Temple Terrace plans improvements to enhance safety on Ridgedale Road.
Temple Terrace is advancing its initiatives aimed at enhancing pedestrian safety and reducing speed on Ridgedale Road, a thoroughfare notably characterized by its proximity to essential public facilities. Following a unanimous vote by the City Council, plans are set in motion to introduce several safety enhancements, including the installation of rubberized speed humps.
Ridgedale Road functions as a significant north-south cut-through for commuters, which has raised concerns among residents due to the multitude of facilities located along its path. City Manager Carlos Baia highlighted the unique nature of this corridor, underscoring the concentration of vital public institutions in a relatively small area, notably those catering to children. Among the notable establishments nearby are Temple Terrace Elementary School, Corpus Christi Catholic School, the Ridgedale Sports Complex, and the Temple Terrace Golf and Country Club’s first fairway at Woodmont Park. The road serves as a pivotal access point for parking and crossing, especially during major outdoor events at Woodmont Park.
Historically regarded as a straight thoroughfare, Ridgedale’s design has been a contributing factor to elevated driving speeds. To address this issue, the city has previously conducted traffic studies and implemented several safety measures, including increased law enforcement, the introduction of flashing school zone beacons, and improved signage and road markings. Baia voiced the importance of ongoing monitoring and resident feedback regarding the corridor, particularly in light of the various public institutions in the vicinity.
As Ridgedale Road transitions into Sunnyside Road, additional plans include upgrading existing speed humps, which are currently deemed outdated and ineffective. The new rubberized speed humps will be designed to better deter speeding drivers, similar to those recently installed on Knight’s Branch Street in the Rolling Terrace community. The Council’s discussion revealed two primary concerns: ensuring fire response times are not impeded and adhering to existing neighborhood regulations regarding traffic-calming measures.
While Fire Chief Ian Kemp has indicated support for the proposed enhancements, Mayor Andy Ross expressed apprehension about potentially deviating from existing protocols, which typically mandate a neighborhood petition for traffic studies. Nonetheless, the mayor and other council members acknowledged that Ridgedale Road possesses distinctive characteristics warranting a more proactive approach to speed reduction and safety measures. This proposed initiative is anticipated to be implemented in the coming weeks, marking a significant step toward improving community safety in Temple Terrace.
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