By Sarah Fertsch
Staff Writer
Three weeks ago, the New Jersey State Senate unanimously approved a bill that would allow the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority to use its resources to develop a rail link between Atlantic City and the Atlantic City International Airport.
Senate Bill 1110, sponsored by Sen. Vince Polistina, (R-2nd), would authorize the CRDA to finance transportation projects between the airport and the Atlantic City Tourism District. Under existing rules, CRDA is obligated to direct all revenues and assets, which it collects from casinos, to the Tourism District and community development in the city.
“Visitors from outside the area can easily book a flight to the city, but getting to and from the casinos and the Tourism District is another story,” Polistina said in a press statement. “This bill will authorize the CRDA to work with the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority and other entities to help develop a transportation solution.”
The Senate voted 36-0 to send the bill to the Assembly, where it awaits consideration by the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee.
When the bill was voted out of committee in March, Polistina urged his colleagues to support adding a train stop near the airport in the Pomona section of Galloway Township.
For decades local business leaders, most recently the Atlantic City Rail Line Coalition, have pushed to offer easier access to ACY from Philadelphia and Absecon Island by creating a an airport rail stop that would replace the current shuttle bus service.
If a train stop were built, it would likely be on Route 30, close to Pomona Commons, a mixed-use, multi-million-dollar redevelopment project approved by Galloway Township Council last summer.
Meanwhile, other airport changes are in the offing for Atlantic City International.
Spirit Airlines, which is the sole airline flying out of ACY, says it will decide between two competing takeover before the end of June.
The company will be purchased by either Frontier Airlines or JetBlue Airways, which made a cash offer for Spirit of over $3.6 billion in early June. Spirit rejected the initial offer, so JetBlue offered another $100 million, with a $350 million breakup charge.
Frontier claims that it has had a deal in place since February and Spirit should stick to its original agreement.
“The board expects to bring the process to a conclusion and provide an update to stockholders” ahead of its June 30 meeting, Spirit CEO Ted Christie said in a statement to CNBC.
Spirit shares have risen dramatically since the buyer standoff, rising over 3.4 percent. JetBlue is offering to pay an additional $1.50 per share if Spirit chooses their deal. Frontier’s shares have risen 1.5 percent and JetBlue’s shares have risen 0.5 percent.
Whatever offer Spirit accepts would affect the destinations available to ACY flyers.
Today, the Atlantic City airport offers 10 different direct-flight destination options, including Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Atlanta, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Myrtle Beach, Miami, San Juan, and Cancun.
Frontier, like Spirit, is considered a low-cost carrier, so experts predict that prices for flights from either airline would not rise. Neither Frontier nor Spirit has received rave reviews from flyers, so service will not be luxurious.
Travel writers from USA Today note that since Frontier is based in Denver, consumers can expect to have more options traveling west to destinations like Honolulu, San Diego, Vancouver and Seattle.
Spirit’s decision is bound to affect ACY, but the exact implications of each decision remain unknown. The merger could lead to flight crew layoffs, which is one of the few glaring negative side effects of the buyout.
Thankfully, a decision is coming soon, so sit tight and prepare for big changes coming to our local airport.
Sarah Fertsch is a writer and artist who has recently moved back to South Jersey. She loves satire, a good cup of coffee, and exploring new places.
