Presentation Slides
(download)

Details of the Presentation.

Steve Sarkozy explained the purpose of the traffic survey and pointed out that the findings were preliminary and had only recently been shared with the Village Council. A more detailed analysis will be carried out to ensure “no stone was left unturned.”

Leah Holmes pointed out that the traffic volume in Estero remains relatively even during the day. While this was surprising to many, directional flows vary significantly during different times of the day.

Leah highlighted particular problems that are emerging at key intersections and routes. Those cited were

• • Tamiami Trail (US 41) and Estero Parkway
  • Tamiami Trail (US 41) and Corkscrew Road.
  • Corkscrew Road and Three Oaks Parkway.
  • The volume of traffic on Williams Road was noticeably higher.

The Village has already agreed to widen Williams Road to 4 lanes. A roundabout will be installed at Williams Road and River Ranch Road. At the lights where Williams Road joins Three Oaks Parkway, the left turn lane will be extended to accommodate more traffic turning north at that intersection.

The junction of Corkscrew Road and Three Oaks Parkway has the highest accident rate in Estero.  As a result, it was felt that the intersection requires infrastructure enhancements, including additional turn lanes and monitoring traffic signals to manage better the anticipated increases in traffic and the heavy volume of traffic heading north during the evening rush hour.

Participants expressed their concerns regarding the impact of ongoing developments, specifically at intersections like Coconut Road. Attendees pointed to the likely increase in congestion and safety issues resulting from the Woodfield development on the northwest corner of US41 and Coconut Road, and the Ritz-Carlton development at the west end of Coconut Road.  They felt there needed to be significant management strategies on Coconut Road West and the junction with US 41. Leah suggested that a new traffic light at the Pelican Colony exit could also help alleviate some of the difficulties.

Residents doubted the 3% yearly increase was too low to assess future traffic density. The proposed developments likely within the Village boundary and the extensive growth planned along East Corkscrew Road are thought to give rise to a much higher growth rate. A ten-year growth of 3% amounts to an increase of approximately 35%.  Leah took the comments seriously and said she would reexamine the calculations that had led to that suggestion.

The session also drew attention to various solutions, such as the proposed implementation of roundabouts to improve traffic flow and AI applications at traffic signals to detect real-time traffic volume changes and react accordingly to improve traffic flow.

AI in traffic lights uses sensors, cameras, or other detection devices to gather information about the current traffic situation. This data may include the number and type of vehicles, the speed at which they are driving, their direction of travel, and the traffic density. The traffic data collected in this way is then sent to a central processing unit where AI algorithms analyze the data to identify traffic patterns and trends. This data is then used as a basis with which to adjust the various traffic light phases.

The necessity for public engagement and stakeholder collaboration was underscored, emphasizing that effective traffic management will depend on data-driven analysis and active participation in community contributions.

The public was asked to continue their community feedback. The panel emphasized the collaborative effort needed to finalize the traffic report and enact feasible solutions addressing Estero’s ongoing congestion and safety issues.

Specific Issues Raised by Residents After the Main Presentation

In this section, we will summarize the issues raised by many residents in the audience. Leah Holmes and David Willems provided helpful comments to address the items raised. To shorten this document, only the topic raised will be cited. Readers are again encouraged to review the YouTube video if they require additional information on these points.

• Several residents felt the Village should temporarily stop any more development within the Village until the road infrastructure and the suggested changes could be implemented.
• There is a need to extend the right turn lanes at Three Oaks and Coconut Road when turning right. Possibly even have two lanes that can turn right.
• Why is it that all traffic lights in Estero do not appear to be sensitive to traffic density flow and change the sequence accordingly. Are the Tamiami Trail traffic signals coordinated to improve traffic flow?
• “I don’t see a single thing changing in the traffic patterns, and the same traffic builds up at lights that do not seem to be timed; somebody needs to go and check it out physically and see because anything else is BS.”
• We need to stop people turning across the flow of traffic after turns at traffic lights if there is no red signal after a green arrow to prevent turns left or right. This was the cause of the accident at US 41 and Williams Road.
• We should also stop U-turns at many lights because they slow down the flow and can lead to accidents.
• We should consider roundabouts as a solution to improve traffic flow and safety in many circumstances.
• Residents of Pelican Landing expressed concern because of the Ritz-Carlton development and the Woodfield development at Coconut Road and US 41. The key concern was that the higher traffic density would likely result in significant difficulties exiting West Coconut onto US 41.
• The egress in and out of Rusty’s and into the Plaza of Walmart are becoming increasingly dangerous.
• Have you looked at the impact on the US 41 and Estero Parkway area because Walmart is expanding a 3,000-square-foot pickup and delivery unit, which will seriously increase traffic density in that location?
• We have problems on River Ranch Road as people use it as a cut-through to Corkscrew Road. There are several communities along River Ranch Road and also a high school. It was possible that a daycare facility could be coming because our wonderful zoning board approved it! But now it is for sale because they realize there isn’t room for another school to be positioned there.
• You should put “No Through Traffic” signs on minor roads like River Ranch Road and Broadway so traffic doesn’t cut through to get to US 41 or Corkscrew Road.
• Who on earth approved another traffic light at Corkscrew Road and the entrance to Lowe’s? With I-75 just down the road and the Corkscrew Road so busy, I think the traffic consultants giving the information to our zoning board are incompetent.
• Coconut Road West -David and Steven- you need to try to get widened because we are now going to pay for that -not the Ritz- Carlton and not London Bay, we are! That is dead wrong! We need to ask Bonita Springs to ask them (the developers) to make sure they pay for the impact fees for the road.
• We need to improve signage in Estero. People need to know what to expect and how to get there because we have a lot of new people in this area who do not know where they’re going.
• I live in Villa Palmeras, which is directly across from the fire station. We do not have a turning lane into our development. There are no street lights on between 6:45 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. We cannot get in or out of our development during rush hour.
• We need to recognize that the traffic problems have a lot to do with County and Regional traffic. I’m hoping that we don’t have to go to another meeting and again submit our observations and requests. We hope Estero’s Village Management will call county officials, coordinate this information, and report back to the community because this problem is much broader than just the village of Estero.
• The County District Commissioner should be here!
• Exiting the main gate from Shadow Wood onto Coconut Road and making a left turn via the median (east) is difficult. Could we lower the speed limit on that road to improve safety or have a flashing warning light?
• The exit from the Cascades was raised. It was explained that the big problem is the turn from the Cascades onto Estero Parkway, especially when making a left turn. The shrubbery blocking the line of sight was cited as a problem. I believe a roundabout is the way to go.
• Is there any possibility of having a third north- south faster artery going between Lehigh and down to Naples?
• What is the process for prioritizing which things get addressed and when because you can’t do everything all at once? You may not have funding for some of the larger projects, but I’m curious about the process.
• I am from New Jersey, where we have difficult intersections. We have “jug-handle” turns that can be used to avoid roundabouts and other solutions. Could this be considered?

After an extensive range of comments and questions, time constraints necessitated the need to suggest that other comments be forwarded to Engage Estero. Please refer to the YouTube video to listen to the various comments made by the speakers in answer to these points.

 Key Highlights

Conclusions

Growth-Driven Traffic Study: The updated Traffic Study is crucial, reflecting the population growth projected to increase by approximately 28,000 by 2030. The data collected indicates current traffic patterns alongside a forecast to adapt infrastructure, which is essential for managing future demands.

Timing is Everything: Analysis of directional peak flows revealed that while total traffic remains stable, specific arteries peak at distinct times. This emphasizes the importance of peak-hour traffic management strategies to enhance safety and flow at critical congestion points like Three Oaks Parkway.

Intersection Safety Risks: High accident rates at intersections, specifically along Corkscrew Road and Three Oaks Parkway, underline the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades. Current conditions suggest that safety for motorists and pedestrians may be compromised without immediate measures.

Visibility and Infrastructure Needs: Concerns surrounding shrubbery-limited visibility at intersections reinforce calls for immediate landscaping maintenance and structural improvements to ensure safe navigation through increasingly crowded spaces.

Alternative Traffic Solutions: With discussions centering on innovative solutions like roundabouts and smart traffic management systems, the meeting helped serve as a platform for creative problem-solving that could alleviate existing congestion issues effectively.

Community Engagement is Key: Significant emphasis was placed on the importance of community feedback. Engaging residents in traffic issues ensures that local voices are heard and considered in decision-making.

Need for Improved Coordination: The meeting highlighted the crucial need for enhanced coordination among local agencies and consultants, which is vital for ensuring community safety and effective traffic management in light of projected growth and development.

The meeting addressed pressing traffic and safety concerns in Estero, focusing on data-driven insights from the 2024 Traffic Study and suggesting critical improvements while fostering community engagement in traffic solutions. This collaborative approach seeks to establish a responsive infrastructure framework that effectively meets the growth demands of the community while ensuring safety and accessibility for all residents. Future meetings will provide ongoing opportunities for residents to voice their concerns, ensuring a sustained discussion around infrastructure needs and traffic management strategies. All those in attendance appreciated the meeting, including the Estero Village Management Team.