To the editor:

The Committee of the Islands’ transportation program today, Feb. 21, at The Community House is long overdue. Sanibel’s transportation crisis shows no sign of improvement and will only worsen when the overdevelopment at South Seas begins, thanks to the faulty decision by all but one of the Lee County commissioners.

Our city government is trying various methods to try to improve the traffic crisis. While all efforts are appreciated, traffic backups now begin even earlier and extend farther west.

On Feb. 7, there was a five-vehicle pile up in front of the SanCap Chamber of Commerce. The usual traffic tie up was worse because tow trucks had to make their way to the accident scene. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office neither enforce the Sanibel Causeway’s 20 mph speed limit, nor the restriction against bicyclists on the causeway. Although they have authority for the causeway, they need to establish a presence to take responsibility for it instead of just remotely collecting tolls. Does someone need to be seriously injured or die in a fatal accident for the LCSO to enforce causeway traffic laws?

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, city government and island residents pride themselves upon placing high priority upon our healthy environment. But, this has become jeopardized on our sanctuary island by the noxious fumes and emissions put out by several hundreds of work trucks and cars stuck in heavy traffic daily, coming onto the island each morning and leaving each afternoon. This negatively impacts both humans and wildlife.

Various programs are being explored, e.g., encouraging drivers to park their cars near the causeway exit and using bicycles on the island. We cannot expect non-residents to care as deeply about Sanibel as those of us who live here. The hurricane 17 months ago devastated our island home, and we are slowly coming back. But this current traffic crisis prevents us from rebuilding and returning to a new normal.

Unfortunately, many people cannot be expected to do the right thing or follow our ordinances. The Sanibel Police Department and its traffic aides are understaffed and can only do so much. If we aren’t part of the solution, we’re part of the problem.

Alison Ward

Sanibel