City hosts traffic calming plan town hall

The city of Sarasota will host a public town hall meeting for residents to learn about and provide input into the launch of the city’s Traffic Calming Plan at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, at City Hall at 1565 First St.

Following a brief presentation that highlights the goals and vision for the plan, an open forum will be held for attendees to share feedback. Each participant will be given two minutes to speak.

“We understand how important traffic calming is to our community,” said Senior Transportation Planner Corinne Arriaga, the project manager, in a news release. “This town hall is an opportunity for residents to engage directly in shaping the future of traffic calming initiatives within the city.”

Traffic calming is a set of roadway treatments that can be installed to alter driver behavior to reduce negative impacts through physical design and other measures. In conjunction with education and enhanced speed enforcement, they can include:

• Horizontal deflections: roundabouts and traffic circles.
• Vertical deflections: speed tables and raised intersections.
• Street width reduction: median islands, chicanes and on-street parking.
• Routing restrictions: median barriers and splitters.

The first stage of the Traffic Calming Plan will include information gathering and public engagement.

Following the public meeting, a digital survey will be offered to gather information from residents on areas of concern and recommendations. This survey will run from Feb. 19 to April 20, 2025.

More information about the initiative is available on the city’s website at SarasotaFL.gov.