VENTNOR The Board of Commissioners Thursday, Aug. 12 awarded a $74,000 contract to Colliers Engineering and Design to investigate and engineer improvements to traffic light signalization on the entire length of Atlantic Avenue.
According to Commissioner of Public Works Lance Landgraf, the city is seeking to replace 1970s-era traffic signal technology at intersections on Atlantic Avenue from Jackson to Fredericksberg avenues.
Public Works Supervisor Ed Stinson said instead of replacing traffic lights and standards, which would cost an estimated $400,000 for each intersection, the city will replace the traffic light control system at each of 16 intersections.
The contract will fund a full traffic study and the potential impact of implementing a road diet similar to the one completed earlier this summer in neighboring Margate. The road diet there turned the four lane roadway into one lane in each direction with widened bike lanes and a center turn lane. The project has slowed traffic considerably and made the roadway safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists, officials said.
Stinson said he has opened a conversation with Atlantic County officials to allow the new signalization to be synced remotely to the county's cloud-based system being installed along the entire length of Route 629, which includes Dorset Avenue and Ventnor Avenue from Dorset to 29th Avenue in Longport.
The Atlantic County Board of County Commissioners, Nov. 17, 2020, approved a $9,720,139 contract for signalization of 28 intersections along County Route 629. L. Feriozzi Concrete Company was awarded a contract to mill and surface 24 of the 28 intersections along Dorset and Ventnor avenues, from milepost .27 in Ventnor to 5.26 in Longport. Feriozzi was the lowest of four bids received that went as high as $11 million.
Traffic lights along CR629 will be upgraded with "smart" signals.
The Ventnor Avenue project includes installing Advanced Traffic Signal Management, or smart traffic signals, at all intersections that can detect when vehicles are stacked at the light and allow them to be timed to improve the flow of traffic throughout the corridor. A 360-degree camera detection system provides for continuous traffic counts, not only on Ventnor Avenue, but also on side streets, monitoring traffic flow in real-time and adjusting signals according to needs.
Stinson said it would be beneficial for the city to synchronize traffic along Atlantic Avenue with the county's system.
In other business, the commissioners pulled a resolution from the agenda that would have rescinded a bid for water and sewer improvements on Baltimore, Wyoming and Lafayette avenues. The commissioners pulled Resolution 2021-269 after discussing potential litigation during an executive session.
According to the resolution, RTW Construction, Inc. was the low bidder during a bid solicitation held March 31, and Lafayette Utility Construction Company, LLC was the second lowest bidder. However, Lafayette challenged RTW's bid. The matter was heard in Superior Court and Judge James Pickering Jr. ordered that RTW's contract be rescinded. No explanation was provided for pulling the resolution.
Also, during the closed-door session, commissioners and Solicitor Timothy Maguire discussed litigation involving DM Medical Billing, a third-party biller for emergency medical transportation. They also discussed two issues involving personnel: a bargaining agreement with the Firemen's Mutual Benevolent Association, and a wage and hour issue for the Ventnor Beach Patrol.
No action was taken on any item discussed in closed session.
The commissioners also introduced an ordinance requiring property owners to install house numbers on the front wall or porch of newly constructed buildings at least 30 inches above ground level. The numbering must have a minimum height of 4 inches, not be obstructed by trees or shrubs, and be clearly visible from the street for safety purposes.
A public hearing on the ordinance will be held 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26.
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