Is there substantial awareness in our Tarpon Springs city government about improving traffic flow and improving vehicle and pedestrian safety?
I am not referring to the impending "drag-strip to nowhere" currently under construction on Klosterman Road from U.S. 19, nor to the current fiasco that is being created on Alt. U.S. 19 between Klosterman Road and Meres Boulevard.
What I do hope to bring to the attention of the powers-that-be is the need for directional arrows at our congested in-town intersections.
Every year, throughout the tourist seasons, our local traffic conditions grow increasingly dangerous. The influence of sidewalk sightseers, Pinellas Trail bicyclists, impatient red-light runners and the ever-present lost snowbird cause traffic congestion.
Sitting in a line of downtown traffic, only to move one or two car lengths when the light changes, is totally ridiculous in a town with so much traffic flow during peak hours.
Once advanced to the intersection, the "take your chance and turn if you dare" scenario is always a challenge. Granted, during hours of lighter traffic flow, turn arrows would not prove advantageous.
However, neither does fixing the roof during a rain storm, with the single-mindedness of when it's not raining, it doesn't leak.
An idea for increased safety includes the installation of left-turn arrows at the intersections of Alt. 19 at Martin Luther King Drive, Tarpon Avenue and Orange Street.
The time has come, City Commission, and the time is now.
You must include in your capital projects improving traffic flow, improving vehicle and pedestrian safety, improving the trail safety at intersections and improving traffic flow for businesses and locations.
-- Stephen Jones, Tarpon Springs
Mayor needs character development
Re: Mayor apologizes over ruined tribute, story, March 30.
I was a lifelong resident of Clearwater up until 2000, and I still keep in touch with family and friends who reside there.
The visionaries in City Hall have kept me amused with such brilliant innovations as a roundabout on the beach (essentially a dead end), as well as a bridge to the beach that's (not) all it's cracked up to be.
But Mayor Brian Aungst managed to surpass such lowlights with his recent behavior toward Bill Justice.
Even in apology, Mayor Aungst managed to botch things, stating, "I'll admit that I screwed up on this. It wasn't 100 percent mine, but I'll take responsibility."
Well, Mayor Aungst, it is 100 percent yours. You set the wheels in motion by pressing City Manager Bill Horne to intervene.
If you had swallowed your pride in light of your "stinging defeat" on the referendum to redevelop Coachman Park, you wouldn't have this embarrassing situation on your hands.
Perhaps Mayor Aungst will learn from this, and turn his focus from developing the bayfront to developing some character.
-- David Moore, Cary, N.C.
New community center is essential
Re: This old library needs new use, story, March 25.
I was disheartened to learn that the Largo City Commission cannot find funds to convert the present library into a community center when it is vacated.
The community center facility we have now is outdated and dreary, not only for the patrons, but for the many hard-working employees who deserve better quarters.
Also, the opportunity is being missed to turn Largo Central Park into a multigeneration campus that supports the arts, recreation and parks for all age groups.
I don't know of any other city that has a unique setting such as this could be.
Let's hope that before any deals are made with other interested parties that the commissioners will find a way to preserve the land for us and rid the city of the present outmoded community center building. We need this to be done as part of the revitalization of Largo.
-- Dolores Ruskin, Largo
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