Letter: Tomoka Oaks already has a dangerous traffic problem

Ormond Beach Observer
Opinion

Help us limit the dangerous traffic

Dear Editor:

The neighborhoods of Tomoka Oaks and the Trails, between Nova and U.S. 1, already have a dangerous traffic problem, as noted by the city of Ormond Beach. The golf course was designed to accommodate perhaps 50 cars, except for special events, at any one time. The Tomoka Reserve development will add 600+ cars, all piling through one road, Tomoka Oaks Boulevard, a traffic nightmare created by the developer. The developers (Mr. Rubin, Mr. Barshay and Mr. Velie) have indicated no changes are necessary to their entranceway to accommodate the increase to the current traffic.

Ormond Beach had scheduled speed tables on South St. Andrews Drive over a year ago, but has since cancelled the installation for unknown reasons.
Volusia County has been reported to be the deadliest county in Florida with 648 deaths, 11.19 per 10000 people (see Daytona News-Journal, April 2: "Volusia Tops US Traffic Fatality")
A woman pedestrian was killed by a speeding driver on South St. Andrews Drive in Tomoka Oaks.
Tomoka Oaks has no sidewalks or safe places for walkers, bicycles, strollers, kids playing, golf carts, etc. Trucks and cars parked in the street make drivers and pedestrians play a deadly game of dodgeball.
Tomoka Oaks and the Trails do have blind curves, hills, narrow streets and many traffic islands.
I saw two trucks racing side by side Northeast up South St. Andrews Drive two months ago over the blind hill at 35 S. St. Andrews Drive.
Distracted drivers regularly speed through Tomoka Oaks, The Trails, Escondido and Talaquah.
Only one of two newly installed radar speed signs is working and it is not slowing down speeders; they ignore the signs.

This is strictly a neighborhood safety issue and I suggest that Ormond Beach:

Limit the number of cars/trucks by restricting the number of houses built in Tomoka Reserve. The 2006 approved PRD had a limit of 122 units.
Consistently enforce speed limits with speed tables and police patrols.

Help us limit the number of additional deaths and injuries that will result from building too many houses in the Tomoka Oaks Golf Course. Or, buy the property and use it for open space in our increasingly crowded beautiful Ormond Beach. Current property owners have rights too.

Tom Fitzgibbon

Ormond Beach

Editor's note: Regarding speed tables on South St. Andrews Drive, the city of Ormond Beach said that "a critical component of our traffic calming program is public support. A public meeting and neighborhood vote for a speed table in Tomoka Oaks had not yet been scheduled when the traffic calming program was put on hold to review our procedures, including the criteria for determining public support." The city added it is working to reinitiate the traffic calming program in the near future.

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