At a recent Cape Issues (a county issues group) meeting, we were discussing what our next steps should be to build support for those who are working to complete Route 55 into Cape May County. Tom Henry said, We have spoken with Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton, a long-time supporter of completing Route 55, and asked him how we could help. He informed us that he was working on it, and has just announced that the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization is beginning the planning effort. We have spoken with Senator Jeff Van Drew; he, along with Assemblyman Bob Andrzejczak, have called for the state Department of Transportation to do an evaluation to extend Route 55 into Cape May County. We have spoken with Congressman Frank LoBiondo, and he said that he supports it if there is consensus within the county to build it. I (Tom) suggest now that we talk with New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney.
So that is what we did, we contacted him through Sen. Van Drew. We have not met with him yet to offer support, but he did provide us a letter, which ran in the March 23 Herald. In summary, he stated that New Jersey’s failure to fund our Transportation Trust Fund “…has stripped New Jersey of its ability to provide and maintain the world-class transportation system…A clear example of this is the extension of Route 55 to Cape May County. Route 55 was initially projected to extend all the way from Philadelphia to Cape May. But with construction ending in Maurice River Township in Cumberland County, Cape May remains isolated from the rest of the state with only the Garden State Parkway as a major pathway to and from the area. The danger of this situation was drawn into view last August, when a construction accident caused significant delays on the Parkway. Should a similar event occur during a time of crisis, such as a pending storm, the results could be tragic….(This results in) a gridlock none of us can afford.”
We New Jerseyans are mobile people, and we know that the South Jersey infrastructure is inferior to that of most of the rest of our nation. We also know that we pay less for our gasoline than most other states. Is the few cents savings worth inferior-quality roads? I say, No.
Also in Sen. Sweeney’s letter, he not only referenced financial but also environmental concerns. Yes, absolutely, we must proceed responsibly, but we cannot relegate the people of Cape May County to sub-par roads, when our safety and our future demand that we keep pace.
With the ongoing efforts of people in important positions to get this road completed, Route 55 will be completed. The reasons grow more compelling with each passing year. New Jersey did not get where we are by accepting second best. Not only is New Jersey a beautiful place to live and visit, but financially we’re in the 90+ percentile. We are going to have to reinvent ourselves to stay there. We can and will do it, by continuing to claw our way forward, and modernizing our infrastructure is a vital part of that quest.
Do our elected officials support completing Route 55? Clearly they do, and we should support their efforts to make it a reality.
Art Hall
From the Bible: “‘I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. Leviticus 26:9
