In 2009, CRDA completed and released the Atlantic City Regional Transportation Plan (ACRTP), which emphasizes the importance of transportation to create an investor-friendly environment. The plan includes a program of transportation strategies and actions that address current needs, and supports anticipated increases traffic volumes in and around Atlantic City. The ACRTP also provides details for Early Initiative Projects, which serve to resolve current problems in the transportation system, including:
South Inlet Transportation Improvement Project
CRDA is contributing $18.3 million for the $42 million South Inlet Transportation Improvement Project. It awarded the General Construction Services contract to L. Ferriozzi Concrete Company of Ventnor, NJ. The South Inlet Transportation Improvement Plan is designed to develop a key transportation corridor for the South Inlet, principally by expanding Connecticut Avenue and making improvements to cross streets and improving the connection to Route 30 (White Horse Pike). This new corridor and the associated road improvements and updating of utilities will attract additional investment for economic development and housing in addition to providing better access for the anticipated increase in traffic in the South Inlet associated with the new Revel Entertainment Group’s beachfront casino entertainment resort.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd Widening Project
CRDA awarded a contract to L. Feriozzi Concrete Company to provide General Construction Services for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd Widening Project for $618,349. The project consists of roadway construction, associated utility work, traffic striping and signage, traffic signalization, streetscape, and new street tress an electrical work from Atlantic to Pacific Avenue. CRDA is the sole funder of the project.
Citywide Traveler Signage Project
The Citywide Traveler Signage Project is based upon one of ACRTP's early initiatives that propose improvements to the Atlantic City Brigantine Connector Signage. As currently conceived the Citywide Traveler Signage Project will develop a new system and format for highway and in town directional signage. Advancing this Project will address a number of concerns. As part of the ACRTP's development work, focus groups were held with members of the public. These discussions revealed that difficulty navigating through the Atlantic City Brigantine Connector area, also called The Tunnel, is high on the list of negatives that impact the experience of visitors to Atlantic City. Additionally, through meetings with Atlantic City residents, a major traffic complaint about living in the resort city is the intrusion of visitor vehicles into the neighborhoods by motorists who have become lost. Finally, analysis recently conducted by Harrah’s Entertainment has cited the benefits of providing a well-delineated resort district along the Pacific and Atlantic Avenue corridors to help visitors identify their target destination and other opportunities to consider during their visit.
The presentation to the Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce on July 15, 2010, provides an update to the ACRTP.