Upper Finalizes Jitney Regulations

PETERSBURG – Upper Township Committee finalized regulations on hours and routes for jitneys operating in Strathmere May 8. 
Solicitor Daniel Young had been working on a rough draft of the routes and stops to be implemented for the summer season, with the input of Strathmere residents. 
Committee had, in April, approved an ordinance requiring jitneys to be registered with the municipality and licensed at the cost of $50 annually.
Approved routes include three restaurants in Strathmere, the Deauville Inn, La Fontana, and Mildred’s; along with three stops in the Whale Beach section, which Young said were specifically requested by residents.
Township Engineer Paul Dietrich said that other than stops on Commonwealth Avenue, the only other stops would be at the restaurants on Willard Avenue.
“We’re also proposing putting up signage at the stops to identify the stops, so it is very obvious where those locations are, just in case users aren’t familiar with the area,” Dietrich said.
The original operating hours for jitneys had operations ending at 2 a.m., which is two hours before Sea Isle City requires its jitneys to stop.
Young said some Strathmere residents raised safety concerns about jitneys there stopping earlier and committee approved a motion to allow the jitneys to operate until 4 a.m.
Residents also objected to too much idling in one area as jitney operators waited for passengers although no side street routes are included in the ordinance.
Harbor Road Bike/Pedestrian Gateway Project
Committee passed a resolution to pursue a shared services agreement with the county for funding of the Harbor Road bike/pedestrian gateway project.
The township is anticipating a $500,000 county grant and a $250,000 grant from the New Jersey Highway Authority to assist in funding the project.
In response to a question about what was being done about the parking lot, Dietrich said the project was just starting with the planning stage and that the township would, in the future, have meetings with residents to discuss the project’s scope, to share ideas and to address concerns.
Route 50 Safety
Several residents have spoken over the last few months of their concerns about the safety of Route 50 at certain segments. Committee, in response, passed a resolution to install flashing road safety lights and highway safety signs along Route 50 at mileposts 5.78 and 5.88, near the community center.
Currently, the state Department of Transportation is reviewing the township’s proposal, and the township feels confident that a sign will be put in place.
The township expects that it would incur 25 percent of the cost of installing the safety light sign.
Strathmere Concerns
Ed Dodge, a Strathmere resident, requested that the township consider several ordinances related to demolition and construction of buildings.
Dodge indicated that there is a need for an ordinance that would inform, in advance, homeowners that are adjacent to any neighboring properties that are to be demolished.
He said that recently a property adjacent to his in Strathmere was demolished, without notice, and that things might have been better if he had gotten notice.
In addition, he suggested the township needs an ordinance regarding when piling work can be done.
Presently there are no ordinances that address either of his concerns.
Committee agreed to look into these issues and said it would reach out to the Strathmere Improvement Association to gauge interest and to consider its input on the matters.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.