CASSELBERRY, Fla. – A plan to improve pedestrian safety in Casselberry could take another step forward after an endorsement from MetroPlan Orlando.
Executive Director Gary Huttman wrote a letter to Florida Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy in support of a grant application for Casselberry’s “Road to Zero: Moving Toward a Safer SR-436” project.
“Our region must use all available resources to move towards the elimination of serious injuries and fatalities due to automobile crashes,” Huttman wrote.
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Last month, Casselberry’s Public Works Department was directed to begin work on a grant application that could save taxpayers millions.
If approved, the project would bring significant changes aimed at protecting both drivers and pedestrians.
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S.R. 436 was chosen as the focal point of safety improvements because of the number of serious crashes involving pedestrians.
“We looked at five years of data. There were 11 fatalities, 12 serious injuries, and hundreds of crashes with injuries,” Public Works Director Kelly Brock said. “It’s too fast. That’s part of it. The other problem is you’re trying to mix uses.”
In addition, city data shows that over the past five years, the corridor has seen over 500 crashes.
Among the options for improvements are additional crosswalks, wider sidewalks, and narrower vehicle lanes.
“Twelve-foot lanes are really built for speed. If we’re trying to slow people down, we’re proposing 11-foot lanes, which is still within standard, but should help slow people down a little bit,” Brock said.
The planned improvements also include new crosswalks at Lake Howell Road and Winter Woods Boulevard, in addition to upgrades near Howell Branch Road.
The time frame for completion of the project has not been established and would depend on approval of Casselberry’s grant application.