N.J. Casino Association Opposes Atlantic City Mayor Road Project

Atlantic City Hall sources have provided us with a copy of a letter sent to Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small from The Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ) in staunch opposition to Small’s “Road Diet Project” for Atlantic Avenue.

It’s the latest in a long line of unpopular Small schemes.

It’s referred to as a “road diet” project because it will shrink Atlantic Avenue to two traffic lanes.

In the CANJ President Mark Giannantonio letter to Small, it states:

“As we discussed at the December Casino Association meeting, the CANJ members were then extremely concerned about the proposed reduction of Atlantic Avenue to two vehicle lanes under the planned road diet project. With the current levels of traffic that we have all experienced in the City, especially during summer weekends, special events and other peak traffic periods, we were shocked to hear that the City could be proceeding with a project that would further limit vehicle access on the City's main East/West transportation corridor,” writes Giannantonio.

In our featured photo, (see below), we display the 1500 block of Atlantic Avenue, where you can see that there are two lanes (each way) and turn lanes provided at strategic points.

To shrink this vital roadway to just two lanes in a city which attracts more than 20 million visitors per-year is madness.

In the face of unilateral opposition, Small still wants to proceed with his harebrained scheme, despite the fact that the City of Atlantic City has never performed a traffic impact study.

Giannantonio addresses this key point in his letter to Small, writing:

“When we met, the Association requested a copy of the traffic study that was done to support the road diet project. The City Engineer sent us a copy of a 2019 "Atlantic Avenue Road Safety Assessment", but not a traffic study. I understand that the Greater Atlantic City Chamber has also requested a copy of a traffic study relating to his project and was advised by the City that none existed. Now we are even more confused and much more than just concerned,” said Giannantonio.

This latest debacle is a case study in Small’s misguided and bizarre approach to government.

Giannantonio copied his letter to the following major stake holders:

• Sean Pattwell, Executive Director, NJ CRDA
• Joseph Bertoni, Deputy Commissioner, NJ DOT
• Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, Commissioner, NJ DOT
• Atlantic City Council members
• Governor Phil Murphy
• Congressman Jeff Van Drew

We want to provide you with the opportunity to read the entire Giannantonio letter to Small. Here it is below:

The Small “road diet” project for Atlantic Avenue is not good for Atlantic City and must be stopped.

We always think it’s important not only point out. The problem is but the offer solutions and here’s hours.

We always think that it’s important not only point out the problems, but to offer solutions and here’s ours.

Leave the lane configuration as it is, no one is complaining about it. Pave the roads that currently resemble the surface of the moon and synchronize the street lights.

This is all that is required.