Improved boulevard lighting may need special tax
The longest standing concern of the Town Public Safety Committee may need a tax levy method to work as a funding solution. The board met last Wednesday and invited Lee County Commissioner Larry Kiker to speak.
Poor street lighting on Estero Boulevard has been cited as an evening and nighttime safety hazard on Fort Myers Beach. Safety Committee Chairman Bruce Butcher called it the No. 1 concern and, although some crosswalks have been better aligned with street lights, it is “still a terrible condition” and a problematic one moving forward.
With the upcoming Estero Boulevard Improvement Project set to begin soon, Kiker was asked if any assistance or ideas for funding could improve the lighting issue. The former Beach mayor said Council would have to enact a request for a special tax that is defined as a non-ad valorem assessment fee that could provide funding for an essential improvement in a specific geographic area within the taxing district.
“MSTU (Municipal Services Taxing Units) or MSBU (Municipal Service Benefit Unit) is a way of levying taxes on folks that use the right-of-way,” he said. “I suggest MSBU to you (for the issue regarding) Estero Boulevard since everyone can benefit from it.”
The post-Easter road improvement project does not involve county assistance for lighting.
“On the project that we are working on now, there is a core level of service that is provided on the project that does not include lighting or landscaping,” Kiker said. “So, the County will not be paying for that.”
Nighttime boulevard crossing has been cited as more difficult because of improper lighting along the Beach’s main road. Safety committee members have preached to pedestrians to wear light colored clothing at night when expecting to cross the boulevard.
Past committee recommendations have included having Florida Power & Light replace 200-watt light bulbs on the main boulevard’s light poles for 400-watt light bulbs from November through April and/or possibly using amber LED lighting for sea turtle’s sake from May through October. FPL would not honor that latter request.
Town and County officials have been pressed by safety committee members to implement better lighting strategy at Estero Boulevard crosswalks to fortify “Be Pedestrian Aware” signs along the boulevard. It was reported that the Town pays for the electricity from boulevard street light poles.
“One of things we will be doing is trying to enhance the street lighting at the crosswalk locations where we can,” said Lee County Department of Transportation’s Rob Phelan regarding the improvements project.
Safety committee members have pushed a recommendation to have policy makers hire a lighting consultant. Unfortunately, the Town has not budgeted funds for such an endeavor, so a source of funding is being investigated. Councilman Alan Mandel has said he will ask the Metropolitan Planning Organization for any help regarding the funding issue.
Kiker also recommended that Council contact Florida Rep. Ray Rodrigues regarding priority funding.
The Public Safety Committee was adopted on Aug 20, 2012. Kiker began a safety task force before organizing the Town advisory board when he was the Beach mayor.
The committee expects to meet in a future workshop to come up with action items regarding the improvement of street lighting for recommendations to Council.
Lenell Road intersection crosswalk report
Town Public Works Director Scott Baker gave a report on the recent test trial involving pedestrian safety at the busy crosswalks involving Lenell Road and Estero Boulevard.
From Dec. 22 to Jan. 2, during the hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., crossing guards were deployed at the two crosswalks due to a history of distracted drivers as well as pedestrian inattentiveness that have contributed to incidents in that area of the Beach.
Baker stated the guards were given a clicker to record how many people traversed each crosswalk. During the trial, it was reported that 4,154 walking pedestrians crossed Lenell Street and that 2,190 walking pedestrians crossed Estero Boulevard at that crosswalk by Lenell Street. In all, 6,344 people crossed at the two crosswalks during the timeframe.
“While I was down there, we all heard a positive response from all the walkers,” said Baker.
One of the concerns at the crosswalk involves the left turn onto Lenell and the placement of the bollards near that intersection. Durrett asked to move the bollard that is closest to the intersection 50 to 100 feet north.
“We need to look at that whole intersection,” Baker said. “The biggest observation (from the guards) was that people felt that they just have the right to walk (across the streets). They feel empowered to walk across the street.”
Pedestrian street crossers need to make eye contact with drivers prior to crossing, says Baker.
One of the guards was a traffic-certified V.O.I.C.E. member who used a whistle to move traffic as well as instruct pedestrians. If Town officials were to move forward and implement a full-time guard at that particular crossing, Councilwoman Rexann Hosafros believes a guard that would employ those measures would fit best.
When first reported, the test trial was to cost the town roughly $2,300, but Baker stated B.A.S.E did so on a voluntary basis and the Town was not charged.
Trolley passing report
According to Lee County Sheriff’s Office Detective Ed Sommers, vehicles are not allowed to pass a trolley that is momentarily stopped to pick up or drop off a pedestrian when there is a solid line on Estero Boulevard unless the trolley is pulled over in a trolley pull-off. He cited a Town statute in his remarks.
“You can’t use the center suicide lane as a passing lane,” he said. “It’s marked as a no passing zone.”
More trolley pull-offs have been under design during plans for the Estero Boulevard Improvements Project. Expect that to alleviate some concern on the issue.