News Briefs

+ Sarasota begins red-light camera program Dec. 1
Starting Dec. 1, motorists will have an additional reason to stop at red lights in the city of Sarasota.   

The first intersection that will have photo enforcement of red-light violations will be the intersections of Bahia Vista Road and Tuttle Avenue. A verified violation will result in a fine of $158. Additional intersections will be added as permits are issued for the cameras. Only the most dangerous intersections in the city were considered for intersection safety cameras.

Cameras operate 24 hours a day and capture images of every vehicle running a red light at the intersection.

Vehicles that enter an intersection with a yellow light will not be cited, even if the light changes to red before they exit the intersection. Citations will only be given to vehicles that enter the intersection with a red light.

Warning signs, installed prior to the violation period, are designed to alert drivers of the intersection safety cameras. The city of Sarasota contracts with American Traffic Solutions (ATS) to administer its road-safety program.

The Sarasota Police Department will review and approve each violation before any citation will be issued. Drivers who receive a citation can log on to www.Violationinfo.com for information and to view the violation.

The goal of the program is to improve compliance and safety, according to the police department. 

+ Osprey Avenue closure rescheduled for 2012
Osprey Avenue between Mound Street and Brother Geenan Way will now remain open until Monday, Jan. 16. It was recently announced Osprey Avenue would be temporarily closed beginning Nov. 28. To coordinate off-site repair work on Gulfstream Avenue, though, the closure has been rescheduled to begin Jan. 16, for 60 days.

Local traffic only will be allowed between Brother Geenan Way and Ringling Boulevard at that time.

The closure is necessary while crews install a forcemain as part of a significant capital improvement project to build a new lift station in Luke Wood Park.

The detour route is Ringling Boulevard to U.S. 301 for southbound traffic and Mound Street to Orange Avenue for northbound traffic. Message boards will be posted in the vicinity notifying drivers about the detour.

+ Palm Avenue garage art murals on display
The city of Sarasota and Jonathan Parks Architect hosted a reception Wednesday to officially display the Palm Avenue garage public art murals.

Professional artists painted a mural on each of the five levels of the garage over the past several weeks.

“I’m excited about these murals and the energy they’re generating downtown,” said Mayor Suzanne Atwell, in a news release.

Meetings & agendas
• Citizen Tax Oversight Committee — 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, City Hall, Commission Chambers, 1565 First St., Sarasota.
• Alta Vista Neighborhood Association Meeting — 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, Concordia Lutheran Church, 2185 Wood St., Sarasota.
• Regular City Commission Meeting — 2:30 and 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5, City Hall, Commission Chambers, 1565 First St., Sarasota.