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ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — 5 Boardwalk casinos and a hospital desire a decide to forestall Atlantic Metropolis from finishing a controversial program to slim the principle highway operating by way of the town’s downtown, saying such a transfer might harm enterprise and endanger lives throughout traffic-choked intervals.
The AtlantiCare hospital system, and Caesars, Tropicana, Bally’s, Exhausting Rock and Resorts casinos, are asking a state Superior Courtroom decide to order an finish to the undertaking, which started Dec. 13.
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Town says the federal and state-funded undertaking will make a harmful highway safer without charge to native taxpayers. Officers stated narrowing the highway was a requirement for accepting the $24 million in authorities funds.
Final Friday, Decide Michael Blee in Atlantic County declined to subject the instant order the casinos and the hospital had sought to cease the undertaking in its tracks. Reasonably, the decide will hear full particulars of the scenario in a Jan. 26 listening to.
Mark Giannantonio, president of Resorts in addition to of the On line casino Affiliation of New Jersey, the trade’s commerce group, stated the casinos assist the repaving and site visitors mild synchronization elements of the undertaking, which is geared toward decreasing pedestrian fatalities and accidents on 2.6 miles (4.2 kilometers) of Atlantic Avenue.
However he stated a full examine must be performed to look at the potential impacts of narrowing the highway. He additionally stated such a plan should be accepted by a state company, the On line casino Reinvestment Growth Authority, which has energy over site visitors within the space that features Atlantic Avenue.
He stated the casinos have been asking the town for over a 12 months to do such a examine, which might attempt to predict how site visitors can be pushed onto different roads in additional residential neighborhoods, in addition to onto Pacific Avenue, which he stated is already overwhelmed by site visitors throughout peak hours. The six Boardwalk casinos have entrances alongside Pacific Avenue.
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“This modification in site visitors patterns on Atlantic Avenue might have very actual public well being, security and basic welfare implications,” Giannantonio stated in a press release.
He stated the hospital’s ambulances routinely use Atlantic Avenue to move critically ailing or injured sufferers to its trauma heart, including the elimination of 1 lane might deprive the emergency autos of a passing lane to get round stopped site visitors.
He additionally famous that Atlantic Avenue is without doubt one of the most important evacuation routes within the regularly flooded coastal resort metropolis.
Relating to the affect on casinos, he stated, “We’re fearful that this may trigger congestion and site visitors issues all of which might detract from our clients’ expertise in coming to and leaving our properties.”
It’s not an unfounded concern; even with 4 lanes obtainable on Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic Metropolis can change into troublesome to drive by way of throughout busy summer season or vacation intervals, particularly when particular occasions just like the summer season air present or a number of big-name concert events are on the town.
Mayor Marty Small defended the undertaking, and took coronary heart from the decide’s determination to not subject an instantaneous order halting work.
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A city-commissioned examine on which the plan is partially based mostly counted 829 collisions on the highway between 2013 and 2017. Of these, 75 — or 9.1% — concerned pedestrians being struck. Small stated he knew a number of individuals who have been killed in accidents on Atlantic Avenue.
“Some very highly effective individuals have been attempting to cease this undertaking since its inception, however the Small administration has been standing as much as all of them,” he stated in a press release issued after Friday’s ruling. “Folks hold eager to make this about site visitors circulation, however this undertaking is being performed within the title of security for the residents and guests.”
The Higher Atlantic Metropolis Chamber, one among quite a few enterprise organizations within the metropolis, additionally helps the repaving and site visitors sign synchronization work. However the group says it, too, needs to see a site visitors examine on the affect of decreasing highway house by 50%.
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Observe Wayne Parry on X, previously Twitter, at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC
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