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Residents split over speed-hump petition on Almar Drive during public comment
Summary
At the public‑comment period, neighbors testified for and against a petition to install speed humps on Almar Drive; petitioners presented a neighborhood survey supporting traffic calming while opponents warned of costs and hazards. Council asked staff to review the issue and the county/city jurisdictional split.
A string of residents at the April 8 Punta Gorda City Council meeting urged differing remedies after a neighborhood petition requested speed humps on Almar Drive between Rio Villa and Elmer Drive.
Supporters cited chronic speeding, near‑misses and a fatality example. Kevin Priest, who lives midway on the corridor, said motorists routinely exceed the 30 mph limit and that the road’s striped passing zone and lack of sidewalks made walking and dog‑walking hazardous: "It's time to stop it before someone gets killed," he told the council.
Other residents presented petition results showing a majority in favor (88 yes, 16 no, 17 empty lots, 37 seasonal/no responses) and described incidents of dangerous passing and a crash that hit a mailbox. Margaret Gallop and others recounted firsthand episodes where drivers nearly struck pedestrians and where repeated high speeds contributed to collisions.
Opponents argued speed humps bring maintenance costs, possible vehicle damage and hazards for bicyclists and emergency response vehicles. One longtime resident, Steve Walker, said in two decades he had not observed a problem sufficient to justify humps and urged alternative enforcement and education.
Councilors asked staff to confirm whether the road sections in question are city‑ or county‑maintained and to conduct or request traffic data; staff later said some of the road is in the county and the petitioners plan to present similar materials to the county commission. Council did not take a formal vote during the public‑comment period and asked for further information.
What’s next Staff will review jurisdictional status, existing speed signage, and any available speed counts and return to council with options for traffic calming, enforcement or a formal traffic study. Petitioners also plan to present the issue to the county for the segment outside city limits.
Why it matters The exchange highlights neighborhood safety concerns balanced against tradeoffs of physical traffic calming measures. Council will need jurisdictional clarity and data before taking formal action.
