Stop studying; start implementing what will work
To the editor:
At some point, we have to acknowledge what’s right in front of us.
The continued study of a roundabout solution — despite clear and consistent public resistance — risks becoming an exercise in spending time and grant dollars on something our community neither wants nor believes will solve the problem. On Sanibel, every car eventually funnels to a single point: the causeway. No roundabout changes that reality.
Instead of continuing down that path, I urge the city to redirect its focus — and funding — toward modern, real-time traffic management solutions that actually address our unique constraint.
Today’s technology allows for something far more effective than static infrastructure: dynamic traffic control powered by real-time data and AI-assisted decision-making.
Imagine a system that:
– Monitors, in real time, the number of vehicles queued at each of the three primary egress points leading to the causeway
– Continuously evaluates traffic density, wait times and flow rates
– Provides clear, actionable guidance to our police officers and traffic personnel on how many vehicles to release from each point
– Rotates traffic flow efficiently between egress points based on actual conditions — not guesswork
This is not theoretical. These systems are being deployed in cities and constrained corridors across the country right now.
Suggested framework for implementation:
1) Real-time monitoring
– Install traffic cameras and/or sensor systems at key intersections and egress points
– Use AI-enabled software to count vehicles, measure queue lengths and track flow rates
2) Centralized traffic dashboard
– Create a simple, visual command interface accessible to on-duty officers and dispatch
– Display live data: queue length, estimated wait time and recommended release volume per location
3) Actionable guidance for officers
– Provide clear instructions such as:
4) Communication system
– Equip officers with tablets or mobile devices synced to the system
– Use simple color-coded signals or alerts (green/yellow/red) for quick decisions in the field
– Maintain radio backup for redundancy
5) Adaptive rotation protocol
– Replace fixed timing with dynamic rotation based on real-time congestion levels
– Ensure no single egress point is over-prioritized while others gridlock
6) Data collection and continuous improvement
– Record traffic patterns over time to refine algorithms
– Use data to prepare for peak events, seasonality and emergencies
This approach does not require tearing up roads or forcing a one-size-fits-all solution onto a barrier island with a single exit constraint. It works with our reality instead of ignoring it.
More importantly, it gives our officers the tools they need to manage traffic proactively, fairly and efficiently — reducing frustration for residents, visitors and emergency services alike.
Sanibel has always prided itself on thoughtful, science-based decision-making. This is an opportunity to apply that same mindset to mobility — using modern tools to solve a very real, very local problem.
Let’s stop studying what won’t work — and start implementing what will.
Bob Brooks
Sanibel