North Wildwood eyes jitney service

Last Updated on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 04:03 pm Written by Christie Rotondo Wednesday, February 20, 2013 04:00 pm

NORTH WILDWOOD- With jitneys set to make their way into Avalon and Stone Harbor this summer, members of City Council are looking into making the service a possibility in North Wildwood.

Councilman Ed Koehler presented the idea at Tuesday’s council meeting during its work session.

“I think it would behoove us to look into that,” Koehler told the council. “They move people around efficiently.”

City Administrator Lou Belasco said he would contact Avalon and Stone Harbor and look into how those municipalities brought the service to Seven Mile Island.

Avalon approved its jitney ordinance Jan. 23, and Stone Harbor was set to approve its on Tuesday.

There, six to eight jitneys are expected to run between the two towns on any given night by July. Before 11 p.m., a ride will cost $2. After that, the price goes to $4. The jitneys are set to kick off Memorial Day and are operated through the Atlantic City Jitney Service.

“It’s not subsidized,” City Council President Pat Rosenello said. “They just allow them to come in and set up.”

Belasco pointed out that Sea Isle City started offering jitneys last year, and said that since the service was traveling farther south, it must be doing well.

In Stone Harbor and Avalon, the service will run from 96th Street in Stone Harbor to 20th Street in Avalon. Business owners in the borough have said that they expect the service to benefit local shops, bars, and the movie theater on 96th Street.

Koehler mentioned that in North Wildwood, the jitney “would probably solve a lot of parking problems.”

No official ordinance or resolution was introduced at the council’s regular meeting, which followed the work session. The next city council meeting is set for 7 p.m. March 5 at City Hall, 901 Atlantic Ave.

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