The following is an ‘Ask The Mayor’ question submitted to TLS, and the Mayor’s response. Email your questions for the Mayor to [email protected].

Question:

Good evening! Thank you for your pleasant attitude in addressing the needs of this town. Is Vermont Avenue going to be continued to Oak Street? Vine gets so backed up during school start and dismissal hours. Even if those that are going from Oak to New Hampshire can make a right turn, because I am assuming that those on Oak coming from New Hampshire at this point will create a major backup, unless a light is installed (which may be a good thing because there are plenty of girls from Lakewood Commons crossing the street to get to Bnos Devorah, Chein Bais Yaakov, and other schools).

Would you be able to help with this?

Thank you,

Leah

Response from Mayor Coles:

Good afternoon

Yes, we are currently designing the roadway & hope to have it paved by the end of the year

Ray

Question:

Hi! I’m writing to u abt the tennis courts at ocean county park! I’ve been playing there for quite a few years with an instructor .I look forward to these games as it’s exercise and it’s fun..this summer season we were told u can’t play there anymore. Just wondering what’s going on?

Response from Mayor Coles:

Good morning. This is a county park. I will reach out to their parks department and see what is going on. I imagine it is part of the upgrades they have been doing elsewhere in the park. Redoing the courts requires shutting them down for a time.

Ray

Question:

Dear Mr. Coles,

Over the last 10 years, Route 9 has become the source of near-constant traffic congestion. I understand there has been lobbying in the past to widen the road, but the state has repeatedly declined due to cost concerns.

That’s why I was surprised to see construction currently underway, just not in the direction many residents have been asking for. Instead of addressing traffic, the sidewalks are being widened to what seems like an unnecessary and excessive width. Frankly, it feels like a slap in the face to those of us who sit in traffic every day.

If the funds are available for this project, why are they being used in a way that ignores the core issue? From the perspective of those who drive this route daily, it appears to be a waste of money and a missed opportunity to make a real improvement.

Is there anything that can be done to redirect this effort or revisit the idea of widening the roadway to ease congestion?

Response from Mayor Coles:

The state is doing many improvements along RT 9 from Toms River through Lakewood.

We had hoped they would do more extensive improvements and widening, but believe that the work they are doing will definitely improve travel time along the road.

We have a great deal of pedestrian traffic along RT 9 as well. While we would have liked additional travel lanes, we are happy that the sidewalks will be installed by the state, making it much safer for folks who walk rather than drive.,

We will continue to work with the state DOT for additional improvements along 9

Ray

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Have a question for the Mayor? Send it to [email protected]

Have a question for the Chief? Send it to [email protected]