By LOIS KINDLE
Concerns over growth, traffic and safety have become the rallying cry for many south Hillsborough County residents, including in a survey concerning transportation enhancements near Collins Elementary School in Riverview.
“Having worked at the school for years and watching the traffic on both roads, turn lanes are a must,” said Stacey Kaminski, in a survey regarding safety and traffic circulation issues related to Collins Elementary and Panther Trace and Summerfield boulevards. “I agree completely with the need for wider sidewalks and bike lanes.”
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Representing Freedom Plaza and its Retired Officers Corp., Connie Lesko chats with Larry Brooks at the South Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce’s Fall Business Expo, Oct. 6, at Community Hall in Sun City Center.
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Brian Oglesby, director of public relations and outreach for the Better Business Bureau serving West Florida, chats with a visitor at the Oct. 6 Fall Business Expo.
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Pam Perrera, owner of the Flip Flops Shop in Ruskin, takes a break from her table to have a photo taken with three championship professional wrestlers appearing at the chamber’s recent “Meet your Match” Fall Business Expo. From left are Ricky Santana, Cuban Assassin Fidel Sierra, Perrera and Haku.
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Newly established in Sun City Center, Dr. Jon Dychko enjoys promoting his Healthy Home Primary Care practice at the South Hillsborough Chamber’s Fall Business Expo, Oct. 6.
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Fazar Mirza, of the family-owned Bulk Food Superstore in the Cypress Village Shopping Center in Ruskin, hands out product samples during the chamber’s Fall Business Expo in Sun City Center.
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Cheri Schumaker, left, a longtime volunteer for the Critter Adoption and Rescue Effort no-kill animal shelter in Ruskin, talks about the nonprofit organization with Apollo Beach resident Christene Gerardi.
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A steady stream of visitors came to learn about the goods and services of 80 chamber member businesses and nonprofit groups during the recent Fall Business Expo.
“I am excited to see something being done about the traffic before the middle school opens,” said Stephanie Emrich. “I support the changes and hope the drivers are more cautious in the area.”
“Hopefully, this will solve the issue of cars parked in the bike lanes for up to an hour prior to dismissal time” at Collins Elementary, 12424 Summerfield Blvd., said one unidentified survey respondent. “It is a problem at this school and others.”
At issue in a Hillsborough County Engagement and Education Hub survey is a $2.8 million project regarding safety and traffic circulation issues related to Collins Elementary and Panther Trace and Summerfield boulevards. The two-lane, 35-miles per-hour roads provide access to both school and residential areas. On the east leg of their intersection, the boulevards include a reduced-speed school zone and crosswalks.
Capital improvements include sidewalk widening to enhance walkability and implementation of left- and right-turn lanes, including, at the new school driveway, a southbound left-turn lane and a northbound right-turn lane, to provide storage and deceleration for the main vehicle pick-up and drop-off loop.
Also in the plans for Panther Trace and Summerfield boulevards is a push-button activated rapid flashing beacon on the east leg of the intersection and median extensions to enhance pedestrian safety and provide a “refuge area” for walkers.
Overall, the project includes measures to “accommodate extensive vehicle queuing during peak student pick-up and drop-off times” with the addition of the southbound right-turn lane at Summerfield and Panther Trace boulevards. It also improves matters for walkers, with new sidewalks, ADA-compliant ramps, curbing, pavement markings and enhanced pedestrian facilities.
With project planning completed in mid-2019 and design and land acquisition set for completion later this year, procurement is projected for completion in early 2023, with construction set through mid-2023. County officials further note that construction costs amount for roughly 75 percent of the project’s $2.8 million price tag.
The enhancements cannot come soon enough for one survey respondent, who contends it is not possible to “safely ride bikes in the bike lane because of the [number] of parents breaking the rules by parking in the bike lane.” As a result, motorists “have to ride around them into traffic onto Panther Trace Boulevard,” making it “so dangerous every single day that our children can’t go alone.”
Indeed, respondents made it clear the proposed safety measures of any sort are sorely needed and much welcome. “This area needs this so terribly,” said Kristin Storz, a respondent “grateful” for the survey discussion. “I’m 100 percent for this.”
For more on the survey responses and project overview, visit www.publicinput.com/hcengage and search for “Collins Elementary School Safety and Mobility Enhancements.”
