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College Town merchants press city for traffic calming after high-speed crash; city to complete study in two weeks
Summary
Business owners in College Town urged the commission to permanently close or add bollards on Madison Street after a high‑speed crash nearly hit pedestrians. City staff said a traffic-calming study is already underway and "should have the traffic calming study done within about 2 weeks," deputy city manager Karen Jamminville said.
TALLAHASSEE — Merchants and residents from the College Town district urged the City Commission May 14 to act quickly to reduce vehicle speeds on Madison Street after a near‑catastrophic crash during a large event.
Matt Thompson, owner of multiple College Town businesses, told commissioners a recent high‑speed crash "went through the sidewalk...and ended upside down in the infield" and warned, "If you do not take action on our area, someone will die. I'm telling you now." He asked the city to consider permanent closure or deploy retractable bollards on event nights.
Deputy City Manager Karen Jamminville told the commission staff had been asked for a traffic-calming analysis — not a full roadway-closure evaluation — and that staff "put the tubes in the road, and then we measure the speed at which the cars go" and "we should have the traffic calming study done within about 2 weeks." She said a full closure study would require broader analysis of the surrounding network and turning movements and could require consultant support.
Commissioner Jeremy Matlow moved to bring back an agenda item exploring permanent or temporary closure options; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously. City staff said businesses already sometimes coordinate manual closures for events and that those closures are typically arranged with the Police Department and paid for by the businesses.
City staff estimated a full roadway-closure analysis with counts could cost about $30,000 and said temporary closures for events presently rely on barriers and manual management. Commissioners asked staff to include cost ranges for different closure options — retractable bollards, temporary barriers and full design/installation — and to consider how a solution could be applied to other high‑pedestrian corridors.
The commission's action was to direct staff to return with options and cost estimates; no immediate closure was ordered.
