Ocean City Council Puts Funding In Place For Capital Improvements

Ocean City, NJ -- The funding is now in place for several capital improvement projects to take place throughout Ocean City.

Council unanimously approved a proposed ordinance on introduction that would appropriate $18,965,000 and allow the city to borrow $18,461,750 to pay for multiple projects Thursday night.

Funding for proposed projects as part of the 2016 Road Improvement Program reads as follows:
$1,600,000 for paving and drainage in the Third and Fourth wards:

• Simpson Avenue, between 25th Street and 24th Street;
• 25th Street, between West Avenue and Wesley Avenue;
• 26th Street and pipe to West, between Asbury Avenue and the beach;
• The alley at West and Asbury, from 27th Street to 26th Street;
• Central Avenue, between 28th Street and 24th Street;
• Wesley Avenue, between 26th Street and 24th Street;
• 28th Street, between West Avenue and Wesley Avenue;
• The alley at Central and Wesley, from 27th Street to 26th Street; and
• The alley at Central and Wesley, from 28th Street to 27th Street.

$8,400,000 for the north end pump station, bulkhead work and paving and drainage in the First and Second wards. The city has a $5 million grant to put toward the pump station:

• Simpson Avenue, from 3rd Street to 1st Street, and from 5th Street to 3rd Street;
• 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th streets, from Bay to West Avenue;
• 5th Street, from Bay Avenue to West Avenue;
• 6th and 7th streets, from Bay to Bay Avenue;
• 7th Street from Bay Avenue to Haven Avenue;
• Haven Avenue from 7th Street to 6th Street, and from 8th Street to 7th Street; and
• The 3rd Street Bulkhead.

$500,000 for paving and drainage in the First and Second wards:

• The alley at Simpson and Haven, from 5th Street to 4th Street, 4th Street to 3rd Street and 3rd Street to 2nd Street;
• Haven Avenue, from 3rd Street to 2nd Street and 4th Street to 3rd Street;
• Moore Avenue from 8th Street to 7th Street; and
• Pleasure Avenue from 7th Street to 6th Street.

$1,100,000 for paving and drainage in the First Ward:

• East Atlantic Boulevard, from East Surf Road to the Garden State Parkway;
• East Seaspray Road, from East Atlantic Boulevard to Waverly Boulevard;
• Holly Tree Road, from East Surf Road to Pinnacle Road;
• Gull Road, from East Atlantic Boulevard to East Surf Road;
• Gull Haven Drive, on Gull Road; and
• Pinnacle Road, from Gull Road to Battersea Road.

$4 million for pump stations and paving and drainage in the Third and Fourth wards, to take place from 26th Street to 34th Street, between Bay Avenue and West Avenue.
A town hall meeting on this project will take place at the Howard S. Stainton Senior Center (1735 Simpson Avenue) on Tuesday night, Aug. 30, 6 p.m. Mayor and council will be in attendance as members of the Michael Baker International Company discuss the project with the community.

$1 million for NJAW and South Jersey Gas improvements in the north end of the city; and
$800,000 for engineering, survey and inspection for all projects.

Money is also being set aside for:

• Improvements to the beachfront, including, but not limited to, access mats ($40,000 appropriated; $38,000 in bonds and notes);
• The construction, rehabilitation and repairs to public facilities, including, but not limited to downtown streetscaping, the resurfacing of the 18th Street Racquet Courts and the 34th Street Building ($1,645,000 appropriated; $1,562,750 in bonds and notes);
• Communications and software upgrades ($205,000 appropriated, $194,750 in bonds and notes); and
• The construction, rehabilitation and repairs to intermodal transportation and parking facilities, including but not limited to boat ramp improvements on Tennessee Avenue ($125,000 appropriated, $118,750 in bonds and notes).

"There's a lot of good things here," Councilwoman Karen Bergman said. "I'm excited to move forward."

"Each project has merit and value, and deserves to be funded," Councilman Michael DeVlieger said.

"The flooding money is well-spent," Councilman Keith Hartzell said.

Hartzell went on to say that there are some major trip hazards downtown that the streetscaping should be able to solve. He said the bricks were "well-intended" but they just don't work.

Mayor Jay Gillian said the city will talk to the merchants before deciding how it will handle the streetscaping project.

Locations for the access mats will be posted on the city's website soon. Gillian said he expects the mats will cost about $5,000 a piece, but it depends on their length. The city is currently taking orders.