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Leaders: Stoplight is one too many

Some say another stoplight in Safety Harbor would take away from the small-town atmosphere. But one commissioner says it's needed to protect pedestrians.

By EILEEN SCHULTE
Published July 26, 2005

SAFETY HARBOR - Not counting the signal at McMullen-Booth Road on the edge of the city, Safety Harbor truly is a one-stoplight town.

Drive around the 4.9-square-mile hamlet a few minutes and you'll encounter it at Enterprise Road and Philippe Parkway.

Most commissioners appear happy with things the way they are.

During a meeting last week, they told American Consulting Engineers, the firm the city hired to study traffic flow, not to look into installing a light at Main Street and Bayshore Boulevard.

"I'm not real hot to put a light there," said City Commissioner Kara Bauer. "If you put a stoplight up, it increases traffic. Traffic is like water - it takes the path of least resistance."

Commissioner Andy Steingold agreed. He said that Safety Harbor is "a very harmonious" city and that a stoplight would have a negative impact.

"I think we should avoid putting a signal at Main and Bayshore to preserve the small town atmosphere that Safety Harbor has," he said.

One commissioner, however, disagreed. Keith Zayac remembers a time in the 1970s when there was a signal at the intersection.

"It may increase traffic, but it would be safer for pedestrians," he said. "(Now) people hold hands to cross the street as though they are taking their lives in their hands."

The city hired American Consulting Engineers in February to investigate cut-through traffic, intersection congestion, parking and speeding near 4th Street N, 7th Street S, 10th Avenue and Bayshore/Philippe Parkway.

The cost was $16,626 for that phase of the study.

Last week, the firm was given the green light to embark on Phase II of the study at a cost of $53,030.

Services will include analyzing transportation conditions identified in the first phase of the study and developing mobility strategies. Engineers will examine existing problems and project future transportation conditions.

The study should be completed by November.

Safety Harbor's population is 17,800. Approximately 9,500 vehicles motor down Main Street every day.

During rush hour on Bayshore Boulevard, motorists have a habit of cutting through neighborhood streets to beat the traffic.

The city put up half a dozen signs warning drivers not to turn left into the residential areas, but it hasn't helped much.

Eileen Schulte can be reached at 727 445-4153 or schulte@sptimes.com

[Last modified July 26, 2005, 01:16:15]