Long Branch Still Expecting to Build Pier, Ferry

Long Branch officials say they are still looking to build a pier/ferry in the future.

The city has already chosen a design for the pier, which would be located in Pier Village would have restaurants, entertainment venues, retail stores, amusements, and a ferry service to Manhattan.

Long Branch Business Administrator Howard Woolley said the project is currently facing some environmental issues.

"We have some issues with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that we are trying to work through," Woolley said. "There is a substantial issue with tide lands and we're trying to get that resolved."

The proposed pier and ferry platform would cost the city at least $100 million, but officials have said the pier would be a booming commercial center that ultimately pays for itself.

Woolley said the funding for the project is still "unknown" at this time, and that the city has not yet created a concrete plan for how it will finance it.

The city has applied for several state and federal grants, but has not yet had much luck, often losing out to larger cities and organizations like New York and NJ Transit, Woolley has said.

The city has allocated $2 million for design and engineering for the project since 2009.