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Speed Humps Aggravate North River

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 2, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - When residents in the North River neighborhood raised concerns about chronic speeders, the city installed stop signs and speed humps.

The traffic calming mats, which cost more than $9,000, were paid for from the city's Community Redevelopment Agency fund for residential improvements.

Now, more than a year later, city officials are revisiting that decision.

In a survey left on doorsteps throughout the neighborhood, City Manager Scott Miller asks residents if they support keeping the two stop signs and three humps along River Road north of Main Street.

The query was initiated by Mayor Dan Tipton and Councilman Rob Marlowe, both of whom live in the area and expressed concerns about the humps.

'They're incredibly unpopular in this neighborhood,' Marlowe said. 'I've had neighbors who've actually offered to meet me out there with a set of ratchets to remove them.'
Marlowe suspects the results of the survey, expected to be discussed at a future council meeting, will reflect the feedback he has been receiving from neighbors.

'They want them taken out,' he said. 'There are better ways to spend CRA money.'
Speed humps are made of rubber, and can be removed easily and reused elsewhere.

North River residents in July 2006 requested new sidewalks, underground utility lines and a crackdown on speeders.

The city had just finished writing checks for the $14.1 million recreational and aquatics center, and the CRA fund was nearly depleted.

So, the neighborhood got speed humps and stop signs, with a pledge from council members that when money became available it would be spent on streetscaping in North River.

One year later, that hasn't happened.

In this year's fiscal budget, city officials earmarked about $57,000 in CRA funds for North River, but haven't decided how to spend it.

CRA funds are generated by rising property values or increased tax rates and used for redevelopment.

Still, there are other projects in the works for North River.

The city plans to extend its reclaimed water system to 483 households as part of a $2.4 million project with the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

The cost will be split by the city and the district, which has pledged a $1.2 million matching grant. The city will pay half through its stormwater reserve fund.

City planners say they chose North River because residents were interested in participating in a reclaimed water project as part of a long-term redevelopment plan.

'That's a big project,' Miller said. 'But it's going to take a couple of years to get done.'

North River also is in the next round of assessments for road paving, which is expected to get under way next year. Under that arrangement, the city funds a portion of the repaving and assesses property owners for the rest.

City officials said adding sidewalks and underground utilities likely will have to wait.

The North River neighborhood, which abuts the Pithlachascotee River, boasts one of the highest property tax burdens in the city and residents have become politically active in recent years.

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at cwade@tampatrib.com or (727) 815-1082.

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