WEST CAPE MAY — Borough commission approved making an application to the state Department of Transportation (DOT) for a $180,000 bikeway grant to create bicycle lanes on both sides of Park Boulevard and install a sidewalk and curbing on the west side of the street.
It will be widened to accommodate two bike lanes. It is anticipated DOT would pay for the construction while the borough would be responsible for funding the design work and maintaining the lanes.
Steve Lingle of Triad Associates, a consulting company, will prepare the grant application.
Plans currently call for bike lanes to end at Central Avenue.
Mayor Pamela Kaithern said she hoped funding would become available to extend the bikeway onto a dirt road that leads to the City of Cape May’s Public Works Yard.
Deputy Mayor Dick Rigby said the dirt road links to Atlantic City Electric’s right-of-way that ends at the Cape May Canal. The right-of-way parallels the railroad tracks.
Rigby said it would get bike riders off Broadway where they mix with heavy vehicle traffic.
He said the Delaware River and Bay Authority is looking at plans for a bike lane from the ferry terminal in North Cape May along Sandman Boulevard that would connect to the Cold Spring Bike Path.
Kaithern said construction on Park Boulevard would begin after the summer tourist season.
The borough will combine the new grant, if received, with an unused grant of $140,000 from DOT, originally earmarked for paving of Sees Alley. Public outcry sacked that project and the money will be applied to the bike lane project.
Commission discussed a request from a property owner on Third Avenue between Columbia and Morrison avenues, for a sewer main extension to tie into the municipal system. Kaithern said the owner also had the option of using a septic system.
Commissioner Peter Burke asked if neighbors on the street would be required to hook up.
Kaithern said that has always been the standard. She said it would be less expensive for lateral pipes to be installed for homeowners since the street would be opened and equipment would be on site.
She said neighbors would be notified of the sewer line extension by letter and asked of their desire to connect to the system.
Commission introduced an ordinance appropriating $70,000 with the issuance of $66,500 in bonds to pay engineering fees for water-sewer-road projects on Sixth Avenue and Park Boulevard and air packs for the fire company.
Commission also introduced an ordinance appropriating $50,000 to install solar panels on borough hall. The funding will come from a county grant.
Commission approved an ordinance appropriating $32,000 to purchase remote reading water meters and software. It was funded by a USDA grant.
Customer’s water meters will be read from borough hall rather than by a crew walking from home to home.
Kaithern reported the borough received a “zero defects” audit from the state for the second time in two years.
Contact Fichter at (609) 886-8600 Ext 30 or at: jfichter@cmcherald.com
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