The City of Margate has announced potential traffic pattern changes to Atlantic Avenue, known as the Atlantic Avenue Road Diet.
The proposed road diet would reduce the existing four-lane roadway to a three-lane roadway, consisting of two through lanes and a center striped median with left turn lanes. In general, the reconfiguration offers high-value improvements at a low cost. Benefits of road diets include crash reduction, reduced vehicle speed, improved mobility, and enhanced safety for all road users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.
“This concept, which will be discussed and presented to the public by the city and its Engineers, will highlight the safety aspects of the diet to reduce speeding, provide more efficient use of the traffic signals, provide a shorter crossing distance for pedestrians, and also provide a safer bicycle route,” Zoning Officer Roger McLarnon said in a release.
The city and engineer Ed Dennis of Remington and Vernick will be hosting two virtual meetings to discuss the possible lane reduction and traffic pattern changes. The Atlantic Avenue Road Diet has been previously approved by all state and local government agencies and has been discussed in detail at every Margate capital project meeting.
City commissioners would like to hear from property owners and local businesses before officially deciding to undertake the project.
Two virtual meetings will take place to obtain feedback from the public: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, and 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, using Microsoft Teams online meeting platform. Download the Mac app in advance to access the meetings.
“The public presentation will provide information regarding the design, benefits, and traffic impacts of the proposed changes on Atlantic Avenue,” Dennis said. “The city is very interested in receiving public feedback to help guide the decision-making process for this important project.”
For more information, visit margate-nj.com.
