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Building bridges to connect Golden Gate Estates puts residents on opposite sides
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Whether a dead end is a good thing or a bad thing can be a matter of interpretation.
For some residents of Golden Gate Estates, the quiet associated with a dead-end street was the reason for purchasing their homes.
For others, the lack of connectivity to other streets is a sore spot, causing concern over the ability to evacuate during a wildfire or get timely help from emergency responders.
Those were just a couple of sticking points from a public meeting hosted by Collier County’s Transportation Planning division Tuesday night to explore public input for a study on adding bridges over some of the canals in the Estates, improving connectivity.
Not everyone at the meeting said they wanted an easier route in and out of the area.
“We love our dead end street,” said Estates resident Franklin Adams. “It’s peaceful and quiet.”
His wife, Kathy Adams, chimed in: “Some of the bridges I think are needed for emergency purposes. Some, for regular through traffic, I don’t think are needed.”
Principal Planner Lisa Koehler, who is heading up the study, said her department was prepared for some of the resistance seen at Tuesday’s meeting. But, she said, she was also surprised by how much support the plan had among the 140 people in attendance.
Aside from ranking the importance of twelve proposed sites for bridges, she said, attendees also gave valuable feedback on where some sites might be relocated for improved access.
“We were kind of hoping for that,” Koehler said. “We had some people asking, ‘Well, why not move this bridge four streets south so it’s in the middle of the block?’”
Most residents said their chief concern was over access to the area by emergency responders, and not necessarily the ability to get to the grocery store faster or for shorter school bus routes.
“I like where all of the bridges are,” said Peggy Whitlock, who lives near one of the proposed bridge sites at Wilson Boulevard South. “There’s 14 square miles with no bridges. It’s absolutely needed — for access, for egress for emergency vehicles.”
Some residents suggested creating one-lane bridges with gates, accessible only by emergency personnel, in order to keep drivers from using current dead-end streets as cut-throughs.
“I have a problem with that, because if there’s a fire and we can’t get out, that’s no good,” piped up one audience member.
The bridges won’t be showing up anytime soon, though. Transportation Planning Director Nick Casalanguida has said no bridges will be built until the funding is available — and without grants, no funding will be available under the current budget picture until repairs are completed on bridges elsewhere in the county.
“If what they say is true, that these bridges are needed for public safety, then why did they have such a low funding priority?” asked Peter Gaddy, director of the Golden Gate Estates Area Civic Association.
He said he trusts the assessment by officials with the Big Corkscrew Island and Golden Gate fire departments that new bridges are, in fact, needed. However, he said, the county should find a way to strike a balance.
“People are certainly not happy about it, so the bottom line is these people are going to have to be compensated for having their rural environment ruined,” Gaddy said.
But more than having a quiet lifestyle interrupted, some residents are also concerned about public health.
Sparks Lunney, director of Southwest Florida operations for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, stood up to speak about his concerns that more connectivity would equal more air pollution.
“One of our reasons for moving here, because my wife had multiple sclerosis, was for the air quality,” Lunney said. “It would not be a problem if you had a single lane bridge.”
Lunney said the study fails to take such health concerns into consideration, and officials with the transportation planning department acknowledged that added pollution is not factor in exploring new bridge locations.
“But, are we going to waste more emissions sitting in traffic or by driving?” asked department Community Liaison Connie Deane. “We know people are sitting in traffic out here because of the lack of connectivity.”
Residents can complete the survey offered by the Transportation Planning division at the county’s Web site, Colliergov.net. Click on the menu at the far right titled “Your Government,” pick the Transportation Planning Department page, and click on “East of CR 951 Bridge Study” at the left side of the page.
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I'm confused. How will a bridge effect a womans' MS? Sincere on this question.
#1 Posted by eaglebeak on July 2, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Inside tips about how this process works:
1. if your department or policy makers want something...Hold a public meeting and run the idea up the flag pole and see how many salute.
2. For those who don't buy in at this meeting find out what they object to about the project/idea/etc. Collect this information and keep it for later.
3. Come back in the future when you find money or think more of the public will accept the project/idea/etc. and use the information collected earlier to refine or spin your concept in a different way.
4. Present the idea to the policy makers as a nice neat package and push for approval.
The idea may not be in the public's best interest, but what do THEY know? (wink,wink, nod, nod)
Many of those who went to the original public meeting may have moved away or aren't interested anymore. Resistance is limited.
Timing is EVERYTHING.
Now does this really happen in government? Yes, it does, but usually with more glitches and with a less Machiavellian plot line. I have seen this happen starting at a Federal agency and spreading down to the States and eventually to local government. I have seen local government's version also.
Frankly, I am at a time of my life that I am sick of the BS.
The Emperor has NO clothes. I am sure you have figured it out. What to do about it is the problem.
#2 Posted by BlueTonguedVole on July 2, 2008 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great post BTV. You hit the nail on the head. That is just how the Collier County government has always worked. They will never change.
Remember their first priority is to open access to Ave Maria and Big Cypress. Otherwise why after all these years do they all of a sudden what to talk about an exit onto Alligator Alley?
All these years the people of the Estates have been crying for an access to I 75 but were told no. Now with Big Cypress being planned all of a sudden we may need an exit there after all. I bet any amount of money if that exit is built it won't be on Everglades Blvd but on a new access road to Big Cypress.
My best advice to the residents out in that area is to stay informed and keep an eye on the county DOT at all times. My neighborhood has learned that lesson. If they know you are watching them they do behave a bit better.
#3 Posted by swfl_ff on July 2, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The "Good Ol' Boy" network is still alive and running strong. This will never change until one County idiot does something to cause a Federal investigation. When the rest of the country finds out the backwoods, backdoor dealings, there will be hell to pay, but it's a party time for now! My favorite is when they charge millions of dollars in extra "fees" to any restaurant who wants to open up East of 75. A town/city should not be run like old farts clubhouse.
swamp4u2 - I think the MS comment over air quality was that a bridge will increase traffic, which will in turn bring more car exhaust/pollution.
#4 Posted by Cynical1 on July 2, 2008 at 4:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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