LONGPORT The borough will soon begin installing sidewalks in areas where there are none. City officials identified the lack of sidewalks in certain areas as a public safety concern, especially for families carting strollers and children to the beach during summer.
On Oct. 21, the Board of Commissioners awarded a $130,520 contract to Hackney Concrete, Inc. to install infill sidewalks in various locations so pedestrians don't have to walk in the street on their way to the beach.
The borough also recently approved a resolution establishing temporary no parking restrictions on both sides of portions of the streets where sidewalks will be installed.
Streets identified include:
In other business, the commissioners discussed how neighboring Margate's plans to turn Amherst Avenue into a one-way street traveling toward Longport will affect traffic patterns in the northern end of the borough.
Carter recommended hiring a traffic engineer to determine how the borough would be affected.
Directing all traffic into Longport is really not fair, Carter said. Why would you want to accept all the traffic that's being generated in Margate to Longport. You want it to go the other way.
Carter said the direction should be reversed to go toward Washington Avenue.
Officials said they have no problem with Margate's proposal to install a road diet on Atlantic Avenue, which would match up with Longport's roadway configuration.
The board also denied a request from an elderly resident to establish a handicapped parking space in front of his home on N. 31st Avenue.
Police Chief Frank Culmone denied resident Mark Hyman's request for a handicapped spot because he has a driveway where he can park his vehicle. Hyman appealed to the commissioners to override Culmone's decision because he finds it difficult to maneuver the driveway's incline.
Mayor Nicholas Russo prepared an ordinance granting the spot, but the motion to introduce the ordinance did not receive a second and the motion died on the floor.
Hyman said the borough was discriminating against him, when there are many other handicapped parking spots located throughout town.
Commissioner of Public Safety Dan Lawler said Culmone followed a pre-established procedure and has denied numerous requests for handicapped spots based on that criteria.
Frank's not a doctor or a podiatrist to make that decision for how I'm going to park, Hyman said. This isn't going to go away right now.
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