Citizens Seek Solution to Avert Potential Tragedy

Marco Island, as in cities throughout Florida, has experienced growing pains and how to deal with growth issues, especially safety for its residents and visitors. Our climate is conducive to outdoor activities, and those who live and visit are likely to take to the streets and sidewalks to move throughout the community.

As the city undertook the rebuilding of Collier Boulevard, they recognized the need for improvements in how adults and children moved throughout the community. They invested in mixed-use pathways which allow walkers and bicyclists to share the wider sidewalks. The city undertook a vigorous program of connecting how children would make their way between schools and neighborhoods with the Safe Route to School Program.

City residents invested hundreds of hours of volunteer time in the planning and grant research under the guidance of the Volunteer Chairman of the Bike Path Committee, Al Musico, which today has provided citizens with a wonderful infrastructure of walking and bike paths. Under the committees’ guidance, they connected parks, athletic fields, the YMCA and other facilities.

One additional area which the city has been laboring to improve deals with pedestrian crossings along North Collier Boulevard. According to residents, you need only to study the area between the Lutheran Church and southerly to the intersection of San Marco Road to see the need.

At a recent meeting of the city’s Planning Board, Mr. John Alves of the South Seas Condo Association came forward to ask for relief regarding a dangerous situation relative to pedestrian safety along North Collier Boulevard. 

The west side of Collier Boulevard is heavily inundated with condominium complexes whose residents frequent the many restaurants along that stretch of North Collier Boulevard by either biking or walking for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Mr. Alves testified to the ineffectiveness of the yellow flashing crossing lights located along that heavily traveled stretch of roadway. Mr. Alves has not been the only person who has appeared before the Planning Board or the Council over the last several years.

Donald Anderson, a past Board Member of the South Seas Condo Association, has testified and corresponded with the council over the years regarding the dangerous situation.

City Councilor Becky Irwin has also raised the issue as she has personally experienced the dangerous issues along that stretch of roadway near a piece of property she owns. She has even suggested the installation of enhanced signalization which has been installed along Bayshore Drive in Naples near the popular Celebration Park.

Thousands of owners and visitors inhabit those condo units in that area during season, and Mr. Alves is seeking a possible solution before a tragedy occurs.