Planning Commission to hear Transportation Master Plan at next meeting
By MEGHAN BRADBURY
mbradbury@breezenewspapers.com The Planning Commission will discuss the Transportation Master Plan at its meeting next Tuesday.
Erika Steiner, who is a member of the Transportation Steering Committee, said they worked with a number of consultants — transportation experts — hired by the city to see what kind of ideas could be added to the process. She said they told them that Sanibel has a number of restraints and to stay away from roundabouts, as that is going to a referendum.
“We as the steering committee did not agree with everything, but wanted to bring it forward because the planning commission and city council could weigh in. Nothing that is in the recommendations have had feasibility studies,” Steiner said. “The Planning Department and Steering Committee took the opportunity to throw away some that were not feasible.”
Planning Director Paula McMichael told the Planning Commission Tuesday that the transportation master plan will come forward at its Nov. 10 meeting.
“The purpose of the transportation master plan is it is a long-range high level planning document. It’s looking at how can we improve mobility, not just for cars, but for people and bicycles throughout the island,” she said. “What are the things we can do given the restraints we have on Sanibel? We know we don’t want to expand any of our roadways. We don’t want any traffic signals. We don’t want any street lights. What are the things we can do to both promote mobility and safety?”
McMichael said they tasked the consultants to look at all options — everything they could think of that might possibly improve transportation to put it in there.
Two things were removed from the draft plan — closing the roadway gaps at Bailey Road and Beach Road.
Volkert Inc., Kittelson & Associates Inc. and 24-7 Consulting LLC has worked with the city’s Planning Department to develop the City of Sanibel’s first Transportation Master Plan — a 20-year multimodal vision for the island. The plan includes five-, 10- and 20-year timeframes for implementation, which addresses key needs, such as traffic congestion, wildlife vehicle collisions, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and stormwater related flooding.
The community outreach has included steering committee meetings, focus group interviews, and public workshops, as well as future presentations to the Planning Commission and city council.
The last Steering Committee meeting was held on Oct. 21. A city council presentation is expected in December.