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County's Ocean Ride Service Gets Top Award
By Bill McLaughlin
OCEAN COUNTY - For the second time in seven years, Ocean Ride has received the New Jersey Council on Special Transportation's award as top transport system in the state.
The honor was announced last week at the group's 12th annual summit and seminar and was presented to the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders last Tuesday.
In accepting the award, Freeholder Gerry Little said, "We are proud of the work done by the Ocean County Department of Transportation and the Ocean Ride staff."
Kathy Edmonds, director of county public transportation, thanked the freeholders for their support of specialized public transport and praised their foresight.
"The board gives us the tools that provide services," Edmonds said. "You're always looking to advance (the quality of) services, very progressive, very state-of-the-art."
The nomination was made by 10th District representative Andrew Ciesla, according to Freeholder Director John Kelly.
"We didn't even know about it until we won," Kelly told the audience at Wednesday's freeholder board meeting.
Kelly recalled how the public transportation system here began in the 1970s with two drivers on very limited routes to 70-75 drivers handling 400,000-plus trips annually for low income, seniors and those otherwise unable to make medical appointments.
Three recent events where Ocean Ride shined are indicative of the competence of the organization.
First was the forced evacuation of a Lakewood nursing home last spring where Ocean Ride was able to move residents safely and quickly.
Second was the mishap at the southern Ocean County gunnery range, which caused widespread fire near senior citizens enclaves along Route 72 in Manahawkin. The bus line was able to help get those threatened by flames out of harm's way.
"Ocean Ride staff assisted in night-time evacuations," Kelly said, "of nursing home residents, not only providing safety but also comfort and showing real concern during a very difficult situation."
And third was an August 21 in-service day where freeholders learned of 65 safe-driving awards earned this year - including special recognition for two senior employees - underscoring the emphasis placed on safety.
Ocean Ride is a two-part system. Reserve- A-Ride transports non-emergency medical patients for seniors 60 and older and those with disabilities. Pre-registration is required for this service which is primarily limited to Ocean County stops.
There are also 17 bus routes in the county connecting malls, government offices, hospitals and other important destinations with clustered housing developments.
There were over 423,000 trips taken by passengers who traveled 1.6 million miles in 2006.
"Ocean County is one of the largest in the state," said Little, who is freeholder liaison to public transportation. "Getting around can be difficult. Ocean Ride makes getting there so much easier."
A leap in service efficiency resulting from new computer software was cited as one reason for the award. The new process has helped in scheduling and routing Reserve-A-Ride customers.
In other business, the board agreed to bond $3.1 million for phase I of the Garden State Parkway interchange project, which should be completed in about four years.
By underwriting the costs involved in getting the project underway, including engineering fees, the county is showing state transportation officials it is serious about relieving congestion in northern Ocean County.
"This partnership is unique," Kelly said. Many years ago, we were asking for interchanges and weren't getting them. They came to us and said, 'You do the costs of preparing the project. We'll build it and reimburse you.'"
Kelly said most government officials wouldn't gamble on getting paid back or have the patience to wait for the remittance.
"Clearly, they didn't think we'd go for it," Kelly said. "They probably thought we'd say no but we didn't. Three million of our cost up front - for most people, end of discussion - but we're happy to do it."
Freeholder James Lacey said all of northern Ocean County should rejoice at the installation of a full cloverleaf interchange.
"It will be such a benefit to that area," Lacey said, "Ron (Lotrecchio), how long did we talk about it, four, five years?"
The county engineer nodded in agreement and said the job should be done about four years after the first shovel is turned on the project.
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