Colony Blvd Golf Cart Crossing
 

The promised lights and signage to help at the golf cart crossing on Colony Blvd have been installed. I am going to be optimistic and hope that my first impression is wrong and that these "improvements" will help with the traffic issues.

So what is new are four signs, on either side of the roadway. The first two are prior to the cart crossing and show a golf cart and both say "Ahead". Located just before the crossing, again on both sides of the road, are two yellow flashing lighted signs with a golf cart picture.

I am struggling to understand how these might help the traffic flow at this intersection.

Stop sign needed
 

I have to agree. Flashing lights does nothing to control the flow of traffic. It just warns that there are carts in the area. Perhaps a four way stop sign would have been better?? The problem is that carts get way backed up on the paths because the area is so congested with traffic of cars and carts. At least a stop sign would give carts a chance to get on colony blvd so the cart path wouldn't get so backed up.

Okay and this will do what????

It's unlikely that traffic engineers will back up traffic on a main through street to allow traffic from a smaller feeder street or a multiple-modal path even if that feeder street is heavily trafficked.

That same traffic flow philosophy is evident throughout the villages:
Odessa trumps Stillwater...
St Charles trumps Southern Star...
Pinellas trumps Anna Maria....
and so on.

Seems to me they need a tunnel under the road and then when you turn east you merge into a golf cart lane. IMHO

I'm pretty sue they'll never close that road long enough to make a tunnel

Do I remember reading on this forum that they would put up stop and go lights after temporary signage there? Or am I dreaming?

Would the flashing lights be considered temporary signage?

Or am I having yet another senior moment?

Gracie - I hope you are remembering correctly 'cause what we have now isn't going to handle the situation.

disappointed.

Not positive here but I think the original idea was signs at the golf cart crossing and a traffic light at the intersection by Citizens Bank and Walgreens where vehicle traffic comes in from 466A.

The golf carts would find it easier to cross if cars would obey the 20mph speed limit. Most do not.

There appears to be a game of who can "make it" first! A few flashing lights won't bother them!

You're spot-on with your recollection, Gracie!

Before everyone gets their collective shorts in a knot........... :D ...........here's the prior thread on the topic. See primarily post #3 by BogeyBoy:

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...c-light-73618/

If it holds true, there should be a stop light installed at the cart crossing in the future. However, it reads as though there was going to have to be buy-in from the Project Wide Advisory Committee in order for that to happen. I do not know if that has taken place.

Bill :wave:

Don't make this too difficult and don't over-think it. Simply dump your golf cart and use your auto when you want to use the services in and around Colony Plaza. Newly developing communities south of 466A have grown at an amazing pace. There is but one golf cart access from these communities to the Colony Plaza area. THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF A TRAFFIC LIGHT BEING INSTALLED AND VERY LITTLE POSSIBILITY OF A FOUR-WAY STOP BEING PUT IN PLACE. This is the best that it will be, so, embrace it as it is or change your method of transportation.....

That's all fine and good, but this is advertised as a golf cart community, so things should be golf cart accessible. No???

Then the answer would be ...deal with it.

POA responded to the issue
 

I attended the POA (Property Owners Association) meeting in May at Laurel Manor. I specifically asked about plans for that Colony intersection next to the Rec Center. One of the board members responded and said the warning lights and signs are just a short term means to address the problem. The long term plan is a stop light traffic signal, or even some traffic re-routing. The board member said long term options to provide an optimal, definitive fix are currently being studied. The POA and Sumter County are very aware that this intersection is particularly dangerous, which is why they quickly put a temporary solution in place, as they work on a better permanent solution. The danger at this intersection is getting some priority attention because the danger has increased many fold owing to all of the new housing in the area. I highly endorse supporting the POA for its resident advocacy. I joined both the POA and the VHA in order to stay well informed on the developer's perspective and the residents' perspective about this fantastic community in which I live. The cost to join both is very reasonable and well worth the value of the information each provides to keep me informed.

Did they provide any ballpark timeframe of when the permanent solutions would be in place?

No. The POA board member did not give a timeframe for the permanent solution. However, I got the impression from the conversation that the acknowledged danger given the increase in population, not merely the congestion, is making the project a priority.

I don't think you will ever see a 4-way stop or traffic light right in the middle of the block. Traffic would back up down to the intersection and also walgreens and the bank. That is especially true at 4-way stops because people look at each other to try to figure out whose turn it is.