Monday, April 22, 2002

ASSEMBLY BUDGET CHAIR AND COUNTY EXECUTIVE DISCUSS WHITE HORSE PIKE SAFETY

Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson announced today that he has met with Assemblyman Louis Greenwald, Chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee, and discussed the urgent need to make safety improvements along the White Horse Pike in Galloway and Mullica Townships.

"Although this section of US 30 (White Horse Pike) does not include his District, the Assemblyman was sympathetic to our concern about the high number of traffic fatalities along this stretch of road and said that he would attempt to participate in a comprehensive solution to the problem," Levinson said. "I was very impressed by his concern."

Levinson has been working aggressively with various state and local officials, including Senator Gormley and Assemblymen Blee and D'Amato, to plan and implement immediate measures to improve highway safety along this section of the White Horse Pike. According to Levinson, due to the variety of road conditions and land uses along this roadway, remedies probably involve a variety of measures on specific parts of the road These solutions might include the installation of highway dividers, designated turn lanes, or other roadway improvements.

Levinson has assured local municipal officials that even though this road comes under the jurisdiction of the state, he is more than willing to offer the staff and resources of Atlantic County's Planning and Engineering staff and resources to assist NJDOT in expeditiously addressing the problem.

"Eighty three percent of the fatal accidents in Atlantic County between 1997 and 2001 have occurred along this section of the White Horse Pike. This situation is only going to get worse as Atlantic County continues to grow. NJDOT needs to get on this problem now so that we don't have to wait years before anything productive is done and more people have been killed," Levinson said.

For more information contact Howard J. Kyle, Chief of Staff, at 343-2368.

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