Judge approves narrowing of Atlantic City's main street despite casinos' concerns

On Friday, Atlantic City received authorization to proceed with a project to reduce its main street from four lanes to two, despite opposition from casinos and a hospital, which are concerned the plan could lead to potential traffic congestion, scare away gamblers, and cause delays for emergency vehicles.

Superior Court Judge Michael Blee dismissed claims from "five casinos and a hospital" that the partially completed project to narrow Atlantic Avenue in the name of pedestrian safety could cause "irreparable harm" if allowed to finish.

Blee noted that "no one has yet been hurt by the project," which began last month during the city's slow season for resorts. The judge further said that if the project's opponents ultimately win in court, the road could be "restriped and put back the way it used to be."

"The court does not consider the personal inconvenience of residents and visitors to be irreparable harm," Judge Blee stated, as reported by the Associated Press.

Judge Michael Blee

Mayor Marty Small highlighted that the city received $24 million in federal and state funding for new roads, sidewalks, street lights, and synchronized traffic lights, with no cost to Atlantic City taxpayers. "That’s $24 million in non-Atlantic City taxpayer money for the citizens of Atlantic City," he said.

At a December press conference, city officials stated that the grant came with the stipulation that it be used for pedestrian safety measures like the road narrowing project.

Attorney Keith Davis, representing the Caesars, Tropicana, Resorts, Bally’s, and Hard Rock casinos, and the AtlantiCare hospital, argued that the city has no legal authority to alter traffic flows on Atlantic Avenue, part of the city's Tourism District.

Authority over this area was transferred to the state's Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) under a 2011 state law. However, Judge Blee observed that the CRDA was not part of the litigation and did not appear in court.

The Casino Association of New Jersey, the trade group for the city's casinos, wanted the judge to block the plan, while Judge Blee has scheduled a trial for February 2025. Small said that work on the second phase of the project is due to begin in September and should be finished well before the trial.