CLEARWATER - Responding to an online opinion poll on the Clearwater Gazette web site, readers overwhelmingly voted to improve traffic congestion on Cleveland Street by removing on-street parking. 85% of the respondents voted in favor of a permanent solution to the downtown traffic issue.
The question asked, "What would you do to relieve Cleveland Street traffic congestion during the prolonged construction of the new Memorial Causeway Bridge?" Readers responded:
The poll was stimulated by Vice Mayor Frank Hibbard's proposal on July 15 to improve downtown traffic flow by remove parking from both sides Cleveland Street. The solution received no support from the other Council members.
Hibbard will be presenting a compromise solution during the City Council Work Session on August 2. This alternative will provide four lanes of through traffic and retain 30 on-street parking spaces on the south side of Cleveland Street, but eliminate some of downtown's left turn lanes. Left turns would be eliminated westbound on Cleveland beginning at East Avenue, eastbound on Cleveland from Ft. Harrison to East Avenue, and from north and southbound Ft. Harrison onto Cleveland. The left turn from eastbound Cleveland onto Osceola Avenue would be retained.
Hibbard hopes to obtain the support of his colleagues and pass a resolution authorizing the reconfiguration of Cleveland Street during the August 5th City Council meeting. The cost of the project is estimated at about $20,000, an amount that Hibbard would take from General Fund Reserves.