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Community Corner

Siesta Key Stickney Point Bridge Traffic Nightmare...

As noted in the link below. The Florida Department of Transportation installed a no turn on red sign at the turn lane directing traffic northbound onto Midnight Pass Road. The stated, ""It's safety issue and it doesn't impede the flow of traffic," Stublen said. A DOT spokesperson. He is very, very wrong. The change in traffic has been immediate and frustrating. I wrote to DOT (letter below) and was told "The Traffic Operations Office is evaluating the situation and the queuing that has resulted.? If you feel as I do that this has caused undo strain on Siesta Key traffic bridge flow, please write to Mr. Weaver a FDOT. Below is my letter.

Good Day Mr. Weaver

I called today and left a message, however I thought I’d drop you a line as well regarding the recently installed No Turn on Red sign directing traffic northbound onto Midnight Pass Road on Siesta Key. In the paper, in one grand misstatement, spokesperson Robin Stublen is quoted as stating, he had a call from a citizen (one?) and that the sign installation " …doesn’t impede the flow of traffic ". This is patently false.

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The installation this sign, does in-fact cause traffic to back up well beyond any point it ever has, baring the bridge being raised. With the bridge down cars are backed up further than I’ve ever seen in 15 years of living on the key. I’ve spoken with numerous locals and all agree it’s a nightmare. In fact many of us are now using the other bridge more and more, which in turn is increasing back ups on that bridge. I have seen people making U-turns on the approach, after getting frustrated with sitting for over 23 minutes tying to get on the key.

As far as I can tell there have been no accidents at that intersection, unlike many other areas along Midnight Pass, etc.  This sign was a knee-jerk reaction to a best a few complaints and was a knee-jerk reaction/ "easy fix" for a nonexistent problem, but has now caused one. For years we have done just fine with the "Right Turn permitted as long as no pedestrians are crossing” sign. 

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Please reconsider this decision. I cant believe any substantial research had been done with regard to traffic impact, all one has to do is sit at the corner for a few hours and see just how badly the back up has become.

Thank you for your time.

Regards

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