NOTICE: Public hearing scheduled on proposed improvements to Garden State Parkway in Toms River area

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

New Jersey Turnpike Authority Notice of Public Hearing Pursuant to Executive Order 172 and the New Jersey No Net Loss Compensatory Reforestation Act for Operational Improvements from Milepost 78.8 to 84.5 along the Garden State Parkway (Beachwood and South Toms River Boroughs, Berkeley and Toms River Townships, Ocean County).

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (the “Authority”) will hold a Public Hearing in compliance with Executive Order No. 172 (Kean 1987) (“EO-172”) and the New Jersey No Net Loss Compensatory Reforestation Act (N.J.S.A 13:1L-14.1 et seq.) for the purpose of receiving public comment on a proposed highway project, which includes operational improvements from Milepost 78.8 to 84.5 along the Garden State Parkway (the “Project”).

The Project corridor starts at Garden State Parkway Interchange 80 and extends to Interchange 83 at Route 166. Within this stretch of the Parkway, there are three interchanges: Interchange 80, Interchange 81, and Interchange 82-82A. These improvements are being designed to reduce travel times and improve safety and accessibility in a corridor with high crash rates, high traffic volumes, and operational deficiencies. The improvements include adding a new southbound entrance ramp and northbound exit ramp at Interchange 80 to provide full access between the Parkway and the local roadways, relocating the Interchange 81 southbound exit ramp, and adding collector-distributor roads northbound and southbound to improve access at Interchanges 81, 82, and 82A. The improvements will also eliminate substandard weaving conditions, correct substandard geometry, and provide 12-foot left and right shoulders and travel lanes.

The Project area from Milepost 78.8 to 84.5 includes 36 acres of forested land subject to the New Jersey No Net Loss Compensatory Reforestation Act and No Net Loss Compensatory Reforestation Program Guidelines. The area of disturbance is no larger than necessary to construct the Project, as the Authority has made every effort to reduce the impact to forested areas. The deforestation/reforestation plan will be available for review at the Public Hearing.

Project plans, including the proposed deforestation/reforestation plan, are available for review by the public at https://www.njta.gov/capital-projects/operational-improvements-between-mileposts-80-and-83/ or at the Authority’s Administrative Offices, located at 1 Turnpike Plaza, Woodbridge, NJ 07095.

The Public Hearing will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the Ocean County Library, Toms River Branch, 101 Washington Street, Toms River, NJ, 08753. An open house will be held starting at 6:00 p.m. with a presentation by Authority representatives beginning at 6:30 p.m. The public will be given the opportunity to provide both oral and written comments at the Public Hearing, and a representative(s) from the Authority will be available to provide Project information and answer questions as appropriate. The public comment period required by EO-172 will remain open for fifteen (15) days following the Public Hearing and will close on October 1, 2026. The public comment period required by the No Net Loss Compensatory Reforestation Act will remain open for sixty (60) days following the Public Hearing and will close on November 15, 2026. Written comments may be submitted at the Public Hearing, submitted electronically to [email protected], or mailed to Vincent Mignella, 1 Turnpike Plaza, P.O. Box 5042 Woodbridge, NJ 07095.

All comments received at the Public Hearing or submitted prior to the close of the 15-day public comment period applicable to EO 172 or the 60-day public comment period applicable to the No Net Loss Compensatory Reforestation Act will become part of the public record. The Authority will review and consider all comments made and will prepare responses, which will be posted at https://www.njta.gov/capital-projects/operational-improvements-between-mileposts-80-and-83/ and kept on file at the Authority’s Administrative Offices, with copies forwarded to the municipalities and counties in which the Project is located.

Kris Kolluri, Esq.,

Executive Director

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