HOLMES BEACH – The potential redirection or restriction of Second Avenue traffic was discussed again during the June 9 Holmes Beach City Commission meeting.
No decisions were made during the June 9 meeting. The Second Avenue discussion is slated to continue on Tuesday, June 23, but a final decision is not expected that day.
Comments made by the commissioners during the June 9 discussion indicated the commission’s support for the proposed traffic adjustments is dwindling.
The Second Avenue discussion and debate began during the May 26 commission meeting, when Public Works Director Herb Raybourn and Police Chief Bill Tokajer presented five potential traffic adjustment options. Preferences were stated and no decisions were made, but if any action were to be taken the most favorable potential traffic adjustment entailed installing temporary barricades (and later, permanent landscaping walls) at the intersections of 52nd Street and Second Avenue and 52nd Street and Fifth Avenue to prevent southbound vehicles from entering those residential streets and using Second Avenue as a means to avoid the traffic on nearby Gulf Drive.
Second Avenue resident and current city commission candidate Mark Hebden was among the residents seeking the Second Avenue traffic restrictions. During the May 26 meeting, Mayor Judy Titsworth said she asked Raybourn and Tokajer to propose some potential corrective actions.
Public reaction to the proposed traffic adjustments was strong and impassioned on both sides and city commissioners received many emails on that topic between the May 26 and June 9 meetings.
In one recent email response, Commissioner Jessica Patel wrote, “I agree we can’t just look at closing one road when the traffic issue is Island-wide. It’s a bigger problem that must be looked at holistically in order to find the best solutions, but starting with some enforcement would be good.”
In another email response, Commissioner Carol Whitmore wrote, “I took a tour with the chief and it made me more than ever stand strong against supporting this. Their suggestion is not traffic calming, it’s traffic congestion changes happening with a few people wanting things changed.”
Due to some Second Avenue residents not being available to attend the June 9 meeting, and due to Whitmore’s pending July vacation plans, the June 9 meeting agenda simply called for the commission to vote on setting a date for when the Second Avenue decisions would be made.
Even though no decision making was expected that day, many residents and potentially impacted motorists showed up to give public comment.
Before public comment was given, the commissioners shared some of their thoughts on the Second Avenue debate. Titsworth did not attend the June 9 meeting.
COMMISSION COMMENTS
The June 9 discussion began with Whitmore reiterating that no Second Avenue related decisions would be made that day, other than setting a future date for the commission to vote on what, if any, traffic adjustments will be made to Second Avenue.
“I don’t support it,” Whitmore said when stating her desire to be present when the vote occurs.
Commissioner Terry Schaefer said it was not incumbent upon the commission to make a decision that day, or even in the near future. He later said a traffic study might be warranted before any traffic-altering decisions are made.
Commissioner Patel suggested pushing back the decision-making to the fall, when more seasonal residents are here.
Commissioner Steve Oelfke said when staff presented the potential options on May 26, he was leaning toward the option that would restrict southbound motorists’ access to Second Avenue. He said based on the feedback he read and received since that meeting, and his own further evaluation of the situation, he does not support restricting access to Second Avenue.
“I want to make it clear that I don’t support that proposal. As much as I want to help the residents on Second Avenue, there’s other residents in that same neighborhood who are going to be forced to have to go on Gulf Drive and add more cars to Gulf just to get to their homes,” Oelfke said.
He said restricting traffic on Second Avenue would likely result in more motorists using Holmes Boulevard, 54th through 62nd streets and other roadways as alternatives.
Commissioner Dan Diggins said, “We have a lot of traffic here. We have a finite amount of room on roads. It seemed like a good idea a couple months ago when the chief and I talked about it, but it doesn’t seem like a good idea now to close off one of those roads.”
PUBLIC COMMENT
As the first to give public comment on the matter that day, Holmes Beach resident Bruce Meyer
said traffic is like water, and like water, it’s going to seek the easiest path to take.
“The reality is we need to improve the flow of traffic throughout the entire Island,” he said regarding the need to take a more encompassing look at the Island-wide traffic and congestion concerns.
Holmes Beach resident Jim Denny was more direct: “I think I speak for many of us: this is probably the stupidest idea that’s ever been proposed,” he said.
Denny said he’s baffled as to who would suggest and support restricting traffic on Second Avenue.
“If the taxpayers build a city road and maintain a city road the city road should be used as a city road. It shouldn’t be blocked off and made into a cul-de-sac. City roads are made for moving traffic from one point to another. It’s not to be made into a private drive for somebody that might live in the area,” Denny said.
Holmes Beach resident Joe Warbington said, “I rode by bike here. The traffic sucks and we know it.”
He said he has a child that attends Anna Maria Elementary (on Gulf Drive) and the proposed traffic adjustments would impact the routes parents use to get to and from the school.
“I can’t imagine not being able to drive on one of our city roads,” he said.
Holmes Beach resident Jeff Dentz lives in the Key Royale community and he said, “We do have a problem. A 40-minute trip from Key Royale to get to mass on Saturday at 4 (p.m.) is common. An hour to make it to Publix.”
Dentz agreed with Schaefer’s suggestion to get a traffic study done before spending money on potential traffic solutions.
Holmes Beach resident Nancy Deal lives on 56th Street, which is another street frequently used as a shortcut or a cut-through.
“Many of us live on streets that are used as cut-throughs. Sometimes vehicles are backed up on 56th Street, from Marina, past Holmes, all the way to Gulf. This Island is stuck with traffic congestion with no relief in sight. Limiting access to Second Avenue with barricades is an unnecessary and expensive punishment for those who know it as one of the Island routes that allows traffic to spread out and move a bit more smoothly,” Deal said.
“If speeding and running stop signs on Second is a problem, write a few citations. Word will get out on social media and the coconut traffic that you better obey traffic laws,” she said.
Holmes Beach resident Fran Derr said she has lived here since 1983 and the traffic has gotten worse since she arrived. She said a traffic study would be a waste of money.
Regarding Second Avenue, she said, “Because I live here and I know a few secrets streets to drive on. Don’t punish me because I’m using that alternative street.”
Alan Williams lives on the 4000 block of Second Avenue and he said, “The problem exists all over the Island and something needs to be done. I think we brought it to the forefront that something needs to be done. It’s not just Second Avenue,” he said.
He said the additional stop signs along Second Avenue have helped, but some people speed through them and don’t stop at all.
Williams said its often difficult for him to back out of his driveway. He also mentioned the cars blasting loud music as they travel down Second Avenue.
Williams said the Second Avenue congestion could potentially reduce property values in that area.
“It’s definitely a cut-through. The road was not intended to be a cut-through,” he said, noting that Second Avenue is not the only city road being used as a short-cut.
Bryan Faria lives on 48th Street and he said, “I cross Second Avenue or use Second Avenue daily. Regarding the safety of Second Avenue: we walk our dog there. We ride our bikes to the beach through there. If people stop at all the stop signs and obey the speed limit, it would simply be a congestion issue. But it is really a safety issue,” he said.
Faria said he doesn’t know what the solution is, but he urged the commissioners to consider the safety issues.
Alison Coury also lives in the Key Royale community and she said, “None of these things that have been raised about Second Avenue are unique. We all deal with it. Traffic is an issue on this Island. It’s a safety issue for everybody. Safety is an illusion. I’m not sure we can ever get there. It requires individuals being vigilant, following traffic laws.”
Whitmore said the Second Avenue discussion will continue during the Tuesday, June 23, meeting that begins at 2 p.m. She and the other commissioners agreed that a final decision is not expected that day.
Related coverage: Second Avenue alternative to Gulf Drive might be eliminated
