Routes 55, 47, 347 To Be Studied, Called ‘First Step’

COURT HOUSE – A consultant was hired to study Routes 55, 47 and 347, and to draft a “purpose and needs statement.” That action was termed “The first step through a process” by Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton that could produce a foundation for federal funding to upgrade those links to Cape May County from Cumberland County.
The action was taken by South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO) March 14 to hire McCormick Taylor, Inc. for $99,099.97. The firm was selected from five finalists. The firm, in association with AmerCom Corp. serves as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firm.
Requests for proposals were sent to 120 firms Jan. 25, according to the resolution that awarded the contract.
Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio, also freeholder vice director, is chairman of SJTPO. The entity is the Metropolitan Planning Organization designated under federal law for this region of the state. It funnels federal funding to selected projects. 
Thornton said the action was taken in “recognition of the information submitted about the recent deaths and injuries that have taken place” on the three highways that are heavily used and are often bumper-to-bumper on summer weekends.
While Thornton would like to see an improved Route 55 into the county, he said, “Maybe we won’t get (Route) 55, but maybe we can make the roads safer.
The two-lane roads, Routes 47 and 347 have had many accidents and fatalities. The latest improvement of Route 47 was installation of rumble strips in the center line to alert motorists who may have drifted toward the opposite lane, as well as to some shoulder areas.
Regarding federal aid for Route 55, when U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd) was asked by the Herald in the past if he would support an extension, he replied that the state must act first, and support the improvement before the federal government would become involved.