Lacey Seeks State Approval For Railroad Avenue, Rail Trail Extension

LACEY, NJ — An application for state approval has been submitted for the Railroad Avenue Extension Project in Lacey Township, according to a public notice from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

The filing seeks approval under the Coastal Zone Management Rules for work on Railroad Avenue and the Barnegat Branch multi-use trail in Ocean County.

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The applicant is the Township of Lacey. The project area is listed as Railroad Avenue extending north from Musket Road to South Street, and South Street from its intersection with Railroad Avenue halfway east to Route 9.

The notice identifies the location as the Lacey Rail Trail and old railroad right-of-way, along with the South Street right-of-way.

According to the notice, the proposed project involves extending both Railroad Avenue and the Barnegat Branch multi-use trail in Lacey Township. A permit was obtained in 2014 for construction of a 1.9-mile Barnegat Branch trail along a proposed path from Lacey Road north to South Street.

The notice states that only part of that trail, from Lacey Road northward to Musket Road, has been built.

The current application seeks to extend the existing portions of the trail north from Musket Road to South Street and eastward along South Street, which would complete the Barnegat Branch trail, according to the notice.

A public comment period is scheduled to begin with publication in the DEP Bulletin on Oct. 7, 2026, and continue for 30 calendar days. Written comments must be submitted to the department before the end of the 30-day comment period.

Comments should be sent with a copy of the notice to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Land Use Regulation, P.O. Box 420, Code 501-02A, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0420, Attn: Ocean County Supervisor. The notice says the department welcomes comments and information concerning the proposed development and site.