Councilman aims for better safety on island
Fort Myers Beach Councilman Alan Mandel is in the midst of providing a more permanent stance in pedestrian safety on Estero Island. Call him the pedestrian safety liaison to the Town Council.
Mandel, who introduced the temporary, ground level pedestrian safety signs at various crosswalks on Estero Boulevard in February, is hoping the county commissioners who gave permission for the trial-run signs will agree to fund 20 like signs for permanent structure at crosswalks. In fact, he said Public Works Director Cathie Lewis is making that such request through a data report letter to the county commissioners.
“To me, getting the signs in is important. Obviously we are going to ask the county officials, but the impression we have is that they may give us permission but may not be able to fund it,” said Mandel about placing permanent signs on the county-owned road.
If that request to fund is turned down, Mandel said he has received pledges from several island businesses to pay for them. Those particular markers will cost roughly $400 apiece.
The generous, contributing businesses who are willing to contribute include Fish Tale Marina, Santini Marina Plaza, Holiday Inn/Pinchers, Best Western Plus Resort, Red Coconut RV Park, Pink Shell and an individual pledge from Beach resident Peggy Zimmerman, whose 5-year-old granddaughter was killed in a crosswalk incident up north. That pledge will be in the child’s memory.
Before the Town agreed on funding the temporary signs, Mandel said Fish Tale Marina Owner Al Durrett was willing to help pay for the test run.
The idea for placing pedestrian crosswalk signs on the Beach originally came from the councilman three years ago when he was visiting the North Country. At that time, he was a voluntary member of the Town’s Local Planning Agency.
“I was still on the LPA when Carla (his wife) and I were up in northern Wisconsin with friends. We visited a small, summer resort town called Bayfield, and I noticed similar sign in their streets. I went out and took photos with my cell phone and came back before Council to propose the idea of using them here,” said Mandel.
At the time, the five Council members had a lot on their plate and were in the midst of changing Town managers so the idea was tabled.
“There was nobody to really run with it, so I made it one of my campaign issues,” said Mandel. “When I got on, fortunately, other council members agreed that it was worth for Town staff to look into it, and we presented the idea and the pictures to county officials, who agreed to a test program with limited numbers and without guarantees about the future.”
Mandel, who had been in contact with Bayfield’s mayor about the sign idea, collected detailed information about the Wisconsin town’s signs, but the county requested research work on the crosswalk viability before the signs were installed. So, Town staff members stationed themselves near actively used crosswalks (one in particular was in front of Santini Marina Plaza) and took a count of how many vehicles stopped when pedestrians were trying to cross the street.
It is a known fact that there have been many deaths and injuries related to vehicle/pedestrian crosswalk incidents.
Mandel confirmed his suspicions about the crosswalk at Lenell Avenue (right before Santini Marina Plaza) being one of the worst for accidents when he contacted the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. After the research, the signs were placed and adjusted to certain criteria like turning radius. After the placements, the same research was conducted to test effectiveness.
“Staff said there was an improvement in the before-and-after results,” said Mandel.
“People, who made comments to town officials, were in favor of the signs by about a 15-1 ratio, so that was overwhelming. I think the results may even get better when we have more crosswalk signs on the island, and drivers see them more frequently when they drive down Estero Boulevard. The more you have along the Beach, the more it would be a learning tool for drivers.”
If Beach businesses do pay for the permanent safety signs, Mandel has asked Town staff to figure out a way to thank them through a recognition plaque on a pole or somewhere everyone can view the contributing effort.
Anyone interested in making a pledge (for maintenance reasons on the signs or back-up signs) can contact Town Hall at 765-0202. Suggested placements of pedestrian crosswalk signs can also be called in.