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Traffic proposals are up for discussion

Safety Harbor wants feedback from residents on a handful of ideas to decrease traffic problems in the downtown core.

By EILEEN SCHULTE
Published August 15, 2006

SAFETY HARBOR - The results of a 2-year, $77,824 downtown mobility study are in.

Now the city wants your thoughts about whether the proposed solutions would put a stop to cut-through traffic, congestion and speeding.

You can offer your opinions at an open house from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Community Center at 650 Ninth Ave. S.

On display will be several exhibits showing alternatives recommended by American Consulting Engineers of Florida to calm traffic in the downtown core.

The recommendations include:

- Raised intersections and raised crosswalks along Seventh Avenue S and Main Street.

- Traffic circles at the intersections of Seventh Avenue S and S Bayshore Drive; First Avenue N and Phillippe Parkway; and Main Street and Ninth Avenue N as well as Ninth Avenue S.

- Beautifying S Bayshore Boulevard at Seventh Avenue S, and Phillippe Parkway at First Avenue N.

- Creating 20 parallel parking spaces on the east side of Bayshore Boulevard from Seventh Street S to the marina.

The city has the right of way to create the parking spaces, said David Bredahl, a project manager at American Consulting Engineers.

"The trail would be maintained," he said.

Commissioners, members of American Consulting Engineers and city employees involved with the project will be on hand to listen to your impressions and concerns.

Interim Mayor Andy Steingold, who will attend the open house, said he's pleased with all the recommendations but one.

"I'm not so sure putting parking along Bayshore would be aesthetically appropriate," Steingold said. "It just doesn't sit well with me. I would think it would serve the citizens better to have parking closer to Main Street."

American Consulting Engineers will digest the residents' comments, and in about a month, will go before the commission with any revisions they may make to the plan.

City Manager Wayne Logan said that if the commission accepts the recommendations, he will suggest setting aside about $300,000 "to start implementation of the raised intersections and raised crosswalks first."

Steingold said he just hopes the plan meets its objective, to slow traffic down and make downtown Safety Harbor "a more walkable community."

"I've seen people driving 40 mph on Main Street, which has a speed limit of 25 mph," he said. "And once, I was riding down Main Street on my bike with a friend doing 25 mph and someone's beeping at us."

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

[Last modified August 15, 2006, 07:04:43]