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First Speed Bumps In County Are Installed

Carl Orth/SUNCOAST NEWS

Crews install speed humps along Forest Lake Drive on Friday (July 11), the first such traffic control devices in the unincorporated county.

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: July 11, 2008

PORT RICHEY A traffic-calming project has moved at a snail's pace at times the past four years.

But the patience of Forest Lake Estates community leaders and residents was rewarded this week as county crews installed speed humps in this 210-home subdivision.

Four sets of rubber bumps are being bolted into Forest Lake Drive, the main street in this subdivision along Ridge Road, about midway between Little Road and Regency Park Boulevard.

"We want to slow people down," Vinny Buscetta, a director of the subdivision association, said Friday. "I've gone 35 mph and I've had people pass me."

"We have respect for people," Buscetta said about residents, adding that speeding drivers "have no respect for anyone."

Many students walk along Forest Lake Drive to go to Chasco middle and elementary schools, on Ridge Road, Buscetta emphasized. Older residents like to walk along the street for exercise.

When the subdivision was built, in the early 1980s, county officials did not insist upon sidewalks along Forest Lake Drive, the subdivision's main access road. The street winds its way with gentle curves north from Ridge Road to San Miguel Drive.

Drivers often use Forest Lake Drive as a shortcut around the busy intersection at Little and Ridge roads, association officials long have argued. In doing so many motorists exceed the 30 mph speed limit.

A county traffic study confirmed that speed humps were warranted.

The Forest lake Drive speed humps are the first traffic-calming project in unincorporated West Pasco.

Residents along Forest Lake Drive had to agree to assessments on their homes to help pay for the project. The association raised some $3,500 in donations to defray costs, Buscetta said.

So families might wind up with bills at about $70 a year for five years.

Under county rules, any traffic-calming project must get at least three-fourths of residents along a street to respond to a petition. Then at least 60 percent of the residents must vote in favor of the project.

The Forest Lake petition drew 67 percent support – 29 votes in favor out of 43 cast.

The hard-rubber humps are different than the rubber speed mats or cushions considered in the original proposal some four years ago. The Forest Lake Drive humps resemble speed bumps that the city of New Port Richey installed along River Road.

It's unclear how much drivers might have to slow down for the speed bumps. A chief concern of county officials revolves on how well ambulances and fire trucks can navigate over traffic-calming devices.

Speed humps are allowed only on subdivision streets. They aren't allowed on main county roads categorized as arterial or collector roads.

Carl Orth can be reached at 727-815-1068 or corth@suncoastnews.com.

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