The Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency is looking to rally support for the South Florida Avenue “road diet,” despite admitting it has created many traffic issues.
The CRA’s Advisory Board voted to draft a letter of support encouraging city commissioners to move forward with making the “road diet” permanent.
“We view the test as a success,” said Brandon Eady, chairman of the CRA board. “We will be supportive of making it permanent.”
Eady’s remarks came after Tampa-based Ayres Associates provided an overview of its 118-page South Florida Avenue Strategic Master Plan.
The future vision of the South Florida Ave corridor divides it into three different character areas with a core section from Patterson Street to Frank Lloyd Wright Way designed as more walkable, pedestrian-friendly area.
The FDOT also launched an online survey taken by 2,276 people.
Valerie Ferrell, the city’s CRA manager, said there’s a lot of public resentment about the changes, and feedback has been one-third positive and two-thirds negative.
The road diet has led to increase in accidents at Orange Street and South Florida Avenue and difficulty turning left to head south on Florida Avenue.
If the commission makes a decision by the year’s end, Ayres Associates anticipates construction on South Florida Avenue’s new configuration — whatever option the commission chooses — would begin in mid-2024 and run through 2027.
I have noticed that there are VERY FEW people are walking on the sidewalks. My suggestion is to raise the curb to 18” go back to four lanes. You still have room for a bike lane, that would be protected by a tall barrier. It appears to me that you are over thinking this. You should LOOK at the people using the sidewalk. I see hardly any one using it, except for people going into the store. The most people I have seen coming from Walmart to Proud Gator is four in that stretch, LOOK at the pedestrian traffic, Please.
Garbage! Get rid of it!