Five Boardwalk casinos and a hospital are seeking a court order to stop Atlantic City from narrowing the main downtown road, citing such a change could harm business and pose risks during congested traffic times.
The Atlantic Care hospital system and Caesars, Tropicana, Bally's, Hard Rock, and Resorts casinos have requested a state Superior Court judge to halt the project that began on December 13. Officials mentioned that reducing the road's width was necessary to receive $24 million in government funds and would enhance road safety without any cost to local taxpayers. Judge Michael Blee in Atlantic County will review the request on January 26, having previously declined an immediate halt to the work on Friday.
A Call for a Comprehensive Study on Potential Effects
Mark Giannantonio, president of Resorts and the Casino Association of New Jersey, stated that the casinos endorse the project's repaving and traffic light synchronization parts, which focus on enhancing pedestrian safety along 2.6 miles (4.2 kilometers) of Atlantic Avenue. Giannantonio emphasized the need for a comprehensive study to assess the potential effects of narrowing the road, approved by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, a state agency overseeing traffic in the area.
Traffic Shifts
The casinos have been urging the city for over a year to conduct such a study that would predict traffic shifts onto residential roads and onto Pacific Avenue, which is already congested during peak hours, where the six Boardwalk casinos have entrances stating: "This change in traffic patterns on Atlantic Avenue could have very real public health, safety and general welfare implications,"
Emergency Lane
Giannantonio mentioned that Atlantic Avenue is frequently used by the hospital's ambulances to transport critically ill or injured patients to its trauma center. Eliminating one lane could hinder emergency vehicles from passing stopped traffic.
Evacuation Route
Additionally, he highlighted Atlantic Avenue as a critical evacuation route in the flood-prone coastal city.
Casino's Concerns
He expressed concern about the potential impact of casinos on customers' experiences, as even with four lanes on Atlantic Avenue, the city can be challenging to navigate during peak times, such as busy summer days or holidays, particularly when special events like the summer air show or major concerts are taking place.
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Ensuring Residents' Safety More Than The Traffic Flow
Mayor Marty Small supported the project and found solace in the judge's decision not to stop the work immediately. A city-commissioned study that partly influenced the plan recorded 829 collisions on the road from 2013 to 2017. Out of these, 75 (9.1%) involved pedestrians being hit. Mayor Small mentioned knowing several people who lost their lives in accidents on Atlantic Avenue.
The Small administration has faced opposition from influential figures attempting to halt the project since its inception. Despite this, they have stood firm. The emphasis is often on traffic flow, but the administration asserts that the project aims to ensure the safety of residents and visitors.
The Greater Atlantic City Chamber, a business organization in the city, backs the repaving and traffic signal synchronization efforts but also advocates for a traffic study to assess the impact of reducing road space by 50%.
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