Public forum should decide Ocean Avenue plan

As a resident of Long Branch, I have been reading what our city planners are proposing with regard to Ocean Avenue, and I think there are other alternatives on how to bring people to the beach without having them drive up to the water's edge to unload beach chairs, causing a hazard for the people that use the boardwalk. For example, you could take the Center Island out of Ocean Boulevard and make it one lane in both directions with turning lanes at all intersections. In addition, you could add parking in both directions of Ocean Boulevard.

Most beach communities have a similar plan for a main artery. All side streets heading east off Ocean Boulevard could have a similar parking plan with "head-in" parking on one side, which would increase the number of parking spots.

The town may have to widen those streets a few feet to accommodate the additional parking and to allow for little wider turn around at the end of each of these streets. All streets leading away from Ocean Avenue toward Second Avenue could be made one-way streets, and additional parking could be added via a combination of "head-in" and parallel parking spots.

The parking lot next to Pier Village marked for Pier Village only could be open to beachgoers during the day.

In my opinion Ocean Avenue not only should not be open to vehicular traffic from Brighton to Bath Avenue, but it should be closed to traffic altogether extending the bike path all the way from Brighton Avenue to Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park.

I believe the town should make a southern promenade with a wider boardwalk to match the one on the north, with more benches and places to gather.

I know all my ideas might not be feasible, but if the mayor and City Council would have held an open forum and gathered ideas from their residents who are much more informed than I am, we as a community could have come up with a better, more environmental friendly plan for all future generations to be proud of.

Nancy Anderson

Long Branch