WEST VOLUSIA COMMUNITY TRAFFIC SAFETY TEAM

MINUTES OF MEETING July 11, 2000

Those Present:

The meeting was called to order at 8:40 by Chairman John Izzo.

Vicki Smith from the consulting firm of Keith & Schnars gave a presentation on the I-4 improvements that are being planned by FDOT. She stated that the Florida Department of Transportation is conducting three concurrent projects on I-4 to improve 73 miles of roadway through Osceola, Orange, Seminole and Voluisa counties. She stated that in Volusia County the expansion of the St. John's Bridge was going to be a design build project. That bids would be let for a consultant and contractor to design and build the project. She stated that construction should start in the Spring of 2001. She said that along with the replacement of the St. John's Bridge the roadway would be expanded from four lanes to six lanes from Lake Mary to Saxon Boulevard. Ms. Smith stated that the long range plans are to expand the Interstate to six lanes all the way through.

Ms. Smith then talked about the I-4 Educational Outreach Program and introduced Buddy, a robotic mini-car designed to teach car pooling to elementary age children and their families. She wanted to make the Team aware of Buddy, and their efforts to raise the awareness and importance of car pooling. She also advised the Team that Buddy would be available to participate in their safety events if he was needed.

Pat Goodgame mentioned that the Center For Disease Control has information on their website that teaches children about how to walk safely.

John Izzo mentioned that Elaine Swanson had called and invited the CTST to participate in their National Night Out on August 2, 2000. He stated that we participated last year, and wanted to know if anyone was interested in helping. The Team agreed to participate in the event. It will be held in the Community Center in DeBary. The time is from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Problems and Solutions

Tony Nosse stated that on item 500-2 was a request at Voorhis and Howry at US17/92, to consider a westbound left turn arrow. He stated that the study indicated that the left turn arrow was not warranted.

Mr. Nosse stated that on item 500-1 at 17/92 and SR 44 was a request to verify that the route signs had been installed correctly. He stated that a recommendation had been made but he did not have the information yet.

Tony also stated that the Team had not presented a problem since May, and that he is looking for new safety projects. He also stated that the Blue Lake sidewalks would be done as a LAP project by the County, and that SR17 and SR11 sidewalks were being designed.

Crash Statistics

John Izzo reviewed the Statistical Trend Analysis Toward Safety Report. He stated that the total number of crashes were up from 1999. In 1999 there were 829 crashes in 2000 there were 966. In 1999 there were 8 fatalities, 2000 there were 4 fatalities, in 1999 there were 477 injuries and in 2000 there were 445 injuries.

New Business

Barry Wall stated that there was a good turnout at the CTST State Coalition in Jacksonville on July 10, 2000. He stated that no one from the East or West Volusia Teams was in attendance of the meeting. He stated that there were seven new Law Enforcement Liaisons that were introduced at the meetings. One liaison for each District. He stated that our Liaison was Mike Matz who is a retired captain from FHP out of Ocala. He stated that the Liaisons would be working with the local law enforcement agencies trying to get them involved in the buckle up enforcement waves.

He also stated that we would be able to get some brochures, banners, and billboards for Walk Our Children to, School if the Team wanted them.

Barry also mentioned that we have fatal vision goggles, display units, and a Vince and Larry costume that the Team could borrow for their special events. He stated that the only stipulation was that they would need to have the costume dry cleaned before it was returned.

Ken Harley stated that there were several committees that were appointed at the meeting. That there was a Legislative Committee, a Web Page Committee appointed. He stated that a 501-3c Committee and the 2001 Safety Symposium Committee were put hold until Sgt. Wobig could talk to the State Safety Office about possible funding options.

Ken also stated that Al Poudrier from the Okaloosa County Engineering Dept. put on a presentation about how traffic signals are activated. He stated that Al had a table top presentation, of a car and a roadway made out of indoor-outdoor carpet, which he has set up to simulate a roadway and traffic signal. He stated that Al would provide the schematics on how to make the display to anyone that wants it. He stated that it cost less that $100.00 to build.

He stated that they also discussed proposed revisions to the CTST State Coalition.

Break

Round Table

Joe Cohen stated that there will be a carseat checkpoint held during the National Night Out in DeBary on August 2, 2000. Joe also stated that there will be a Children's Expo at the Ocean Center August 26-27.

He also stated that at the Checkpoint which was held at New Hope Baptist Church on June 24, 2000 that there were 12 car seats checked, and three seats were found to be defective. He stated that none of the seats were installed correctly.

Pat Goodgame thanked Joe Cohen for going with her to Seville to help reach the Hispanic population. She stated that without Joe she would not have been successful in that area.

John Izzo stated that at the ITE meeting they approved the TIPS on Red Light Running subject to adding video imaging. He stated that there was a lot of discussion about cell phones, and the TIPS on cell phones were not approved.

Barry Wall reminded everyone to submit the information on their agency activities to be included in the CTST Quarterly Report.

Pat Goodgame stated that she was down to three car seats under her minority grant program. She stated that the grant ends in September. She said that next year her emphasis will be on child safety.

Malcolm Smith stated that when he was in Toronto he noticed that they do not have toll booths on toll roads rather they used cameras and billed the drivers.

Sgt. Sweeny stated that since the new law went into effect that allows law enforcement to seize the vehicle of persons arrested while drinking and driving whose licenses are revoked or who have a previous DUI conviction that FHP has seized 85 vehicles statewide. He stated that they have had 2 to 3 seizures in Volusia County.

He stated that the protocol has been changed within the Department when other law enforcement officers are involved in crashes. He stated that they are now writing tickets, and that a supervisor has to go out and investigate the matter.

Gary Lester started that the law which would have allowed cameras at red lights did not pass through the Transportation Committee.