Association urges creation of mandated truck routes

In, July the Monmouth County Freeholders unanimously passed a resolution rejecting the requested expansion of the Republic Services (Marpal) waste transfer station. If allowed, the expansion would have increased the amount of truck traffic on Swimming River Road and Route 537 by allowing Marpal to expand its hours of operation and increasing the amount of waste they accept each day.

The Lincroft Village Green Association would like to thank the Township Committees of Middletown and Tinton Falls who passed resolutions opposing the expansion, as well as all residents who spoke at the two public hearings, wrote letters and made phone calls. In particular we acknowledge two of our members, Barbara and Bill Thorpe, as well as Mayor Thomas Hall. The Thorpes' perseverance and dedication are truly remarkable, while Mayor Hall's letter - read at the second public hearing - was extremely persuasive. Well done! We especially thank the Board of Chosen Freeholders for listening to the residents of Monmouth County and rejecting the expansion.

We now ask the freeholders to take the next step and establish truck routes. The Marpal expansion denial will prevent additional trucks from using local roads, but the freeholders need to act to reduce the number of trucks that already use the roads. County roads in residential areas should be used for non-commercial traffic and local truck deliveries, not as a shortcut to the landfill and recycling facilities in Tinton Falls. Truck companies must be forced to utilize major highways such as routes 34, 35, and 18 as well as the Garden State Parkway. This will only be accomplished through the creation of mandated truck routes throughout Monmouth County.

Carol Baker

Abe Littenberg

co-presidents

Lincroft Village Green Association