Bartow Agency Seeks Improvements for U.S. 17
By: Suzie Schottelkotte
THE LEDGER
When the state repaves U.S. 17 in Bartow a few years from now, the Bartow Community Redevelopment Agency would like to see a few sidewalks, disability ramps and crosswalk improvements added to that project.
“It doesn’t hurt to ask,” CRA Executive Director Patrick Brett told his board during a special meeting last week. “The worst they can say is no.”
The state plans to resurface the four-lane divided roadway from Main Street south to Bartow Road, totaling about two miles. The project is currently in design and engineering, and the state Department of Transportation has budgeted $2.1 million for construction in 2014-15, said Cindy Clemmons, spokeswoman for the DOT’s Bartow-based District 1 office.
CRA board members outlined a list of improvements they’d like to see, including protected left-turn signals at Georgia Street to eliminate a backlog of traffic during rush hour.
Brett said sidewalks are needed on the west side of U.S. 17 from Mann Road south to the Oak Hammock retirement community, and landing pads are needed on sidewalks at several intersections for those using wheelchairs.
In areas where the road is in the CRA district, the agency could partner with the state to fund those improvements, Brett said.
Employees at Pallet One, just south of the Georgia Street crossroads, are hoping engineers can stop drivers from cutting through their parking lot to avoid the traffic signal.
Drivers cut through the Sunoco parking lot and cross into Pallet One’s lot next door, said Jennifer Daniels, marking director for Pallet One.
“We put a planter in there that separates the two parking lots,” Daniels said, “but there’s a part on the right-of-way next to the planter that’s just wide enough to get into our parking lot from Sunoco. A few people here said they’ve been surprised by cars coming through there because they weren’t expecting it.
“I’m not sure if the state can do anything about that, but we thought we’d ask,” she said.
Bill Pickard, Bartow’s public works director, said the city would like to coordinate with the state to replace water and wastewater lines while the road is torn up.
“We definitely have water and sewer lines under U.S, 17,” he said, “and those were put in back when the road was two lanes and the lines weren’t under the road. So when they widened 17, they built the road on top of our lines. Those lines are old, and we need to get those out of there. There’s a water main we need to relocate under there, too.”
Dr. Tim Brooks, a CRA board member whose veterinary office is located along U.S. 17, said he’d like to see the state improve the aesthetics of the concrete medians.
“They could do something to beautify them,” he said.
The group discussed creating a bicycle lane, but recognized the existing roadway isn’t wide enough for that.
“Although there’s no room,” Brett said, “I could put that on their radar if they were to add capacity in the future.”
The CRA’s recommendations will be forwarded for review to the state DOT and the Polk Transportation Planning Organization, which coordinates countywide road projects.