by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
The City of Sanibel is concerned about speeding on local roads and the current passing zone locations. The City is also exploring improvements at the Rabbit Road and Sanibel Captiva Road intersection.
To evaluate existing traffic conditions within the City, Johnson Engineering collected speed data and analyzed current passing zone configurations and operational conditions at the Rabbit Road and Sanibel Captiva Road intersection. This report and discussion are preliminary and exploratory.
All public comments were strongly against a three-way stop sign at the Rabbit Road and Sanibel Captiva Road intersection. City Council no longer favors that option.
Council recommends lowering speed limits as follows: from Periwinkle/Lindgren east to the lighthouse, to 25 mph from 30 mph; from Periwinkle/Lindgren west to Tarpon Bay Road, to 30 mph from 35 mph; and on Rabbit Road, to 25 mph from 30 mph.
Johnson Engineering worked with City staff to review existing passing zones and the merits of adjusting the “No-Passing” zones along Sanibel Captiva Road and Periwinkle Way. In designated passing zones, drivers obviously speed when they see an opportunity to overtake slower vehicles. When drivers are delayed for extended periods, they might make abrupt lane changes, tailgate, or attempt passing when they can’t see other vehicles on the road.
After review of the existing passing zones and discussions with City staff, the report recommended the following changes:
• Addition of a continuous no-passing zone along Periwinkle Way
• Addition of a continuous no-passing zone along Rabbit Road
• Addition of no-passing zones along Gulf Drive
• Addition of no-passing along Sanibel Captiva Road, just west of Tarpon Bay Road
• The addition of a no-passing zone at the southern portion of Dixie Beach Boulevard
• Addition of no-passing along Casa Ybel Road
• Addition of no-passing along Donax Street
Council members asked City Manager Dana Souza for an additional study and to interface with the Transportation Master Plan Update Committee. These matters will come before Council again. Johnson Engineering’s full report (311 pages) is available on the City’s website as an agenda attachment to the Council’s March 3 meeting.
As visitors, we returned to Sanibel for the first time since the hurricane. I felt drivers were more impatient than I had remembered. We stay on East Gulf (Sandalfoot) and noticed several people speeding and passing others there. We love Sanibel for the quietness and biking paths so it is upsetting to see these angry drivers.
Lowering speed limits is good but without strict enforcement the speeders won’t slow down. Set up automated ticketing systems like what exists at the school.