News

By Mary Thurwachter
 
    A weeklong effort by police and the Hypoluxo Island Property Owners Association to slow traffic on South Atlantic Drive was successful, Lantana council members learned at a June 13 town meeting.
    Lyn Tate, treasurer of HIPOA and traffic calming committee chairperson, said that homeowners paid $225 to put up signs encouraging drivers to slow down — and police officers were on the island daily during the week of May 25-31 to issue citations and warnings to drivers who drove too fast anyway.
    Some of the traffic signs were stolen and will not be replaced, Tate said, “which is too bad because next time fewer signs will be put up to let people know.”
    Previously, islanders successfully lobbied for speed cushions to slow traffic, but the results didn’t achieve the desired slowdown. That’s when the idea for traffic calming weeks hatched during a discussion with the town manager, police chief and Tate.
    Similar efforts are planned for each quarter, Tate said.
    But Mayor Dave Stewart said the traffic calming programs could occur even more frequently.
    “We put a squad car there and sometimes there was someone in it and sometimes there wasn’t,” he said. “We do the same thing in other parts of the town.”
    Residents said it helped.
    “I think it made a difference,” Tate said.
    Six citations were issued for speeding, and there were other infractions as well. Fifteen citations were issued for drivers who ran stop signs. Tickets were also given to drivers who passed illegally, didn’t have a driver’s license, and one for a learners permit restriction.
    The stop sign runners were nabbed at South Atlantic Drive and Barefoot Lane, Tate said.