Should Captiva Drive Have a Safety Shoulder?
The Captiva Community Panel established a subcommittee to look into the feasibility and desireability of creating a safety shoulder along Captiva Drive. The subcommittee is presently putting together a survey about the proposed safety shoulder. That survey will be coming to you by regular mail. YOU NEED TO RETURN YOUR RESPONSE CARD BY JUNE 1 TO BE SURE YOUR OPINION IS COUNTED!
Meanwhile, we invite all Captivans to share their opinions, contribute their views, and discuss the issue. You can do so by clicking on the “Comments” link below.
We expect everyone to behave civilly, and the Webmaster will not hesitate to intervene if the discussion degrades into personal insult or “flame wars” as they are known on the internet.
So what do YOU think about the prospect of a safety shoulder along Captiva Drive?
May 2nd, 2007 at 12:09 pm
The safety engineer for Lee County said adding additional shoulder will definitely make the road safer. The county has the funds put aside for the project. That said, I still find it difficult to believe we are going through a survey process to see if Captiva wants a safer environment for walkers, runners and bikers.
May 2nd, 2007 at 4:44 pm
If safety is a concern, we should play it really safe and opt for a bike path instead of a road-widening through a safety shoulder. Growing up with bike paths in Germany the safety shoulder doesn’t seem safe enough to me even if it is supposedly safer than the existing situation.
May 3rd, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Glad to hear the possibility of safer roadways. Perhaps this will help the bikers and walkers, it’s always a challenge when we are driving along Captiva Drive
May 4th, 2007 at 10:52 am
Widening the shoulder would be a short-term improvement to provide greater safety for bikers, joggers, walkers and motorists.
Putting in a bike path over buried utility lines, however, is the best long-term solution not just for bike and pedestrian safety,reduction of auto congestion and linking all of Captiva to the hiking and biking trails on Sanibel, but also for quickly restoring power and minimizing mold and mildew damage the next time a hurricane hits.
And federal funding could probably be obtained to cover much of the cost.
May 4th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
I would like to commend the Safety Shoulder Committee of the Panel,Co-chairs Dave Jensen and Susan Stuart, as well as Ken Gooderham and Mike Kelly. This has been an outstanding process of community planning… sets a wonderful precedent for such community decisions. Without the volunteer efforts, this initiative and the opportunity for all Captivans to voice their opinions on this important matter would not be in our hands.
Captiva’s concurrence was never a mandatory requirement for the county to proceed with this project… I would also like to express appreciation … to Lee County Dept. of Transportation (DOT) for their significant efforts on our behalf. We appreciate …Randy Cerchie and other staffers … Lee DOT have indicated they want the safety shoulder only if Captivans want the safety shoulder.
Thanks to all for a civilized process!
May 4th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
While I believe in a safe Captiva for all, I have issues with the bike path plan. First, my family enjoy walking the Island and have not experienced any problems with motorist. I find most of them to be aware of the setting and drive as such. I have issues with tree removal, I thought we were attempting to restore the the trees not remove more. Paths can give a false sense to bikers/walkers and encourage drivers to go faster. Wide highways can do that. The answer could stricter speed limit enforcement by the Sheriff and other methods of law enforcement such as checkpoints during peek traffic periods. Lets not let Captiva get away from us with more paving destroying the natural beauty we all enjoy.
May 5th, 2007 at 11:07 am
Recently, in Groton, MA, the town fathers voted to veto a walking path between two historic sites which would pass by the Groton Cemetery. Their reasoning was that allowing strangers to walk by the cemetery would invite picnicking, vandalism and theft. We are not talking about a cemetery. We are discussing passage by some of the most expensive residences east of the Mississippi. Most of these homes are vacant for long periods in the summer months and very few have caretakers. Sheriff Joe Papallardo can tell you of the number of squatters and vandals who move in during those months. His stories are true - it happened in the home next to ours! For privacy and security, we do not need a bike path.
Let’s discuss safety. Last month on Captiva Drive, I witnessed an adult biker who could not manage one of our curves, crossed into oncoming traffic and hit a vehicle. There isn’t a bike path wide enough to prevent that. If we encourage bike path usage by families whose children wobble along our curves, the rescue squad will have weekly, not monthly, emergencies. There is no way to make our narrow road safe. I am in favor of posting a sign at the bridge saying: “Narrow road and unsafe turns ahead - all bikers pass at their own risk.” The only reasonably safe bike paths are on Sanibel Island where there is a vegetation barrier. These same barriers on Captiva would place the bike paths in our living rooms. Houses on the curves, such as ours, only have a sliver of green along the busy road and Lee County will not allow us to fence.
If we build a bike path, it will be a magnet for more tourists (or worse) to come with cars and bikes to invade our island. Are we trying to make Captiva attractive to residents or gawkers? I chase itinerant bikers out of our yard at least once a week now. “Private Property” has lost its meaning in our brazen time.
For tax-paying Captiva residents’ privacy, security and safety - I urge you to veto the well-intentioned, but misguided bike path proposal.
May 6th, 2007 at 8:12 am
Widening the road will only contribute to increased speeds all along Captiva Dr, and an increase of sightseeing traffic. A bike path similar to Sanibel is more consistant with safety and more compatible with the residential feel of Captiva.
Modifying the proposal to include only one bike path, 4 ft wide along Captiva Drive would solve our safety concern, limit the amount of private land that will be impacted, be consistant with the trails on Sanibel and cost the taxpayers less. Cross walks strategically located along the path will also help to minimize land use for this project, and might negate the need for felling trees and moving dunes. Bike paths are easier to construct around trees and dunes
While it is convenient that the water company is putting in a new main, this should not be a compelling reason to widen the road.
May 6th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Please add me to you e-mail list of Community Panel notices and meetings.
Thank you,
Donna Casella
May 6th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
No to the bike path for Captiva Dr. from Blind Pass to the S curve or the beginning of the Tween Waters stretch.
I am in favor of a small path around the village of Captiva, restaurants along Andy Rosse Lane, South Seas, post office area. Not a 4 foot path on each side. That is too wide and it should be only on one side. This northern end of Captiva is busy with lots of walkers, bikers and children going to the beach and shopping or on their way to restaurants. This area is perfect for a little path, but not 4 feet on both sides. I think 3 feet is perfect on one side only.
The beginning stretch of Captiva Dr. to the first S curve is not safe for a bike path.
This stretch is way too dangerous. Too many homes and driveways and I’m afraid that children will be hit by a car or they will hit a car due to the driveways so close together. This is not a good area to encourage biking. I see law suits coming up with trial attorneys. This is not a safe area for a bike path and visibility around the S curves are not good. If the street looked wider to drivers they will go faster.
Who takes care of the litter that is found on bike paths??
Who wants unwanted guests to get a good view of these multi million dollar properties?
Who wants a bike path in the beginning part of Captiva? Tourists? Lee County? the homeowner?
Who repairs the bike path if your ficus tree is cracking the pavement? Do they cut your tree down?
The esthetic part is devastating to those multi million dollar homes. They just spent money to fix up after Charlie, now the county wants to take it away and fill it in with pavement!!
Since we don’t have enough room for a nice, safe bike path should our street be renamed, “Captiva Turnpike?”
Look into the accident reports that Sanibel has on a safe bike path. Captiva could have deaths on their so called “safety shoulder.” This would be devastating for the homeowners to have an accident/fatality on their own property.
Do we want to save Captiva for Captiva homeowners and renters or do we need to open up for Sanibel bikers?
If that bike path goes in I think bikers should pay a $6.00 toll. That can help cover the attorney fees for all those homeowners getting sued for hitting a biker on the bike path or a biker hitting a car and saying they were hit. I know all about that, I live in NJ for the other 5 months of the year.
Is Captiva getting into trouble with this bike path? Maybe just necessary for the northern end and what can help Captiva homeowners and renters. Let’s leave Lee County out of this decision.
May 7th, 2007 at 7:54 am
i hope there will be a bike path . I think many will be well served
by the enjoyment of a nice brisk ride to any destination on the island versus getting in your car and going just about every where. I also feel that the village will be well served with more local buisness interaction when islanders can bike to the village
and enjoy something to drink and eat and make it a new experience when having to go to the post office .
May 7th, 2007 at 8:46 am
Last November I decided to walk Captiva Drive from just before the “S” curve to Blind Pass just to see how unsafe it really is. I walked on the left side of the road with the cars coming at me since there really is no shoulder at all on the Gulf side of the road. I had to maintain my focus at all times since the people driving the cars were focusing on sight seeing and not on who might be walking on the roadway and, I might add, most of them were speeding. At one point during my wallk I had to jump into the brush to avoid being hit. The fact is that people do everything while driving except pay attention to what they are supposed to be paying attention to so safety will always be an issue whether or not there are wider shoulders or new bike paths. I feel that speeding is a huge problem on Captiva Drive. There is never any police presence and therefore no deterent. The suppliers to South Seas are some of the biggest offenders and they have large trucks that could do real harm at the speeds they travel at on the drive. I feel that we should get the speeding on the island under control first. If wider shoulders were available, they would become parking lots especially at sunset time. As it is, people find any niche they can to pull over and stop and watch the sunset making the roadways difficult to navigate around them. Shoulders would be a huge mistake in my opinion causing more accidents. A bikepath would bring with it another whole set of concerns from more people on the beach, to litter, to noise, etc. I have resolved to drive or walk on the beach the get to where I have to get, and that’s not a bad solution compared to what we might end up having to contend with.
May 8th, 2007 at 9:26 am
I believe that a safety shoulder will be just that - safe. People will continue to walk, run and bike and I feel that anything the county can do to make it safer is great!!
June 4th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
“NO” TO CAPTIVA DRIVE SAFETY SHOULDER
As property owners on Captiva Drive we are very concerned with the proposed widening of Captiva Drive for the purpose of adding a safety shoulder, which would undoubtedly become a major safety hazard and liability for Captiva and it’s Residents.
We believe this will not create a safer environment, and conversely would create a safety hazard. It would encourage traffic congestion, when bikers edge into traffic to avoid vegetation and branches or as they ride two or three abreast in the shoulder and traffic lanes, which is even worse at the blind S curves. Also adults with small children would be further encouraged to use the road for biking and walking, creating a multitude of liability and safety hazards.
Additionally, environmental and property issues come into play such as; littering, encroaching on and damaging the native vegetation and the outright removal of trees. With the increase in foot and wheel traffic, we would experience much more property damage, vandalism, trespassing on private property and private deeded access property to the beaches, substantially increasing the volume of public beach use could damage the Eco-system of Sea Turtles Habitats, the Sea Grasses and Sand Dunes, etc.
Unlike Sanibel’s dedicated bike/walking paths (Periwinkle/Tarpon area) Captiva never intended nor was master planned for this type of public use and recreation. There are not proper facilities, such as; Rest Stops, Public Restrooms or access to Drinking Fountain/Water. The lack of these facilities or Commercial businesses offering these facilities in the area would create liability and safety medical concerns and could encourage the following ill behavior from the public; littering, trespassing on private property to use hoses for water or possibly urinating and defecating on the roadside or on private land. This only names a few of our concerns.
This Safety Shoulder, is an oxymoron as it creates a false sense of security to bikers and walkers whom believe they can ride or walk with impunity on this shoulder designed for them, when in fact they must encounter and maneuver many blind driveways and the traffic associated with them.
We would request reconsideration of the proposal to widen Captiva Drive. The funding from Lee County would be better used to improve the appearance and safety of the Island by replanting native trees and protecting the Sea Grasses and natural settings.
The only place this plan would make any sense at all, would be between Andy Rosse to South Seas Resort. An area where appropriate infrastructure exists, where there are already a number of vacationers walking and biking and there are commercial interests and facilities that would be able to support these activities and benefit from the public pedestrian traffic and public beach access, located in these areas.
Our roads and walkways or lack thereof are one of the things that make Captiva special and distinct from Sanibel and the rest of the mainland. We would like to keep it unique not extend Sanibel.
This proposal appears to contradict the intention of the Captiva Community Panel Planning Amendments, as follows:
GOAL 13: CAPTIVA
To maintain and enhance the historic pattern of development on Captiva, consisting of unobtrusive, low-density residential use in an environment characterized by diverse and healthy native vegetation, clean offshore water with diverse and healthy marine life, and limited commercial development and traffic. The purpose of this goal is to provide policies to confirm and reinforce that historic pattern. (Added by Ordinance No. 03-01).
OBJECTIVE 13.1: Develop and maintain incentive and/or regulatory programs to ensure the long-term protection and enhancement of wetland habitats, water quality, natural upland habitats, community facilities, existing land use patterns, infrastructure capacity, and historically significant features on Captiva Island. (Added by Ordinance No. 03-01).
POLICY 13.1.14: Indigenous or native trees will be replanted and maintained along Captiva Drive between Blind Pass and the north end of Captiva Drive. The replanting of trees within the Captiva Drive right-of-way is needed to replace the loss of tree canopy following Hurricane Charley. A comprehensive Captiva Drive landscape plan that addresses specific native tree species, tree placement, public safety, access and utilities to facilitate the restoration of tree canopy will be created. The comprehensive Captiva Drive landscape plan will identify funding sources for implementing the plan and will designate the entity or entities responsible for long-term maintenance.
June 6th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Below are two items re Safety Shoulders and Surveys in general:
I) The preliminary “safety shouder” survey count came in with a significant majority in favor of the safety shoulders. No matter which group was looked at “property owners” alone, “registered voters” alone, “interval owners” alone or all taken together, the Safety Shoulder proposal has approximately 75-80% (+/-) favorable VS 20-25 % (+/-) opposed. Details to be provided after finalization.
II) The Community Panel Bylaws are quite detailed and specific about conducting such surveys on matters of such import to Captivans. Here is what the Bylaws have to say about Community Surveys:
” ARTICLE EIGHT COMMUNITY SURVEYS”
From time to time major community planning issues of common concern will be presented to and/or initiated by the Panel which affects a significant number of the properties on Captiva. Examples of such issues include: Captiva specific changes to the Lee County Comprehensive Land Use Plan, sanitary sewer systems, changes to septic inspection quality standards, burying of electric power lines/utilities, and widening of Captiva Drive to include safety shoulders. On such planning issues the Panel shall be obligated to elicit the opinions of all property owners through an island wide survey. The Panel shall appoint an issue specific Planning committee to conduct the survey according to the prescribed method detailed herein.
Section 1 – Overview
The committee shall:
1. Plan and create a timeline for committee actions.
2. Gather issue related information which may include, but not be limited to, the following:
a. State laws and requirements.
b. County and Municipal ordinances and requirements.
c. Administrative and regulatory rules and requirements of other regulatory agencies – i.e. DEP, DOT, etc.
d. Physical strictures – county survey, rights of way, etc.–
e. County timeline for action or decision benchmarks
f. Engagement of any experts as reasonably necessary to gather the above information.
3. Review and refine information into accessible formats for dissemination.
a. Informational handouts must include an overview of the issue, with handouts providing a balanced focus of the “Pros” and “Cons” of the issue.
b. Work to insure that the information presented to the Captiva community is worded in as neutral a manner as possible in order to maintain the integrity of process.
c. Disseminate information to the community by posting it on Web sites, publicized in media and at Panel meetings.
4 Public meetings on the issue shall be scheduled in conjunction with Regular meetings or as Special meetings when additional time is required to effectively inform the public.
5 As necessary in response to questions and concerns from the community, further research and information may be requested by the Panel.
6 Update posted public information materials based on community feedback.
7 Surveys addressing issues concerning physical property shall be mailed to the address on record for each property strap. One response will be counted per property strap, specifically excepting time shares/interval owners, in which case the interval ownership management company will be sent one survey per “condo” unit. The surveys shall be addressed to the association management to respond with no more than one response per “condo” unit.
8 Committee members, or from time to time a designated impartial party, shall:
a. Develop survey questions based upon the updated public information.
b. Mail the survey and informational packages to all property owners on Captiva at the address of record on the strap.
c. Employ a process such that surveys are returned in a manner which provides anonymity. (e.g., employing number control surveys, checks and balances, etc.)
d. Prepare and submit to the Panel a detailed report of the survey results. The committee may sub-divide the island into separate regions based upon commonality of interest, zoning or geography, tabulate the results of the survey accordingly and submit a written report of the results back to the Panel.
The Panel shall develop and approve a final report on the issue to be submitted to Lee County or the appropriate governing authorities based upon the results of the survey. The Panel shall submit the detailed survey report and all relevant survey data along with their final recommendations. To the extent possible, the desires of the property owners by region will be weighted in the report the Panel makes to Lee County. Whenever appropriate, the survey may obtain and identify results by regions within Captiva, such as Gold Coast, the Village, etc. Resulting recommendations may be specific to a discreet area where the matter under consideration does not require an all island action.
June 26th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
The web master asks, ” What is (or should be) the most
important issue facing Captiva over the next five years?” Join your
neighbors for an open and honest discussion as we look down the road.
I feel the most important issue is water quality. Recreation, property values, etc. will continue to be adversely affected if we continue to swim in questionable waters and have doubts about the matter floating by: red drift algae, dead aquatic flora or fauna or worse. Everything we do on this barrier island will continue to be devalued if we can’t clean up our water and if we continue dumping waste water and worse into the surrounding waters because of failing septic systems.
June 27th, 2007 at 11:45 am
We are against any attempt to widen Captiva Drive. The Safety Shoulder project should be renamed the Death Shoulder. With all the driveways and vegetation, any biker is in danger when cars and trucks pull out of the driveways. When pulling out of a driveway you don’t expect to be confronted with a bike path, especially the out of town folks and their children that are renting. It is an accident waiting to happen. There are plenty of bike paths in Sanibel for families to bike and walk, and rollerblade. If one wants to bike or walk to the Village, they can walk along our beautiful beaches. Our family does this often. Safety is a major concern.
What about the liability issues if there is an accident — is hte Captiva property owner responsible and not the County? This is a critical issue that must be addressed.
The next concern is privacy and crime. The driveways and properties are very tempting and more vulnerable for anyone biking or walking to explore. When we were making dinner one night, a strange woman arrived IN MY KITCHEN and said she was sorry — just wanted to see the house, didn’t see a car and the door was unlocked. Quite a few times we have seen bikers urinating and also doing more than that in the bushes on the gulf side (nicer landscaping, we guess). The shoulder would give people more opportunity to go down the driveways to the homes.
We have had squatters in our current home, and at our former Captiva residences on multiple occasions over the past 25 years. A Safety Shoulder may tempt people to stop & looky-loo in front of residences and possibly increase the incidence of squatters.
The third main concern is our landscaping and vegetation. How quickly we all forget how beautiful and lush and charming Captiva Drive used to be before the previous widening and the hurricane. We have lived on the island for over 20 years and the landscaping was so incredibly beautiful and tropical. The hurricane devastated our Captiva Drive landscape. Many of us have already started to beautify and relandscape our properties. Why rip it up?
A super-wide road on such a tiny island is so unnecessary. Please do not pave over paradise just because the County has funds to do it.
Our concerns are safety. liability, privacy, crime and landscape beautification. Please do not add a safety “Death” Shoulder.
-Leslie and Tim Wolff
January 25th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
The foregoing comments reinforce the idea that those with negative comments are the ones most willing to express opinions in this kind of forum. And all of these people already had an opportunity to vote “no” on the CCP safety shoulder survey. Captivans made their views known at that time and showed overwhelming support for the bike lane. Now it’s time to accept the majority opinion and get on with the planned widening of Captiva Drive. Perhaps difficult to swallow the opposing view, but that’s how a democracy works.
And instead of complaining, we need to thank the CCP for opening the issue, persuing it with Randy Cerchie, and collecting public opinion, most conscientiously. A good many people worked long and hard for the betterment of the island. The issue has been so long debated, we’re growing impatient to see the project actually begin.
Time to move on and move forward. For those who like to grumble, let’s take a look at water quality on Captiva and figure out how owners and visitors to the island can be best served on that issue.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
As far as I’m concerned, the only thing wrong with Captiva is that it DOES NOT have a bike path!
April 27th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Even though there were many negative comments regarding a bike path, we now have one being constructed. I hope that my fears will not be confimed once this is active. But, as of now, I have a rather large concern regarding the boulders they are digging up and throwing onto the beach. These tons of boulders are destroying the dune grass and turtle habitats. I feel like this is just the beginning of the destruction of Captiva as it once was. It started with Charlie and now it’s continuing with human beings.
Jet skis, para sailing, hot dog retailers by boat, what will be next????
It’s a sad time for pretty, quiet Captiva. She is being stripped of all of her charm.