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Safety Harbor Nixes Traffic Circle

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: October 3, 2007

SAFETY HARBOR — Safety Harbor is not ready for a traffic circle.

Some residents in the neighborhood where Philippe Parkway, Church Street and First Avenue North almost meet asked the city to connect the various intersections with a traffic circle.

William Baker, city engineer, said staff realizes others in the city would have them "run out of town" at the mere mention of a roundabout.

There was also a request to make First Avenue North a 2-way street, he added.

Baker said Safety Harbor's traffic circle could improve the flow of traffic along Philippe Parkway and serve as a landscaped entry feature.

It would be a lot different and better designed than one constructed on Clearwater Beach that has been routinely criticized.

Clearwater's roundabout is too small and has too many decision points, Baker said.

Safety Harbor's traffic circle would have only four decision points and be full-size, he said.

At a recent city commission meeting, Mayor Andy Steingold said it's likely many more residents of the area would voice objection to any traffic circle than would approve of it. He predicted an outcry against the plan if the city held a town meeting to discuss the idea.

Commissioner Kathleen Earle said while it is not an atrocious idea, at this time Safety Harbor residents would not be ready for it.

In the past, when the subject of placing roundabouts around town was brought up for discussion it was soundly criticized.

She said the idea could be revisited in six months to a year, if there were still enough requests.

The unanimous consensus of the City Commission was that the mere suggestion of a traffic circle would drive most people crazy and should be denied.

Baker said at least staff now has a policy decision when it comes to traffic circles to inform those who request it.

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