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Crescent Oaks appeals to leader for light

Residents say drivers headed to Pasco make leaving their subdivision dangerous.

By THERESA BLACKWELL
Published April 19, 2006

EAST LAKE - As developments proliferate in Pasco County, East Lake Road has become a tributary for those who work in Pinellas but live in Pasco. Their commute is long, so if they try to make good time, who can blame them?

About 250 residents of the Crescent Oaks subdivision, that's who.

They met with Pinellas County officials at their country club Monday to say that residents risk their lives when they leave the subdivision during rush hours - and it can only get worse.

People traveling toward Pasco County are a big part of the problem, they said.

Crescent Oaks wants a traffic light during rush hours, even though Pinellas County's Department of Transportation studied the intersection and has turned the residents down.

But Commissioner Susan Latvala told the group that she would help them pursue another avenue for getting a light.

"You've got a dangerous situation," Latvala said.

Residents said they need a light at Crescent Oaks Boulevard, which leads them out of the subdivision and onto East Lake Road. The light is needed because of speeding drivers rushing to beat a light at Trinity Boulevard, just north of the subdivision. They switch lanes abruptly to turn right onto Trinity, making it dangerous for Crescent Oaks residents to leave their community, they said.

In recent months, several accidents were caused by vehicles rear-ending others that stopped suddenly on Crescent Oaks Boulevard. Residents blamed the traffic on East Lake.

Going south is no piece of cake either during rush hours, residents said.

So residents wait, and they wait.

Or they just stay home during rush hours.

"If we don't get a traffic light soon, we'll be held captive," said Bob Loos, 59, chairman of the subdivision's governmental relations committee. "We'll never be able to get out of here at rush hour."

The county bases its decisions about traffic lights on certain standards, including whether fatalities have occurred and traffic volume and patterns.

"This does not meet standards, and it never will," Latvala said of the Crescent Oaks intersection.

But there is another way, she said, noting that the county has installed traffic lights in other situations that did not meet standards. She told the crowd that she would get the light on the commissioners' agenda, hopefully within four to six weeks. She said she might propose a light that operates only during rush hour because that's when the problem is severe.

Crescent Oaks residents will have to do their part by sending letters and e-mails and showing up to speak at the meeting.

"You all need to come out with all the enthusiasm you've shown tonight," Latvala said.

If the commission votes for the light, the next stop is the Metropolitan Planning Organization, which also must approve the light.

Latvala said the meeting with Crescent Oaks made her think that it's time the Pinellas County Commission meets with Pasco's commissioners so they can work together on traffic issues like the one at Crescent Oaks.

The audience broke into applause.

But the rejoicing quickly deflated when Latvala said the subdivision might have to pay for the light.

The possible price: about $200,000.

[Last modified April 19, 2006, 01:58:13]