what some possible funding sources are," Carnegie said.

The full report can be downloaded here. For more information about Together North Jersey or the Local Demonstration Project Program, visit www.togethernorthjersey.com.

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