Atlantic City Dismisses Casinos’ Claims Regarding Road Narrowing

Atlantic City rejects casino claims of road narrowing

Atlantic City officials in a legal filing last week denied claims by the city's five casinos that the narrowing of Atlantic Avenue from Boston Avenue to New Hampshire Avenue would impede the use of emergency vehicles.

Atlantic City sits on a narrow road in the city's main corridor, known as "the road diet." The $24 million project will reduce the number of lanes from four to two.

The Atlantic City government says narrowing the road will increase sidewalk space and make the streets safer for pedestrians. Bally's, Caesars, Hard Rock, Resorts and Tropicana say the road diet will lead to more congestion.

In a lawsuit filed in the New Jersey Supreme Court, Casino and co-plaintiff AtlantiCare, a local health system in southeastern New Jersey, argued that removing the lane could prevent emergency vehicles from transporting people to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center emergency department. . This may result in casualties.

The casino and health care network asked state Judge Michael Bly to issue an injunction to stop the project. That's until a more thorough traffic study on the project's impact on congestion is completed.

City Denies Emergency Room Claim

In the city's legal response, City Attorney Richard Trunk said a traffic study had been conducted and the analysis showed ambulances would not be slowed by the reduced lanes. That makes the plaintiffs' request for an injunction without merit, the city said.

The city also asked Blee to reject claims from the casino and AtlanticCare that the city needs the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) to approve the project. The plaintiffs argue that the CRDA has legal authority over Atlantic Avenue. Because it belongs to the tourist area of the city.

The Tourist Area Charter...provides that upon establishment of a tourist area, the Board of Directors shall have exclusive jurisdiction to promulgate rules and regulations affecting the control and regulation of roads and highways within the tourist area and to direct traffic within the tourist area," the Casino's the lawsuit states.

The CRDA was not consulted on the road narrowing nor was its consent sought. Attorneys for the city said in response that the city is not legally required to seek approval from the CRDA for infrastructure projects.

The CRDA is a state agency that uses casino funds to support redevelopment projects throughout Atlantic City. The agency also "oversees land use planning," according to its website.

Safer Air Conditioning

Atlantic City leaders say it's important to keep Atlantic Avenue safe. It is critical to making the casino city more attractive to tourists, most of whom enter the city via the Atlantic City Expressway.

The motorway reaches the Baltic Boulevard. Christopher Columbus Boulevard/Arkansas Avenue. Most cars heading to the casino drive two blocks toward the ocean and then turn left or right onto Atlantic Avenue. Depends on where your resort is located on the promenade.

Located on a 2.7-mile stretch of associated Atlantic Avenue. Between 2013 and 2017, more than 800 traffic accidents occurred. More than 9% of these traffic accidents involve pedestrians.