Neighborhood Traffic Safety - Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations

Team Members:

Richard Harris, Chair, (CCNA President)

Doug Jeffcoat, (Public Works Director)

Nik Patel, (City Engineer)

Carl Shoffstall (LKRA)

Norm Dumaine (Glen Oaks Estates)

Alvi Corales (Public Works)

Joanne Gonet (CCNA Treasurer)

Problem

Everyone acknowledges that excessive speed in a neighborhood is a safety risk for those residents that live on, walk on and play on those neighborhood streets. The CCNA neighborhood associations have collectively asked for assistance from the City in addressing the issues they are experiencing.

Committee Formed

CCNA established a committee in 2022, to address these concerns. The initial thought was to set up a speed monitoring and ticketing pilot program on selected neighborhood streets. For several reasons that pilot did not come to fruition. There was a Speeding Study early in 2023 that the committee felt clearly showed a problem, but the traffic division felt those results were within a “normal” range. Lou Costa, CCNA Immediate Past President undated membership with a slide presentation at the May 6, 2023, Membership Meeting.

A Change in Focus – Traffic Calming

What is Traffic Calming? The Federal Government’s Institute of Transportation Engineers defines traffic calming “as the combination of measures that reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter driver behavior, and improve conditions for non-motorized street users. Traffic calming consists of physical design and other measures put in place on existing roads to reduce vehicle speeds and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. For example, vertical deflections (speed humps, speed tables, and raised intersections), horizontal shifts, and roadway narrowing are intended to reduce speed and enhance the street environment for non-motorists. Closures that obstruct traffic movements in one or more directions, such as median barriers, are intended to reduce cut-through traffic. Traffic calming measures can be implemented at an intersection, street, neighborhood, or area-wide level.”

Sarasota, like many communities use a “warrant system” to identify areas that merit the expense of adding traffic calming. The committee concluded that “warrant system” was designed for already built urban areas and does not adequately address the needs of several of our neighborhoods, particularly those without sidewalks and curbs as presented at our June 3, 2023, Membership Meeting.

The committee has reformed adding several City staff to focus on finding workable solutions for our neighborhoods.