 In November, the United States Department of Transportation (US DOT) announced that Atlantic City was a recipient of the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grants program. The 2021 RAISE discretionary grants program awarded nearly $1.0 billion in grants awards to 90 projects in 47 states, the District of Columbia and Guam, according to United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. Atlantic City received $10,349,444.00 in grant funding, which will help to fund the Atlantic City Corridor Revitalization and Safety Project. According to Jim Rutala, Grant Consultant to Atlantic City, “This was the only RAISE grant application approved in New Jersey in the past three years, so we are thrilled to get this award.”
The RAISE grant will enable Atlantic City to implement complete streets improvements on approximately 2.7 miles of Atlantic Avenue. The project has been a priority for Atlantic City for several years. From 2013 to 2017, 829 crashes took place along Atlantic Avenue, making it the most unsafe local roadway in the SJTPO region. In particular, Atlantic City will implement a road diet, add ADA accessible sidewalks, drainage facilities, new bike lanes - all to enhance bicycle, pedestrian, and vehicle safety. In addition, the project includes traffic signal synchronization to minimize fuel consumption, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce travel delays. LED streetlighting and upgrading accessibility at transit stops will also take place.
The planned improvements are of great importance since Atlantic City is a major tourist attraction, but also one of the most disadvantaged cities within the SJTPO region and State. As many as 43 percent of households in Atlantic City do not own an automobile. Alternative modes of transportation, such as walking or biking are necessary for many residents to get to and from work, school, medical appointments, recreational activities, and other daily activities. This extreme degree of disadvantage and the severity of safety issues are what prompted Atlantic City to apply for the RAISE discretionary grants program.
In terms of next steps, Jim Rutala notes, “The project will be built out over the next three years and includes the installation of a fiber optic network and traffic signal synchronization on Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Avenues.” The total estimated project cost is $21.0 million.
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