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Traffic Calming Goes Global

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By HAROLD VALENTINE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 21, 2008

CARROLLWOOD - Carrollwood Village residents are experiencing their portion of construction for an all-encompassing approach to traffic calming in Carrollwood.

As part of the Carrollwood Community Plan, $4 million has been invested in one of the community's most important issues, traffic. Calming efforts focus on the Carrollwood Village neighborhood as most of the work in Original Carrollwood nears completion.

Village resident Ann Kulig writes to point out folks in her community did not have a chance to vote on the measures, which include raised crosswalks, speed tables, speed feedback signs, colored intersections and land narrowing.

Hillsborough County spokesman Steve Valdez said Original Carrollwood residents also did not vote on calming measures. Valdez said county commissioners needed a "global" approach to traffic in both communities because when measures were approved and implemented in one street or community, traffic would shift to another area.

"For example, there's a subdivision off of Gunn Highway called Hampton Park," Valdez said. "We were doing residential traffic controls. We'd do one street, and traffic would go to the next street. Then we'd petition and do another street, and the traffic would move again. It was just a process that never ended."

Because traffic problems were being diverted to neighboring areas, commissioners requested from county staff a total plan to calm traffic on both sides of Dale Mabry. Valdez said the addition of commercial properties on the southeast corner of Dale Mabry and Fletcher, including Lowe's Home Improvement store, added to the board's decision.

"The board said this is a global issue," Valdez said. "We want to treat it as such. We want a global plan."

That plan did not require 60 percent of resident approval, which is usually needed for neighborhood traffic calming projects.

Valdez said the county received "literally hundreds" of complaints throughout the years for traffic in both neighborhoods. During the last few years, he added there were four major meetings to inform the public and get feedback on plans for traffic calming.

"These were the most advertised meetings of any public meetings ever held," Valdez said. "My guys were putting up over one hundred signs for each meeting, and we had four of them."

Debra Armstrong, another Village resident, has seen signs up for calming measures throughout the neighborhood and wants to know when crews will begin construction near her home.

Valdez said construction in Carrollwood Village has started on West Village Drive. By law, he said, signs announcing measures need to be put up before calming is implemented.

He said construction will last until the end of summer or early fall.

Valdez said residents almost always feel strongly one way or another when it comes to traffic calming.

"Like all residential traffic controls, you have the people that are adamantly opposed to it and the people who are absolutely proposed to it," he said.

Water Main Meeting

A county meeting has been scheduled to discuss a $2.2 million potable water main project along the south side of Linebaugh Avenue, from Mullis City Way to Henderson Avenue.

The 12,000 feet of pipeline is meant to improve water quality, system reliability and fire protection capability in the area.

The meeting is at 6:30 p.m., June 30, at the Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road.

Construction on Linebaugh is scheduled to begin mid-July and to last seven months.

Hillsborough's water resource staff will attend to answer questions for those affected, including business owners who may be connected to the new line.

Current Construction

•In Town 'N Country, Wilshire Drive between Webb Road and West Henry Avenue is undergoing curb and gutter work from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Aug. 8.

On North Gunlock Avenue, from North Glen Avenue and West Paris Street, curb and gutter work will keep county crews busy between rush hours until July 25.

On West Idlewild Avenue between Axelrod Road and Southern Comfort Boulevard, gutter work continues in between rush hours until Aug. 8.

•In Westchase, Keating Drive, between Middlebury and Wadsworth drives, curb and gutter repair is begin done from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until July 25.

•Fire hydrants are being installed on several Northwest Hillsborough roads from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. until June 30, including River Road, Robson Street, Southbay Drive and West Cluster Avenue.

•On Henderson Road, from Linebaugh to Waters avenues, railroad repairs occur between rush hours until July 11. A detour connects Linebaugh to Anderson Road to Waters.

•In Carrollwood, Paldao Road, between Valencia and McFarland roads, will undergo curb and gutter repair in between rush hours until July 31.

Pine Meadow Court will experience curb and gutter work from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Aug. 14.

Thornbrook Place, between Greenmoor Drive and Armenia Avenue, is having curb and gutter work between rush hours until Aug. 14.

On Carrollwood Drive, from Picwood to Valencia roads, curb and gutter work will be done between rush hours until Aug. 1.

On Marjorie Avenue, between West 127th and West 124th avenues, improvements for stormwater runoff will be made from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until July 18.

TRAFFIC CONCERNS?

Are there local traffic or road issues that concern you? Construction projects you wonder about, or hazards other drivers should know about? If so, contact reporter Harold Valentine at (813) 865-1526 or hvalentine @tampatrib.com.

Reporter Harold Valentine can be reached at (813) 865-1526 or hvalentine@tampatrib.com.

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