Middletown commits to environmental initiative Mayor expects new shuttle bus service to begin in mid-March BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer FILE PHOTO The Middletown train station is just one of the planned stops as part of the new "Dock and Roll" shuttle service, which will be started around mid-March. MIDDLETOWN - The Township Committee voted last week to move ahead with its Green Initiative, which aims to solidify the township's commitment to contain energy costs, emissions and their environmental impacts. Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger said he started to think about this process approximately one year ago after attending a global warming forum at Monmouth University. "I thought this was going to be good for us, both financially and environmentally," Scharfenberger said. "The benefits of the Green Initiative will save us money, preserve the environment, and decrease our dependency on foreign oil." According to Scharfenberger, the Sierra Club wants to use Middletown's plan as a model for other municipalities. Under the initiative, the township will pursue the use of hybrid vehicles that use alternative fuels within its municipal fleet, the possibility of using and/or installing solar power within municipal buildings and the purchase of Energy Star equipment and appliances for municipal use, enabling Middletown to save energy on an annual basis. Perhaps of the greatest importance for residents who commute is the start of the "Dock and Roll" shuttle service, operating primarily out of the Middletown train station. A resolution was passed authorizing the township to enter an interlocal agreement with Monmouth County to offer the service. The free service, which is scheduled to begin in mid-March, according to Scharfenberger, will offer connections between trains, the Belford Ferry, buses and local schools, and local employment centers. The program, which is a joint venture between the township and the county, is expected to have many benefits such as parking shortage relief, reduced traffic congestion, and improved mobility for residents who have limited transportation options, such as seniors or teenagers. "We felt it was time to renew and expand our commitment to pursue as many cost-saving proposals as possible," Scharfenberger said.