Crest Residents Hammer Pacific Avenue Plan

WILWOOD CREST – The Nov. 9 meeting of the Wildwood Crest Board of Commissioners began with a presentation by Cape May County Engineer Dale Foster and Michael Dannemiller, of RBA Group concerning their traffic plan for Pacific Avenue between Cresse Avenue and Atlantic Avenue. 
According to Mayor Carl Groon, the public had asked for a traffic study of Pacific Avenue because the borough had previously submitted plans to the public for a re-engineering of Pacific Avenue that encountered opposition from residents.
At that time, he requested that the county conduct a study to satisfy the residents’ desire for more information before a final decision was made.
Dannemiller described the plan as a concept only and emphasized that this is not a final design for Pacific Avenue. He displayed architectural plans (available on the borough website) that show a three-lane plan for that section of roadway.
He described a concept of one driving lane each way, an inner left-turn lane, and two bike lanes near the curb.
He explained that from 2011 to 2015, there were about 30 accidents of all types reported along that section of Pacific Avenue, two of those were pedestrian crashes, seven were bicycle crashes, and the rest were auto accidents.
He stressed that this plan required no construction or landscaping; the plan paints new lanes on the existing pavement (after repairs are completed), that “will very likely have less crashes as has been experienced in Ocean City.”
He explained that by reducing the driving lanes from two to one per direction with a dedicated left-turn lane, traffic would naturally flow better. He does not anticipate any congestion issues based on traffic volume.
“I am strongly confident that this plan will be successful” in reducing pedestrian and bicycle accidents,” he noted.
Commissioner Joyce Gould was unconvinced that this plan was the best solution. Gould stated that she was concerned that by reducing the number of lanes on Pacific, the borough would “hamper emergency evacuation efforts” in cases of serious storms.
Dannemiller responded that in emergencies, the borough could simply ignore the painted lanes and use all lanes for evacuation.
Gould was not the only voice of opposition. Several residents rose to question the engineers about plan’s details. They were clearly not open to the proposal.
One resident asked for accident statistics that show a specific need for this plan as compared to other areas of the borough.
Others complained that the bike crashes were caused by bikers who do not obey existing rules and who often do not have the required lighting and reflectors on their bikes.
Some questioned why a bike lane on Pacific was needed at all.
In the face of the opposition, Groon emphasized that the plan was not his idea and that residents had requested that a study be undertaken. 
Groon added “As mayor, I have an obligation to listen to my experts, as well as the residents,” when challenged as to whether this plan was his idea by opponents in the audience.
Groon and Commissioner Don Cabrera favor the plan as submitted by RBA as a public safety issue.
Police Chief Joseph McGrath was concerned that the study does not reflect all the “near misses” he has seen in the area. His opinion was that by forming a single driving lane, this plan would “inherently slow people down and is safer” than the current configuration.
Once all residents had expressed opinions on the plan, Groon adjourned the meeting with the understanding that a final decision on the plan would be made at the next regular borough meeting.
The borough also promised to post the written report made by RBA to the county so that residents can have access to that information as well as the plan.
To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.