Editing Cape May County, New Jersey (section)

==Transportation==
[[File:2021-08-31 11 15 26 View south along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) from the pedestrian overpass between Exit 9 and Exit 10 in Middle Township, Cape May County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|right|Garden State Parkway southbound in Cape May County]]
The indigenous population left behind a series of trails across Cape May County by the late 17th century.<ref name="Story"/> In 1695, John Somers operated the first ferry service across the Great Egg Harbor Bay to [[Beesley's Point, New Jersey|Beesley's Point]] in Cape May County.<ref>{{cite web|title=New Jersey State Historic Sites|publisher=New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection|date=January 3, 2018|access-date=March 1, 2018|url=http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/historic/index.html|archive-date=February 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215171427/http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/historic/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Beginning in 1697 and completed in 1707, the residents of Cape May County financed the construction of a road running from Cape May to the ferry in Beesley's Point, and onward to [[Burlington, New Jersey|Burlington]].<ref name="getnj"/><ref name="survey">{{cite report|pages=117–128|title=New Jersey Historic Bridge Survey|date=September 1994|publisher=New Jersey Department of Transportation|work=A. G. Lichtenstein & Associates|url=https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/works/environment/pdf/Survey_Doc.pdf|access-date=July 16, 2018|archive-date=July 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712204810/https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/works/environment/pdf/Survey_Doc.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="early">{{cite book|title=Early History of Cape May County|pages=169–170|year=1857|url=http://www.state.nj.us/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/GEOLOGY-CAPE%20MAY-1857.PDF|access-date=April 11, 2018|archive-date=April 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423031915/https://www.state.nj.us/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/GEOLOGY-CAPE%20MAY-1857.PDF|url-status=live}}</ref> Roads were built across the county to connect with the court house, but in low-lying areas these routes were [[corduroy road]]s, built from a series of logs. Local businessmen built the Dennis Creek Causeway in 1803, which eventually became [[New Jersey Route 47|NJ 47]], which contributed to the growth of towns along the Delaware Bay, although people traveled to the county more often by steamboat.<ref name="survey"/>

In August 1863, the [[West Jersey and Seashore Railroad#Cape May and Millville Railroad|Cape May and Millville Railroad]] opened, connecting the county more quickly to points to the northwest. The railroad shipped freight from the county's many farms, and brought more people to the area, contributing to the development of coastal resorts. Travelers often brought their lunch in shoe boxes, leading to their nickname "[[shoobie]]s".<ref name="proposed"/><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Princeton University|title=1872: County Wall Map|series=Nova Caesarea: A Cartographic Record of the Garden State 1666-1888|access-date=March 29, 2018|year=2014|url=https://library.princeton.edu/njmaps/counties/cape_may.html|archive-date=October 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026030011/https://library.princeton.edu/njmaps/counties/cape_may.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Excursionists: A Ticket to Success|author=Susan Tischler|date=February 2007|access-date=March 29, 2018|url=http://www.capemay.com/Editorial/feb07/railroad.html|publisher=Cape May Magazine|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170408/http://www.capemay.com/Editorial/feb07/railroad.html|url-status=live}}</ref> By 1892, much of the county was accessible by railroad, including all of the barrier islands. A second rail line was added in 1893 that connected Cape May to a branch of the [[Atlantic City Line|rail line]] that ran from Atlantic City to Camden. By the 1890s, bicycling became common throughout the county, and bikeriders successfully lobbied the county to build better roads. Between 1900 and 1915, the county government built over 100 miles of [[gravel road]]s, a fact promoted in a county promotional brochure, but also the cause of controversies. County engineer N. C. Price was dismissed in 1903 due to accusations of poor building materials and inflated costs, and in 1921, two freeholders were jailed for defrauding the county, resulting in a smaller board of freeholders.<ref name="survey"/><ref name="dorwart">{{cite book|author=Jeffery M. Dorwart|title=Cape May County, New Jersey: The Making of an American Resort Community|year=1992|pages=201–202|publisher=Rutgers University Press |isbn=9780813517841|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=anseU09GDTkC&q=cape+may+freeholder+engineer+1921+guilty&pg=PA201}}</ref>

In 1916, the New Jersey legislature created the [[State highways in New Jersey|state highway system]], taking responsibility for the maintenance and building of major roads.<ref name="survey"/> In 1917, the road between Cape May and Seaville became Route 14,<ref name="1920r14">{{cite report |title = 1917 Annual Report |publisher = New Jersey Department of Transportation |date = 1917 }}</ref> which was renumbered Route 4 in 1927,<ref name="Map">{{cite map |url = http://www.jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/images/1927_routes.gif |title = 1927 New Jersey Road Map |publisher = State of New Jersey |access-date = October 8, 2008 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071031111034/http://www.jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/images/1927_routes.gif |archive-date = October 31, 2007 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> and later [[U.S. Route 9 in New Jersey|U.S. 9]] by the 1940s.<ref name="mwm">{{cite map |publisher = Mid-West Map Co. |title = Map of Pennsylvania and New Jersey |year = 1941 |cartography = [[H.M. Gousha]] |url = http://www.mapsofpa.com/roadcart/1941_1467m.jpg |access-date = March 29, 2009 |archive-date = January 28, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110128192852/http://mapsofpa.com/roadcart/1941_1467m.jpg |url-status = live }}</ref> The road ran the length of the state, and connected Cape May County with Atlantic County via the [[Beesley's Point Bridge]] built in 1928.<ref>{{cite news|author=Lee Procida|title=Closed bridge ties Beesleys Point to the quiet life|date=December 19, 2012|newspaper=Press of Atlantic City|url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/closed-bridge-ties-beesleys-point-to-the-quiet-life/article_416e0616-4975-11e2-9246-0019bb2963f4.html|access-date=March 1, 2018|archive-date=March 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302104052/http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/closed-bridge-ties-beesleys-point-to-the-quiet-life/article_416e0616-4975-11e2-9246-0019bb2963f4.html|url-status=live}}</ref> From 1934 to 1946, the Cape May County Bridge Commission issued bonds and secured funding for five toll bridges to connect the barrier islands with each other.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bridge History|publisher=Government of Cape May County, New Jersey|access-date=April 17, 2018|url=http://capemaycountynj.gov/653/Bridge-History|archive-date=March 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320212247/http://capemaycountynj.gov/653/Bridge-History|url-status=live}}</ref> By the 1950s, state routes 47, [[New Jersey Route 49|49]], [[New Jersey Route 50|50]], [[New Jersey Route 52|52]], and [[New Jersey Route 83|83]] were established, connecting various municipalities.<ref name="mwm"/><ref name="nj1953">{{Cite report|title=1953 New Jersey state highway renumbering |url=http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1953_New_Jersey_state_highway_renumbering |publisher=New Jersey Department of Highways |access-date=July 31, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628183145/http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1953_New_Jersey_state_highway_renumbering |archive-date=June 28, 2011}}</ref>

In 1956, the [[Great Egg Harbor Bridge]] opened, connecting the county with Atlantic County and points north and west via the [[Garden State Parkway]]. A parallel bridge carrying northbound traffic of the [[Garden State Parkway]] opened in 1973.<ref name="njta">{{cite web|title=The Garden State Parkway Crossing the Great Egg Harbor Bay|publisher=[[New Jersey Turnpike Authority]]|url=http://www.njta.com/media/3387/great-egg-harbor-history.pdf|access-date=March 6, 2018|archive-date=March 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307023250/http://www.njta.com/media/3387/great-egg-harbor-history.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Parkway to replace southbound Great Egg Harbor bridge; demolition pushed for Beesleys Point Bridge|date=March 2, 2011|author=Michael Miller|newspaper=Press of Atlantic City|url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/parkway-to-replace-southbound-great-egg-harbor-bridge-demolition-pushed/article_66d39ecc-4551-11e0-af54-001cc4c002e0.html|access-date=March 28, 2018|archive-date=March 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302103929/http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/parkway-to-replace-southbound-great-egg-harbor-bridge-demolition-pushed/article_66d39ecc-4551-11e0-af54-001cc4c002e0.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The road brings hundreds of thousands of people to the county during the summertime.<ref name="making"/> The parkway passes through the length of the county, and has its southern terminus, known as Exit Zero, in Lower Township, connecting with U.S. Route 9.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000444__-.pdf|title=Garden State Parkway Straight Line Diagram|publisher=[[New Jersey Department of Transportation]]|date=January 1997|access-date=August 19, 2014|archive-date=July 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718095238/http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000444__-.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Further transportation connections were made after the [[Cape May–Lewes Ferry]] began operation in 1964, which can carry up to 100 cars and 800 people on its fleet of five boats.<ref name="gaz12"/> In 1971, [[New Jersey Route 147|Route 147]] replaced county routes for the roadway from North Wildwood to U.S. 9,<ref name="nj147est">{{cite news|title=Gotta Gripe? The Mystery of a Road at Grassy Sound|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15746923/nj_147_july_20_1972/|access-date=December 13, 2017|work=The Courier-Post|date=July 20, 1972|page=3|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=December 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213143153/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15746923/nj_147_july_20_1972/|url-status=live}} {{open access}}</ref> and in the same year, [[New Jersey Route 162|Route 162]] was established for a new bridge over the Cape May Canal.<ref name="nbi">{{cite book|title=Structure Number: ++++++++0513150 |publisher=United States Department of Transportation|location=Washington D.C.|year=2008|edition=2008|author=National Bridge Inventory}}</ref> In 1972, U.S. 9 was relocated from its southern terminus in Cape May to the ferry; the former route was redesignated [[New Jersey Route 109|Route 109]].<ref name="AASHTO">{{AASHTO minutes |year=1972A |page=427 |access-date=October 16, 2014 }}</ref> [[New Jersey Route 347|Route 347]] was designated in the 1990s as an alternate route to Route 47.<ref name="rm">{{cite map|publisher=[[Rand McNally]]|title=United States-Canada-Mexico Road Atlas|year=1996}}</ref>

The county has a total of {{convert|1036.15|mi}} of roadways, of which {{convert|730.07|mi}} are maintained by the local municipality, {{convert|200.98|mi}} by Cape May County, {{convert|74.18|mi}} by the [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]] and {{convert|30.92|mi}} by the [[New Jersey Turnpike Authority]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/mileage_CapeMay.pdf|title=Cape May County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction|publisher=[[New Jersey Department of Transportation]]|date=July 2015|access-date=March 7, 2018|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304211528/http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/mileage_CapeMay.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> There are 23 bridges owned by the county, including a series of causeways and bridges connecting the five barrier islands to the mainland.<ref name="strat"/>

There is limited public transportation within the county. The ensuing traffic congestion during summer months causes roadway congestion. [[NJ Transit Bus Operations|NJ Transit buses]] operate the following lines in and out of the county: [[List of NJ Transit bus routes (300–399)#Southern Division|313, 315, 316, 319]], [[List of NJ Transit bus routes (500–549)|507, 509, 510]], and [[List of NJ Transit bus routes (550–599)|552]].<ref name="strat"/><ref>{{cite web|title=313 315 Timetable|publisher=New Jersey Transit|access-date=April 22, 2018|url=http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T1313.pdf|archive-date=August 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819123152/https://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T1313.pdf/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|title=316 510 Timetable|publisher=New Jersey Transit|access-date=April 22, 2018|url=http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T0316.pdf|archive-date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921124529/http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T0316.pdf|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|title=319 Timetable|publisher=New Jersey Transit|access-date=April 22, 2018|url=http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T0319.pdf|archive-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413064336/http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T0319.pdf|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|title=507 Timetable|publisher=New Jersey Transit|access-date=April 22, 2018|url=http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T0507.pdf|archive-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413064325/http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T0507.pdf|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|title=509 Timetable|publisher=New Jersey Transit|access-date=April 22, 2018|url=http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T0509.pdf|archive-date=April 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423101907/http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T0509.pdf|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|title=552 Timetable|publisher=New Jersey Transit|access-date=April 22, 2018|url=http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T0552.pdf|archive-date=June 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619040251/http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T0552.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The Great American Trolley Company operates private [[tram|trolleys]] in Cape May, the Wildwoods, and Ocean City.<ref>{{cite web|title=Local Transit Trolley Service|access-date=April 22, 2018|url=http://www.gatrolley.com/h_fm1.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813210430/http://www.gatrolley.com/h_fm1.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 13, 2007}}</ref> The county also has a Fare Free Transportation system for limited populations.<ref name="strat"/> There are three airports in the county. The oldest is [[Ocean City Municipal Airport (New Jersey)|Ocean City Municipal Airport]], opened in 1937.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=AirNav, LLC|title=26N Ocean City Municipal Airport|date=March 29, 2018|access-date=April 17, 2018|url=https://www.airnav.com/airport/26N|archive-date=April 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406184018/http://www.airnav.com/airport/26N|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1941, [[Cape May Airport]] opened about {{convert|5|mi|km|abbr=on}} north of Cape May, originally as [[Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum|Naval Air Station Wildwood]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Cape May County Airport Business Plan|author=R.A. Wiedemann & Associates, Inc.|publisher=Delaware River and Bay Authority|date=November 2008|url=http://www.capemayairport.com/pdf/Capemay_BP.pdf|access-date=April 17, 2018|archive-date=October 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006220112/http://www.capemayairport.com/pdf/Capemay_BP.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Woodbine Municipal Airport (New Jersey)|Woodbine Municipal Airport]] opened in 1945.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=AirNav, LLC|title=KOBI Woodbine Municipal Airport|date=March 29, 2018|access-date=April 17, 2018|url=https://www.airnav.com/airport/KOBI|archive-date=April 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418161509/https://www.airnav.com/airport/KOBI|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2009, the [[Ocean City, New Jersey|Ocean City]] [[metropolitan statistical area]], which encompasses all of Cape May County, ranked as the sixth highest in the [[United States]] for percentage of commuters who walked to work (8.4%).<ref>[https://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/acs-15.pdf ''Commuting in the United States: 2009 - American Community Survey Reports''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726134351/https://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/acs-15.pdf |date=July 26, 2017 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]], September 2011. Accessed March 7, 2018.</ref>