Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/260020
Siesta Seen In response to a question about the traffic flow among the redesigned parking areas, Gaubatz and Bill Waddill, a project team man- ager and a senior vice president representing Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc., explained that several of the design consulting firm's traffic engineers undertook considerable analysis of the parking situation. One key rec- ommendation, he pointed out, was to reorient the parking spaces to an east-west configura- tion — the type commonly seen in shopping center parking lots, for example — to permit people to have clear sight lines as they walk from the lots to the beach. The current situation, Waddill added, is "very unsafe …" Further, he said, all the entrances to the lots will serve as exits as well, except for the one closest to the tennis courts on the eastern end of the park; that will be an exit only. "It's a much more efficient flow," Waddill told the audience. Another change will be the burying of all elec- trical lines underground, Gaubatz said. And while part of the parking area will be pervi- ous, he noted, the remainder will simply be resurfaced. "It's a cost factor," he added of the latter decision. In response to one remark that confusion continues to reign about whether weddings will be allowed at the beach in 2015 — when Coming improvements at Siesta Public Beach will improve the flow of traffic and enhance safety for pedestrians, Sarasota County staff members point out. Photo by Rachel Hackney Sarasota News Leader February 14, 2014 Page 96