Cape Coral traffic regulations are not fair to city taxpayers
To the editor:
Current Cape Coral traffic regulations state that the developer/builder is required to do traffic studies, not the city. While this sounds good, studies are almost never required. The minimum is based on 300 peak hour vehicle trips from the new development.
Collier County, with wider roads than Cape Coral, has three levels of requirement for a traffic study. They also use the total of a.m. and p.m. peak hour vehicle trips combined versus Cape Coral, which uses only the peak high that has the highest volume.
Size of multi-family (MF) and single-family (SF) developments is counted as dwelling units (DU).
MULTI-FAMILY (MF) DWELLING UNITS (DU) VEHICLE PEAK HOUR TRIPS
Collier County
DU
Small Study-Less than 50 Trips a.m. and p.m. 63
Minor Study-Fewer than 100 Trips a.m. and p.m. 125
Major Study-More than 100 Trips a.m. and p.m. 126
Cape Coral
DU
Impact Study 300 peak hour trips 681
Impact Study 300 peak hour trips 681
Impact Study 300 peak hour trips 681
For example, Cape Southwest 97, under construction on the Northeast corner of Agualinda Boulevard and Beach Parkway, 97 apartments (DU), attached a traffic impact statement to their construction permit approval stating that they would generate 39.77 vehicle peak hour trips.
If 97 apartments/du generate 39.77 vehicle peak hour trips based on Cape Coral traffic regulations, it will require 681 apartments/du to require a traffic study.
If traffic studies and road improvements are not required at the time of construction, the taxpayer, not the developer that caused the increase in traffic, pays for the improvements, such as widening, turn lanes, and installing traffic signals.
This is an election year. Ask your new city council/mayor to be more concerned about the taxpayer, not the developer.
Jim Jeskie
VP/Treasurer SWCCAC
Cape Coral